When Your Carpet Is A Direct Threat To Your Health
With as many as 75% of people admitting to walking on carpets with dirty shoes, there’s bound to be loads of grime buried within the fibres. The lush material captures whatever the family and guests bring in under the soles of their shoes.
Impact on the indoor air quality
Initially, the carpet does a good job of cleaning up the indoor air. This is because its fibres capture the dust particles and allergens that land on it, reducing the triggers in the room. However, as the amount of grime that is in the carpet continues building up, this functionality reduces. As more soiling accumulates in the fibres of the carpet, the particles will be easily dislodged from the fibres. When the carpet is disturbed – even when people simply walk on it, these particles are released back into the air space. This time, there will be a higher concentration of allergens, putting the persons in the household at risk. You don’t want to keep getting the sniffles in your home, those flu-like symptoms that make your guests uncomfortable, all through to all-out asthma attacks being triggered because of the poor indoor air quality. Ensuring that you maintain a routine carpet cleaning schedule is key to prevent the unit from becoming a health hazard.
Odours are an issue as well. The microbial action on the decaying organic matter like food crumbs in the carpet causes musky smells to be produced. In other cases, the odours are more pungent, such as when there is a pet urine stain in the carpet. A deep carpet cleaning, where the source of the odours is removed as well as odour neutralisers being used to freshen up the room, is needed. That way you can have a space that you’re comfortable in.
Pathogens Galore
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the dirty carpet is a wall-to-wall germ farm. It can hold over 200000 bacteria per square inch. Modes of infection vary. Remember that household members do more than just walk on the carpet. Those video games played while resting on the cost carpet, wrestling matches especially for the kids, watching some TV – the pathogens can be easily picked up, and once they get into the body system an assortment of problems can arise. Let’s take a look at the different germs that could be in your carpet.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
This infamous superbug can be running rampant in your carpet, especially for households with members frequenting gyms and locker rooms. The nasty bug can be picked up in such environments, carried on shoes or gym bags. When these items get on the carpet, they can transfer the pathogens. They get into the body via cuts on the skin.
- Salmonella
There have been plenty of studies that have found Salmonella in carpet fibres, mainly being carried into the house from the soles of the shoes. This is especially the case where individuals have some contact with livestock.
- Campylobacter
This pathogen is particularly prevalent over the winter months in the damp carpets. It causes campylobacteriosis, and is especially problematic for people who have compromised immune symptoms. Kids, who enjoy playing on the carpet then putting their hands in their mouth can easily pick up the patterns, placing them at higher risk. A deep carpet cleaning will kill the pathogens, protecting your loved ones.
- Micrococcus
This pathogen is particularly problematic for persons with compromised immune systems. From serious skin infections to issues like septic shock and meningitis – you don’t want there to be a breakout in your home.
Mould growths
Spores float around the indoor air space, and some get trapped by the fibres of the carpet. Ordinarily, the routine vacuuming and carpet cleaning should remove them. However, when there is excess moisture in the carpet for a long period – like when a spill is left unattended to for long, or when the carpet is left too wet after the DIY carpet cleaning, then the spores get a chance to grow into an all-out fungal infestation. This needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The mould produces mores spores and mycotoxins, which can be inhaled and put the persons on the premises at risk. One of the benefits of the powerful drying systems used by the carpet cleaning professionals is preventing mould growth in the first place, protecting your unit and the residents in the house.
Frequent vacuuming is necessary to reduce the rate at which allergens build up in the carpet – but deep carpet cleaning is still needed. This is because the vacuums are designed to remove the loose soiling, and lacks the power needed to yank out the grime that is embedded within the fibres of the material. Note that for the cleaning processes being used, particular care should be made when selecting the products. After all, you don’t want your household members being exposed to toxic fumes. The rinsing and extraction process should also be thorough, since chemical residue left behind within the carpet also poses a risk especially to the kids and pets.
Professional carpet cleaning companies are turning to eco-friendly products, which pack a punch in breaking down those stubborn stain and dirt spots, while still protecting the biodiversity around the home. As you discuss the project with your preferred contractor, ask about the kinds of products and systems that will be used. Note that this will also be determined by the particular type of carpet. These natural and synthetic fabric carpets have their different modes of approach. Actually, one of the mistakes that is usually seen with DIY carpet cleaning stories is the individual using the wrong chemicals, which end up corroding the fibres of the carpet or causing stains to be more permanent in the material. Getting a professional to handle the cleaning is always preferred given that they have the skills and experience needed to deliver a deep cleaning without posing a risk to the unit.
