If you live anywhere that sees real winter, you already know: Snow season doesn’t just test your tires and wipers, it introduces salt, slush, and muck into every nook of your floor mats and carpets.

For most of us, it's important to keep the carpets in our homes clean and clear. We invest in everything from vacuums to expensive cleaners to keep them dust and stain-free. But the rugs in our homes ...