Carpeting can make our homes look warmer and more inviting. It is soft enough for babies to walk on, it reduces noise levels, and it is more cost-effective than stone, tile, or wood flooring.
Carpet provides the healthful role of filtering the air. Carpet acts like a trap, keeping dust and allergens out of the air we breathe. Basically, what falls to the carpet tends to stay trapped in the carpet until it is removed through vacuuming.
Unlike smooth floor surfaces that allow dust and other allergens to recirculate into the breathing zone, properly maintained carpet actually contributes to improved air quality.
According to the American Lung Association, homeowners spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors. The Environmental Protection Agency states that indoor air is up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air, which shows how important air quality is.
Ventilation and cleanliness go hand-in-hand when improving the air quality in your home. If you have allergies, be sure that your home is properly ventilated. Use common sense when opening windows. Things like paint smells, tobacco smoke, and radon negatively impact air quality.
If you love to have the windows open, but know that you will have trouble during the high-pollen seasons, you may want to invest in a good air purifier. Istall HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) or other high-quality filters on your ventilation system to help cut down the number of pollen spores in the air and, potentially, in your carpet.
Keeping your carpet clean can help reduce or eliminate any allergic reaction you may be having. To reduce allergens in your carpeted home:
Place doormats at each entrance.
Invest in a high-quality air purifier.
Install special vent filters on your ventilation system.
Vacuum twice a week. This alone can greatly reduce allergens in the air.
Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter or other "allergen containment" system.
Wear a surgical-style dust mask when cleaning to avoid breathing in any dust, dander, or other allergens.
Avoid decorating with soft upholstery, tapestries, thick drapes or long, heavy curtains that are difficult to wash and attract dust. Instead, use shutters, blinds, or light, washable curtains on your windows. Use furniture with canvas, leather, or some other dense, easily cleaned fabric.
Clean up spills quickly. Blot with a clean cloth, do not rub or grind into the carpet.
If you move into a new house where the past owners had pets, and you are allergic to pet dander, have the carpet deep-cleaned before moving your furnishings and clothing in. For the first few weeks you live there, vacuum at least twice a week using a powerful vacuum with a HEPA filter. While there will probably still be some small pieces of dander and/or hair in the carpet fibers you will have significantly fewer problems and could potentially eliminate the need for costly new flooring.
Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to http://greencleancertified.com and http://maidbrigade.com. To learn more about the asthma and allergy triggers in your home, or to learn more about household products and breast cancer, please log on to http://www.greencleancertified.com/greentv
