Professional carpet cleaning gives you more than just clean looking carpets. By removing germs, allergens and other pollutants from the air, it can actually improve the air quality of your home. While you may not be able to see them, allergens and other hazardous materials can hide in your carpet and negatively impact your indoor air. Although vacuuming regularly may help contain some of these contaminates, having your carpet professionally cleaned is the best way to improve your air quality.
What’s in Your Carpet?
Everything that touches your carpet has the potential to soil it. While things like stains are obvious and visible to the naked eye, substances like pet dander, mold spores and dust particles may not be. These particles are usually invisible to the naked eye and can fall on the floor from a variety of sources, including your clothing. Once these particles have landed, foot traffic grinds them deep into the carpet fibers. This often leaves a clean looking carpet that is full of air pollutants.
The more obvious issues such as food or drink spillage are also harmful to your carpet. These spots can easily become a source of food for bacteria which further exacerbates the problem.
Dirty Carpets Impact Your Health
While they may seem harmless, dirty carpets can pose a number of health risks. If you have recently experienced a flood or water damage, there may be mold hiding in your carpets. Although you may not be able to see or smell this mold, the spores can cause a wide range of breathing and allergy problems. When left untreated, mold spores may cause permanent damage to your respiratory system.
In addition to mold, dust mites are common indoor pollutants. These tiny insects burrow into the fibers of your carpet and eat all types of human dander. Not only can these tiny bugs produce up to 200 times their weight in waste each day, but they can also cause a number of allergy and repertory issues.
Health and safety advocates have also argued that both E. coli and Salmonella may be nested in your carpet. Wearing dirty shoes inside the home has been identified as a possible source of these bacteria.
House Dust
House dust can include skin particles, pet dander and dirt. This combination of particles makes an easy nest for dust mites in upholstery and carpet. In areas of your home with frequent foot traffic, things like house dust and dust mites may be stirred up into the air every time you walk. Tasks like moving curtains or changing bedding can also introduce more dust and mites into the air. Residential carpet cleaning services can help you control the population of dust mites and allergens in the air and on your carpets.
Getting Rid of Indoor Pollutants
In most homes, the first line of defense for removing these harmful pollutants from your carpet is to vacuum regularly. Vacuuming just two or three times a week can dramatically reduce the number of dirt, mites and allergens hiding in your carpet.
Professional carpet cleaning services can help you deal with the particles that a vacuum simply can’t reach. While store-bought carpet cleaning solutions may leave your carpet looking or smelling cleaner, professional grade products are specifically designed to target these common allergens and remove them from your carpet. It is recommended that you have your carpets cleaned at least twice a year or more frequently in high-traffic areas.
You Control Your Indoor Air Quality
You can’t control the allergens lurking outside your home, but you can control the indoor air quality inside of your home. With regular vacuuming and routine carpet cleaning, you can help avoid build-up of dirt, mites and other allergens. Replacing the bag on your vacuum cleaner often is one way to prevent your carpet from accumulating too much dust.
Depending on the number of people in the home, most carpets require professional cleaning every 3-6 months. If there are pets in the home, carpets may require more frequent cleaning to control pet dander and urine from attracting bacteria.
When it comes to maintaining your indoor air quality, professional carpet cleaning is key. With a minimum of two cleanings a year, you can do your part to control allergens and keep your home smelling fresh.
