Good dancers really know how to cut a rug, which is why Fred Astaire's carpet lived in fear for most of its life. Facilitate friendly human-rug relations with today's Groupon: for $40, you get a four-room carpet cleaning from Cleaning Connection (a $125 value). This Groupon is valid within 15 miles of Des Moines.

Cleaning Connection, an Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification–approved company, banishes grubby carpet intruders using environmentally friendly products. Get back into the habit of planting a good-morning kiss on carpets after a four-room (500 sq. ft.) floor-covering makeover, also valid toward the sprucing-up of up to 12 stairs. Cleaning Connection’s personnel will strong-arm obstinate furniture out of the line of fire, pretreating high traffic areas before using a hot water extraction to remove loosened dirt, debris, and forgotten houseguests. Technicians will return furnishings to their proper locale, carefully perched atop safety blocks. Complete carpet dehydration takes 10–12 hours on average, though some areas may require longer time or a quick visit from a squad of go-getting hairdryers.