If you have carpeted floors in Philadelphia, carpet cleaning takes on a whole new meaning around November once the snow starts to fly. All that cinder, salt, and slush can make a huge mess. Even if you're very careful about taking your shoes off once you get in the door (and maybe placing them on a radiator, if you've got one handy), there's still a distinct possibility that that slushy winter mix will make it onto your carpeted floors.
Winter isn't the only time of year that carpet cleaning in Philadelphia is an issue for many households. If anyone in your home works construction or works in a restaurant (whether it's Pat's King of or the Continentalany restaurant will do), that raises the bar for tracked in dirt or grease quite a bit.
Carpet Cleaning Philadelphia Style
In the wintertime, Philadelphia carpet cleaning is mostly about prevention. If your carpet starts right at your front door, many folks will have a "take your shoes off while you're still outside" policy. While effective if you can keep it in place, it can be pretty inconvenient at times. You might think of installing a moderately sized tile landing just inside of the door where people can take off their shoes in the warmth and comfort of the house, as opposed to outdoors. The grit and grease from people's shoes will not just leave stains, but can actually cut and erode the carpet fiber, leaving damage that can't just be cleaned up.
During the summer months, when tracked in dirt is much less moist, carpet cleaning is more about frequent vacuuming. Dry dirt has a tendency to blow around and settle many feet from where it originated; frequent vacuuming (maybe twice a week in entrance rooms) will help keep the carpet in the rest of the house clean.
Philadelphia Carpet Cleaner Costs
Even if you've got a great cleaning regimen, after a few seasons your floors will most likely need some extra attention. Hiring a carpet cleaner in Philadelphia can run anywhere from $150 to $400 depending on how much carpet you've got. When you compare that to the price of carpet installation, which can run well into the low thousands, it's definitely worth the bill to extend your carpet's life by hiring a professional periodically. In Philadelphia, carpet cleaners make the biggest difference after the snow has gone; they don't call it "spring cleaning" for nothing!
Pets and Children
By far the most cunning enemies of a clean carpet, pets and kids can dirty an otherwise clean carpet in no time flat. The best solution for both scenarios is prevention. Teach children and pets as early as possible what is and is not an acceptable situation. Once a bad habit has formed, it is very difficult to break.
If you have the money, households with children or pets can often benefit from installation of stain resistant carpeting. Another time-tested technique is to do what you can with your existing carpet until kids are old enough to be responsible (or until a puppy has calmed down into a mature dog) and then replace the carpet. 
Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.