How Carpet Can Affect The Health Of Those In The Home
Carpets can be a great addition to a home, but it can also adversely affect the health of those who live in the home. This is because of the dirt and bacteria that accumulate in them over time, as well as a host of allergens that can get stirred up when they are dirty.
Airborne Particles
Airborne particles are small insoluble particulates, ranging from a few nanometers (1 nm) to a few millimeters (0.1 mm). These can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and even into the bloodstream, where they can cause significant effects on the body’s ability to regenerate. Airborne dust is produced by a variety of sources, including soil being lifted up by weather, volcanic eruptions, and pollution. These dusts are transported through the atmosphere and can affect visibility. As these particles enter the lungs, they can trigger a number of health problems, such as coughing, sneezing, and trouble breathing. This can be particularly difficult for those who have asthma or other pre-existing conditions.
Allergens
Despite carpet’s insulating ability, it also collects and holds dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, and other allergens. These allergens then circulate in the air when you walk or vacuum and can irritate your respiratory system. In addition, carpets are very absorbent of sound waves which can make it difficult for people with respiratory issues to breathe easily and may increase symptoms. Choosing carpets with thicker fibers and a good quality pad can help reduce noise levels in your home. Moreover, many carpets release toxic chemicals into the air which are harmful to your health. Those chemicals include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde, which are both known to cause adverse health effects.
Chemicals
Some carpet cleaning chemicals and some new carpets, as well as the adhesives used to affix them to your floor, contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit gases and chemicals that can have adverse health effects. These chemicals include formaldehyde, xylene and benzene, which are known carcinogens. Optical brighteners are also present in many carpet-cleaning products and can be harmful. Some can even make your carpet look yellow, which can be an irritant to eyes and respiratory tracts. There are a number of other ways to help prevent exposure to these pollutants and protect the people in your home. For example, try to choose hard-surface floors or rugs that can be removed and cleaned outside; use vacuums that have a HEPA filter; and avoid using adhesives with phthalates.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic insects that live in mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture and carpet. They feed on flakes of dead skin that people and animals shed. They can trigger allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose and nasal congestion. In severe cases, dust mite allergies can cause asthma and eczema. The best way to reduce the number of mites in your home is to reduce the places where they can gather. Vacuum your furniture and floors often. You can also wash throw rugs in hot water weekly to kill them. This is especially important if you have concrete floors that remain damp and provide a warm environment for mites.
Mold
Mold is a fungi that can grow on many different types of surfaces, including floors, walls, appliances, carpet, and furniture. It can also grow in damp areas in homes, such as basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces. If a home has a lot of mold, the spores can be harmful to those with allergies or respiratory conditions. They can also cause asthma, sinus infections, and bronchitis. To be safe, you should dry water damaged materials within 24-48 hours and clean up any mold you find immediately. This is especially important for areas where children will be playing.
Vacuuming is an essential part of keeping your home clean and free of pet odors. Not only does it remove hair and dander from carpets, but it also helps keep your respiratory system healthy. Pet hair and dander can build up in your carpets much faster than it does in your own hair, which means that it’s a good idea to vacuum often.
Wash Removable Sofa Parts
Removable sofa parts like pillows, cushions and throw blankets can be a great place for pet odors to accumulate. Make sure you wash them as soon as you can after being used. You can do this by hand or with an upholstery attachment on your vacuum hose. These come with brushes to help pick up hair and dander from your upholstery. Using white vinegar on stain-causing areas is also effective. Spray it on the affected area and then blot with paper towels or a T-shirt. Another natural solution is baking soda, which can absorb odors and leave the fabric smelling fresher. It should be applied sparingly to avoid leaving stains.
Apply A Fabric Refresher
You can use a fabric refresher to remove pet odors from sofas, curtains, and other fabrics. It is safe and effective to use on most fabrics and can be used as a spot cleaner or in a fabric dryer. Unlike spray air fresheners, fabric fresheners go to the source of odors. They are specially formulated to eliminate bad smells and leave your fabrics smelling fresh again. Apply a bottle of Fabric Refresher to any fabric in your home that has pet odor. These stains are caused by your pet’s urine or fecal matter, which contains bacteria that produces ammonia with a bad smell.
Wash Throw Pillows
Nothing adds a pop of color and texture to a room like a few throw pillows. However, if you have pets in your home, it can be difficult to keep those pillows looking and smelling their best. To remove pet odors, it is important to wash your decorative pillows on a regular basis. How often will depend on how frequently they are used in your home, but a monthly washing is typically enough to keep them fresh and free of pet odor.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural odor absorber that works especially well in pet-occupied areas like carpets and other upholstery. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the area, let it sit overnight, and vacuum up afterward. Alternatively, you can mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the affected areas. This will remove most pet odors. In addition, baking soda will also help kill fleas and other insects in your carpets. It’s a great way to prevent these bugs from infesting your home again, since they feed on the fibers of your rug and can damage them very easily.
Many people are desperate to know how to clean carpet stains, and in their desperation, they often make mistakes that can damage their carpets or make the stain worse. We want to help you ensure you don’t make some of the most common mistakes when cleaning your carpet.
Do Not Rub
Rubbing the carpet aggressively is bad for the fibers of the carpet. You can worsen the stain by rubbing it harshly. It is better to dab at the stain to get it out from the surface without deepening it into the fibers.
Do Not Wait
While you may need to call in a professional cleaner, you don’t want to wait to deal with a stain. You’ll want to deal with any stains as quickly as possible, even if you can’t get perfect results right away. It’s best to prevent spills from soaking into the carpet as soon as possible.
Watch for Chemicals
Chemicals aren’t evil, but using a lot of them isn’t for the best. You don’t want to just dump all the cleaners you have on the stain and see what works. Using too many chemicals can cause damage to the carpet and leave an unsightly residue. Always be sparing with the chemicals you use and add chemicals gradually.
Always Test Your Product
People often just attack the stain without testing the cleaning product. This is a mistake because you always want to test the product on a small patch of your carpet before using it on a large patch. Products can cause discoloration or other fiber issues. Thus, it is best to test products on a small part of your carpet in a discrete area (such as a corner rather than in the middle).
All Spills Don’t Require the Same Treatment
Many people have a go-to treatment for their carpets, but the issue with this mindset is that not all stains respond to treatments in the same way. Thus, it’s so easy to use a product you think will work but isn’t actually designed to fix your problems.
Deodorizing Products Are Damaging
Deodorizing products market themselves as being great for making your home fresher, but the issue with these products is that they can hurt the fibers of your carpet, making it look worn and dingy before its time. Don’t use deodorizing powders on your carpet!
Choose a Professional Cleaner
Too many people are hesitant to involve professionals. It’s normal to want to fix spills or other floor issues yourself, but when you try to do it all on your own, you can make stains worse or simply don’t have the quality tools required to get the best results. Just like you have to see a doctor for regular check-ups, regular cleanings from professionals is vital to your floor’s health.
What Is the Best Carpet Cleaner?
At Lov ‘N Care Carpet Center, we are a company in South Amboy, NJ, and we have the full range of floor-care services you need for your home to feel like home because the best carpet cleaning products will depend on the nature of your damage and floor.
Having stained or dull floors can be stressful and discouraging, but whether you need your carpets cleaned or services for hardwood and tile floors, we’ll give you the help you need for your home to sparkle like it’s new. We’ve been doing this since 1948, serving those living in South Amboy, Perth Amboy, Old Bridge Township, East Brunswick, and Hazelet. Our experts will be glad to help.
Are you wondering how often you should get your carpets cleaned? Why should you get your carpets professionally cleaned? Well, there are many reasons behind this. However, depending on your living space and how much traffic you have on your carpet, etc., the amount of time you should go in between cleanings will vary.
Getting Your Carpets Cleaned
Vacuuming Carpets
When it comes to vacuuming your carpets, you should do this at least once every week if you and your family are rarely ever home. If you are home more, you should consider vacuuming twice or more a week. Cleaning your carpets on a daily basis can reduce allergens and dirt, especially if you have pets or children running around your home. With that being said, if you have children or pets, you should clean your carpets daily or at least twice every week.
Shampooing Carpets
When it comes to shampooing your carpets, you should probably do this once a year to have all grime, dirt, and allergens removed. However, this can also vary depending on several factors in your household. For example, if you have children or pets, you may want to shampoo your carpets on a regular basis, whether that be every 3-6 months or 6-12 months.
Cleaning Carpets With Kids
Kids are not the cleanest, especially younger children. Older children also have the ability to get germs and dirt on them. Some kids are better than others, but you will still have to clean up spilled juice and muddy messes from time to time. You should vacuum every few days, if not daily. Shampoo your carpets every 6 months. Additionally, you should have the professionals come out and clean them for you. If you are wondering, "Why should professionals clean your carpets?" it’s because they can ensure a good, quality clean. Professionals are equipped with high-quality equipment that you won’t be able to get on your own, which will ensure deep cleaning.
Cleaning Light Colored Carpets
If you have light-colored carpets, they will easily show dirt. This type of carpet will require more frequent cleanings. You will also want to make sure you are diligent in your cleaning routine if you have light or white carpets, which means you should vacuum at least twice a week and shampoo once every 6 months. If you notice more dinginess, you should shampoo them more often.
Cleaning Carpets for Allergy Sufferers
Carpets can filter out allergens and dust. However, they are not great when they do build up. If you are using a HEPA filter with your vacuum, you are already one step ahead at keeping those allergens at bay. However, no matter how much you clean your carpet, allergens tend to build up over time either way. This is why you should shampoo your carpets every two months to get rid of these allergens. If you have severe allergies, consider having a professional come shampoo your carpets every three months.
Traditionally, a majority of the homeowners take their drapes and curtains to the professionals for cleaning services. This explains why it has not been a common practice to find homeowners undertaking drape cleaning services on their own. However, if you want to clean drapes at home, some approaches follow.
1. Identify the Material
You should know that different drape materials will always require other cleaning methods. Therefore, the first step is to identify the fabric of your drape. This way, you will be able to determine the most appropriate cleaning method and products. Some materials are delicate, and they might require hand washing, while others can do with machine washing.
2. Check the Care Label
If you want to clean your drapes at home, check the care label. The care label will usually have all the instructions you need to follow in cleaning your drape without causing any damage. Carefully follow all the instructions provided on the care label. Traditionally, most drapes will have a “dry clean only” label.
3. Start by Dusting
You should also start by dusting your drapes before you can proceed to any other form of cleaning. Dust accumulates on curtains, making the fabric look dull. You can use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to dust your drape. Ensure that you vacuum both sides of the drape to remove all the dust.
4. Test the Cleaning Products
You should also test the cleaning products before using them on your drape. This is because some materials are sensitive, and they might get damaged by some cleaning products. To test the products, you should apply a small amount to an inconspicuous area of the drape and observe to see if there are any adverse effects.
5. Wash According to the Instructions
Once you have tested the products, you can proceed to wash your drape according to the instructions provided. If you are hand-washing, you should use cool water and a mild detergent. You should also use cool water and a mild detergent for machine washing. Avoid using hot water as it might damage the fabric.
6. Dry Your Drapes
After washing, you should proceed to dry your drapes. You can either air dry or machine dry. However, you should avoid using high heat when machine drying as it might damage the fabric. Drying drapes and curtains can be challenging, and it might take some time. However, you should be patient and allow them to dry completely.
You can also iron your drape after it has dried completely. This is an optional step, but it will help remove any wrinkles on the fabric. You should use a cool setting when ironing and avoid using high heat as it might damage the fabric.
Conclusion
Cleaning your drapes at home is not as demanding a task as it might seem. With the right approach and products, you can easily clean your drape without causing any damage. However, in some instances, you’ll need professional drape cleaning services. Reach out to Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center for your drape cleaning needs.
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