Set A Healthy Indoor Space With Quality Carpet Cleaning
Carpets are a giant allergen trap – which is essentially a good thing at the start. After all, by filtering out the allergens from tine indoor air space, it makes it cleaner and healthier. These particles, from pollen grains, to spores and dust that is blown into the room, are trapped within the fibres of the carpet. However, this does not go on endlessly. When the carpets are not cleaned regularly, the grime continues pilling up until they are easily dislodged from the material. All it takes is simply walking on the carpet to kick up light particles back into the indoor air – which becomes a problem.
Allergic reactions from the contents in the carpet are diverse. Remember that those dust particles are a conglomeration of everything from the dust mite faecal residue, the soiling that was tracked into the building and broken down over time, to the body parts of insects that come to feed on the food crumbs. When these are inhaled, they irritate the respiratory tract. Nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, all through to asthma attacks being triggered for those with the condition – these are not conditions that you want your family members being exposed to.
Is Vacuuming Enough?
While vacuuming is an important aspect of carpet care, and actually recommended to be done frequently, it is not enough. Getting rid of the grime that is accumulating in the carpet requires more than just the vacuum’s suction power. The vacuum is important for removing those loose particles from the material, and also reducing the rate at which the gunk is building up in the carpet. In fact, it should be done once or twice a week for the average household, and more frequently for those with kids and pets. Nevertheless, a deep carpet cleaning will need to be scheduled to get rid of the gunk buried within the fibres, in order to protect both the health of those in the premises, and the structural integrity of the carpet itself.
Other Dangers Residing In A Dirty Carpet
Let’s take a look at what is else lurking within that lush pile:
- Pathogens
In a dirty carpet, there will be numerous colonies of germs. These range from the microbes breaking down the organic matter like food crumbs, those that are been coughed and sneezed into the indoor environment by household members who are sick, pathogens brought over by pests like cockroaches and mice coming to scavenge for food in the carpet, strains like MRSA that could have been brought into the home from gyms and school locker rooms – these all pose a risk to the household members. Different species have been found in soiled carpets, from E. Coli and Salmonella, to Micrococcus and Campylobacter. Some like the Norwalk virus can live in the carpet for close to a month, while still retaining their potency. The kids and pets are at a greater risk of being infected, given that the little ones enjoy playing on the cosy carpet, occasionally putting their hands on their faces and in their mouths as well. Routine cleaning is key to protect your loved ones from the pathogens, especially if there has been a recent spike of infections. Carpet cleaning processes like hot water extraction kill the pathogens, and they are flushed out of the fibres with the rest of the grime.
- Mould
This is a common concern for homes in areas with high humidity levels, and is it also caused by standing water that is allowed to remain on the carpet for long such that it soaks deeper into the material, mistakes like overwetting during the DIY cleaning, all through to issues like plumbing leaks and flooding incidents that leave the carpet material drenched. Given that it is likely that there is already a high concentration of spores in the carpet, the moisture that has been absorbed enables them to sprout and result in an all-out mould infestation. The trouble with this kind of attack on your carpet is that by the time people notice it, it usually has already spread through the material. This is because the growths typically start from the underside of the carpet, and take some time before they pop up at the top with their characteristic stains. Mould is a threat due to the spores it produces, as well as mycotoxins for some of the species, which can affect the liver and even the central nervous system. This is why professionals incorporate powerful systems as part of the carpet cleaning service, to extract the bulk of the moisture that is within the unit, cutting down the drying time from days to a few hours.
- Pollutants
These range from the cigarette smoke that gets absorbed by the fibres, chemicals tracked in from the outdoors such as those picked up on the footwear while family members were out in the park, reagents used for those occasional DIY cleaning tasks that end up leaving residue within the fibres, to the toxic gases that were absorbed by the carpet. There are even been units that have been found having traces of lead. Over time, the concentration of pollutants trapped in this carpet increases. Everyday usage of the carpet, be it simple walking or even the vacuuming action, can lead to the pollutants being released into the air space. Deep carpet cleaning is needed to remove the substances from your carpet.
Your mental health also matters. A carpet that is riddled with stains and dirt spots, and one with loads of odours emanating from the material, can be stressful. It takes away your personal comfort in your home, and is an all-out embarrassment when you’re having guests over. Those nagging thoughts about chores that are pending, concerns and questions about the state of affairs and how it is affecting your family, and exasperation due to the ruined décor all chip away at your peace of mind. Call in the carpet cleaning experts to give your unit a thorough wash, and stop you from feeling like you’re losing control of your home.
