The Carpet Guy: Take Simple Steps to Protect and Care for your Carpet

Caring for your carpet is similar to taking care of yourself. Annual visits to your doctor, a proper diet, exercise, all lead to good health and hopefully, an extended life.

The same is true for your carpet. An annual professional cleaning, vacuuming, spot cleaning, and catching dirt before it enters you home, all helps to keep your carpet and home healthy, and extend the life of your carpet.

Catching dirt

Most dry soils, approximately 70 percent, that are brought into a home are deposited within the first 10-15 feet. Using mats outside and inside, help reduce the amount of soils brought further into the home. Removing shoes upon entering the house also helps. Change filters in your heating and air conditioning unit regularly. This also helps to reduce the indoor air pollutants and dust particles that enter your home.

Vacuuming

Regular vacuuming, at least weekly, will help remove the soils that made it past your mats. It will also help remove the dust, pollen, pet dander, and all other particles that settle into your carpet. Regular vacuuming is an often overlooked key function of extending carpet wear life, which means saving you money. Another simple trick is to vacuum your carpets based on the amount of people and pets you have in your home. Two adults, two children, and one pet would equal vacuuming five days per week. Always use a vacuum with a Hepa filter if at all possible and make sure to change the bag/clean the canister often.
 

Clean spots and spills

When a spill occurs or you find a spot, clean it quickly. Don’t wait. The longer spots and spills sit, the harder they are to remove and some may become permanent. Use caution when using products to remove the spots and spills. Be careful they don’t harm or damage your carpet. Some products sold in retail stores need to be rinsed extremely well, otherwise, the spot will return. The reason for this is because the product leaves a slight sticky residue, which allows for rapid re-soiling. Other products have strong bleaching agents. The spot will be removed, but so will the color in your carpet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. If you have questions, call a professional.
 

Professional cleaning

Professionally deep clean your carpets every 12-18 months. If you have a relatively new carpet, failing to clean professionally within this time frame may void your warranty. 12-18 months is the industry guideline to get the most wear life out of your carpet and to maintain its health and appearance. Of course, each home is different and may require more frequent cleanings based on number of occupants, pets, smokers, etc.

For more information, contact Chuck Roberts at Roberts Carpet & Upholstery Care at 413-458-9399 or Robertscf@aol.com. Roberts Carpet is an authorized Von Schrader Associate specializing in  low moisture cleaning using certified Green Seal approved products with a 100 percent risk-free guarantee.

Williamstown Fire District Dedicates New Station

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
06:37AM / Sunday, May 31, 2026

Chief Jeffrey Dias recognizes firefighter Alexandra Riggs, who will graduate from Williams College next week. See more photos here.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Massachusetts fire marshal came to town Saturday to congratulate the local Fire District and the taxpayers of Williamstown for the "amazing" station they have built on Main Street.

 

"I travel around the state, and I've seen hundreds of firehouses around the state — some great, some not so great," Fire Marshal Jon Davine told a crowd gathered outside the station for its dedication. "And I think we saw what the previous station here was in Williamstown. I'll tell you, especially in Western Massachusetts, we have a really big problem with deteriorating firehouses throughout Western Mass. These buildings are collapsing around our firefighters.

 

"And, as the marshal, it's my job to advocate for the departments for more funding. We've been working with our state reps and local reps and the fire chiefs association, trying to come up with different funding streams, so that we can help these departments build new stations, do better, safer stations, so that they have the equipment and the building they deserve to do their job safely."

 

The chair of the Prudential Committee, which governs the Fire District, and the chief of the department both thanked Williamstown residents for the 2023 special district meeting vote that paved the way for the station that went into operation earlier this year.

 

"It's an honor and a privilege to join you today as we celebrate this grand opening of the new firehouse," Chief Jeffrey Dias said. "This facility is so much more than a building that houses fire trucks. It stands as a symbol of our community's commitment to safety, preparedness and public service. It's a place where our members will maintain our equipment. They will learn about our craft. They'll share meals and, yes, from time to time, they're going to share sorrow.

 

"This isn't a fire station. This is a firehouse. And people have heard me say this a million times already. And it houses the very best second family that one could imagine."

 

Dias was joined at the podium set up in the parking lot for the noon ceremony by Prudential Committee Chair David Moresi, state Rep. John Barrett III and the the Rev. William F. Cyr, who gave an invocation.