follow the manufacturer ideas on the rug............depends on rug traffic, pets, young children....................some do them every 6 months depending if they are wool or something else.............some do them 1 times a year. I vacuum every day and if I see a spot or dip I get out a baby wipes and clean it right away. I like it room sized oriental rugs, they hold up and show very little wear, I use a light weight Oreck upight and with 3 cats, it stays very clean with a daily vacuum. I have an enclosed porch and I keep another rugs ot there to caught the shoe dirt...........I vac out there 2 times a day to keep it out of th house.