From holiday spills to winter soil, carpets can take a beating this time of year. But you can zap rug stains in no time with these speed-cleaning ideas from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute home. (For easy tips to remove stains from any surface, go to goodhousekeeping.com/stain.)

Dirty doormats

Fastest fix: Interior doormats stop dirt from being tracked inside, but only if they are kept clean. If the care tag allows, rid mats of loose soil by tossing them into the washer and dryer -- short, gentle cycle on warm; tumble-dry low.

Otherwise, use a vacuum. Quickly go over the top of each mat, flip it over and vacuum the back, even if it's rubber or plastic -- this loosens any embedded dirt. Then, lift the mat, and vacuum up the grit that came out.

If you're truly time-crunched, simply take the mats outside for a good shaking.

Make it easier next time: Keep dirt outdoors where it belongs by stocking up on extra slippers or flip-flops and keep them in a basket by the door to encourage family members to make the switch when entering.

Dingy traffic aisles

Fastest fix: Because there are still a few more months of winter to go, save the heavy cleaning for spring.

Instead, hit the dingy path with a powdered carpet cleaner, such as Resolve High Traffic Granules Large Area Carpet Cleaner ($6.25). Sprinkle on the powder, then work it in with the included brush. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, then vacuum.

Make it easier next time: Stash a sweeper in a closet near the entryway to collect dirt before it gets ground into doormats.

Random spots and stains

Fastest fix: Take two empty spray bottles and fill one with cold water. In the other, mix ¼ teaspoon plain dishwashing liquid and 1 cup warm water. Spray the detergent solution onto an absorbent cloth (not the carpet -- you don't want to wet it too much), and dab, don't rub, it on the spot. As the stain dissolves, blot with a clean section of cloth.

Spray another cloth with the cold water and use it to rinse the detergent solution from the carpet; blot again with a dry cloth. Then, pile on a stack of white paper towels, and place a heavy pot on top; leave overnight to soak up any residual staining deep in the carpet.

In the morning, remove the pot and toss the paper towels; fluff the fibers with your fingers and allow to air-dry.

Make it easier next time: Pick up an instant spot remover, such as Woolite Oxy Deep Power Shot ($4).

On another matter » Need something new to watch? Trade your old movies at a DVD-swapping Web site. The Institute tested seven, exchanging "The Little Mermaid" for either "Batman Begins" or "High School Musical." Swapadvd.com was the easiest to navigate and use, with an excellent search engine, printable shipping labels and a queue that tells you about when to expect the DVD. After posting 10 DVDs, you earn a credit that allows you to request a movie. As you send DVDs, you earn more credits. Switchplanet.com works similarly and also is a social-networking site where users can discuss movies, books, games and music.