I’m a guy who has always swept things under the rug. That doesn’t include the things another guy, who happens to be a cute little pooch, recently plopped on the rug.

Which is why my wife, Sue, and I had the rug cleaned.

Because I don’t take my shoes off in the house, which means dirt is afoot, we had a second rug cleaned, too.

The cleaners were Keenen Pierre and Josh Vazquez, who are esteemed colleagues, even though they don’t use steam on rugs and carpets.

“We use what’s called hot water extraction,” Keenen explained.

“Instead of going on the rug, steam comes out of the machine and hits me in the face,” Josh added while mopping sweat from his brow. “Every day is like a trip to the sauna.”

On this day, the sauna was at our house, where the rugs in the dining room and the family room awaited the spa treatment.

The one in the dining room needed the most work because of our canine guest, who is so adorable that he didn’t end up in the doghouse.

“Now that he’s back home, the rug needs to be cleaned,” Sue said.

“That’s what we get the most calls about,” said Keenen, who went over the rug with an ultraviolet light to spot the spots.

“Do you have a dog?” I asked.

“No,” he answered.

“I have a 10-month-old wire-haired miniature dachshund that my wife and I got for our 12-year-old son,” Josh said. “We also have a 6-year-old cat. She’s a shedder. I have to start brushing her.”

“I guess the fur flies in your house,” I noted.

“It sure does,” said Josh. “We have an area rug and a stair runner that I keep clean. I might have to get one of those Roomba vacuum cleaners.”

“I can’t do the rumba because I have two left feet,” I said.

“Speaking of feet,” Sue told the guys, “Jerry doesn’t take his shoes off in the house.”

“If I did, you’d complain about the smell,” I countered. “Then the rugs would have to be fumigated.”

“My girlfriend makes me take my shoes off,” said Keenen. “We have wall-to-wall carpeting.”

“Do you clean it?” I inquired.

“Yes,” he replied. “I use this equipment. It’s one of the benefits of the job. And it keeps my girlfriend happy.” Keenen smiled and added, “That’s a benefit, too.”

The equipment includes a carpet-cleaning wand, a long metal tube with a bottom that looks like a vacuum cleaner. The wand is attached by a tube to a tank of water from the house.

“It’s like a power washer,” Keenen said.

“I could use one,” I told him. “I haven’t taken a shower today.”

“We also have deodorizer,” he said.

“You can spray it on his feet,” Sue suggested.

“It has active enzymes that attack and kill bacteria-causing odor,” said Josh, who also used it on the family room rug, which was discolored by the dirt I dragged in on my shoes.

“When I don’t take off my shoes, my wife gives me flak,” he admitted.

“See?” said Sue, shooting me a glance.

The family room rug is made of wool; the one in the dining room is made of either viscose or polyurethane.

“Wool rugs take longer to dry,” said Josh, who used a carpet rake, which lifts hair to help eliminate moisture.

“Don’t put your furniture back until tomorrow or it will create indentations,” Keenen said.

“How do you get indentations out?” Sue asked.

Josh had a surprising answer: “Ice chips.”

“They’re not just for cocktails anymore,” I said.

“Thanks for the great job,” Sue said to the guys.

“You’re very welcome,” Keenen replied. “If the dog comes back for a visit, keep an eye on him.”

“And,” Josh reminded me, “don’t forget to take your shoes off.”

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