Carpet Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality

There's no question that having dirty carpets in your home can have an overall effect on your health and well-being over time. The build-up of allergens such as pollen and dust mites in your carpet can lead to poor air quality, which—in turn—can pose health risks such as colds, flu, stuffy noses, allergies, watery eyes, and even asthma! For those reasons alone, it's important to make sure you are living in a healthy environment with clean carpets.

The link between dirty carpets and air quality

What many people don't realize is that, just because they can't see any dirt particles or pollutants on their carpet, doesn't mean they aren't there. Over time, pollutants such as dirt, dust and pollen build up within the fibers of your carpet. For areas that get a lot of foot traffic, dirt and dust particles that have collected in the carpet tend to release back into the air and ultimately into our lungs as we breathe in the air in our homes. According to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality is often worse than that of outdoor air quality, which can lead to more serious health risks in the long run, such as respiratory diseases and heart disease. Any methods to improve indoor air quality is a step in the right direction, and having your carpets deep cleaned by a professional is one of them.
 

How to improve indoor air quality in your home

The most efficient way to improve air quality in your home is to take preventative measures in the first place. By following these tips and guidelines, you'll have peace of mind knowing that you are living in a much healthier environment:

• Make sure your carpets and floors have been professionally cleaned. Vacuuming them yourself or using a store-bought steam cleaner simply won't provide the best results. By having your carpets deep-cleaned by an IICRC-certified cleaner, you are ensuring that dust mites, pollen, dirt or other particles are fully extracted from deep within the fibers of your carpet. If you have area rugs and oriental carpets inside your house, be sure to have those professionally cleaned as well, as they can also trap dirt and bacteria.
• Eliminate the causes of the problem. Ensure that entrances to your home are free of dirt and use entry mats at every door to help prevent dirt and grime from being tracked in to the carpets from the bottom of your shoes.
• Stick to a cleaning schedule. Come up with a plan to have your floors (and even furniture) professionally cleaned AT LEAST once a year, preferably more often than that for even healthier living.