When your room arrangement creates a system of pathways, you should be forever alert to potential carpet damage. Soils from shoes can build up rapidly, especially in shoe-pivot areas before sofas and chairs.

When shoes pivot on top of soils, it has a grinding effect that scratches and gouges the yarn, causing carpeting to ‘ugly out’ long before it wears out.

It’s wise to have the open area in your family room prescheduled for cleaning at least every six months to guard again permanent damage.