I feel you, keeping it fresh year-round is no joke, especially with pets and unpredictable weather! What’s worked for me is keeping up with regular vacuuming—like, seriously, it makes a world of difference. I also sprinkle some baking soda before vacuuming to keep smells at bay. But, when things start to look a bit tired, I bring in the big guns. I usually call Eco-Pro https://ecopro-carpetcleaning.com/ for professional carpet & upholstery cleaning in Chicago. Those folks know their stuff, and they make my carpets and couches look brand new. Last fall, after all the rain and my dog tracking in mud, they came through and made everything spotless again. It’s just a good way to keep things in shape without doing it all yourself, ya know?