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.
Carpeting is the number one choice when it comes to flooring in a playroom. It’s soft underfoot, which makes it great for crawling, playing and accidental falls. However, not all carpeting is created equal—choosing the wrong carpet for kids’ rooms in South Amboy, NJ can lead to disaster. Continue reading to learn a few things to consider when you’re picking out new carpeting.
Stain resistance
As all parents know, kids are prone to spilling their drinks, dropping crumbs or tracking mud through their playroom. Because of this, it’s important to choose a carpet made of a material like nylon, which is better at defending against stains than some other options.
Durability
Playroom carpeting needs to stand up to plenty of wear and tear. For that reason, we recommend avoiding plush or shag carpeting, as these are easily susceptible to tears—but don’t worry, there’s no reason to sacrifice appearance for durability! Thickly textured carpeting, like long-crimped yarns or cut-and-loop designs, offer durability and a great appearance.
Affordability
New carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ shouldn’t cost a fortune for a playroom. After all, the kids will be the ones spending the most time there. Nylon is another great choice in terms of affordability, but there are plenty of other options out there to consider.
To save big bucks on installation without sacrificing quality, be sure to shop at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We have the best deals on all of the top name brands.
Color options
Picking out the carpeting color for a playroom is just as important as choosing it for any other room in the house. While you still want to complement the room’s walls, consider a multicolor option to hide stains or other imperfections on the floor.
Another option would be going with a darker color that easily hides stains. Just don’t sacrifice the room’s appearance in the name of hiding flaws in the carpeting.
How can Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center help?
Nobody beats our team when it comes to all things related to a carpet for kids’ rooms in South Amboy, NJ. Here are a few ways we can meet your carpeting needs:
Installation: Nobody tops us when it comes to new carpet installation. Whether you’re choosing a durable and affordable carpet for the playroom or a luxurious carpet for the family room, we have you covered.
Cleaning: We know accidents don’t just happen in the kids’ room. Our team is equipped to handle whole-home cleaning or smaller spot-cleaning jobs. We even guarantee our work by letting homeowners inspect the carpeting before paying their bill.
Repairs: Sometimes an accident is more than just a small spill. Carpet damage is common in every room in a home. For that reason, we specialize in carpet repairs. Whether it’s burned, water-damaged or ripped, we can fix it.
The choice is clear if you need cleaning, repairs or new carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ—call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center! Contact us today to get an estimate or to learn about all of our other services.
Not all carpet fibers are created equal. Carpet comes in a wide variety of materials, and each type has its own pros and cons. If you are considering new carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ, you should start this process by deciding what type of carpet fiber is best for your home and lifestyle. To help you do that, our team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center has put together a list of some of the most common carpet materials:
Polyester: Polyester may be one of the most commonly-used fibers in carpets. Polyester is remarkably stain-resistant, easy to clean and non-allergenic. It also comes in a wide range of colors, patterns, styles and textures, making it one of the most versatile fibers for your home. Keep in mind, however, that it is not as durable as other fibers and may not be best for high-traffic areas.
Nylon: Looking to carpet a high-traffic area? You may want to consider a carpet made with nylon fibers. Nylon is a strong fiber and is highly resistant to crushing and other damage. Nylon is also hypoallergenic, easy to clean and resistant to mildew. On the downside, nylon can be prone to static.
Wool: Wool has long been and will continue to be the fiber known for offering the utmost in style and comfort. It has a rich, deep feel to it that many people find appealing. Wool is also a natural fiber that doesn’t waste natural resources, which makes it good for the environment. Wool also compares favorably with manmade materials in other departments—for example, it’s naturally stain-resistant and durable. Keep in mind, however, that wool is also the most expensive carpet fiber.
Polypropylene (olefin): While this carpet is not nearly as expensive as wool, it gives the impression of wool fibers, which means you can get the look of wool without having to pay top dollar for it. Olefin is perfect for areas that are likely to experience moisture. Because this type of material is dyed before being made into fibers for carpeting, it is quite colorfast. However, it can lose its color if it is frequently exposed to direct sunlight.
Acrylic: Unlike polyester and nylon, carpet made from acrylic fibers is less likely to fade in direct sunlight. This fiber is also easy to clean and, in many ways, it mimics wool fibers in texture and feel.
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a carpet, including color, style and budget, but the most important thing is to determine what type of carpet fiber will best meet your needs. If you are unsure how you can get a carpet you love that will also be functional for your home and family, the experts at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center can help! We do more than just carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ. We also offer carpet repair and cleaning services, which means we have valuable insight into what works and what doesn’t. To learn more, just call us today!
When selecting a new carpet for your home or business, there are a lot of considerations to be taken into account. Pattern, texture, thickness and many other factors play a role in the decision, but one stands out more than the rest: color.
Color is the determining factor for most carpet installations in South Amboy, NJ for a few reasons. Obviously, you want the color of your carpet to match your home and furniture. Color is also important, though, when working to conceal the effects of heavy foot traffic and stains.
Most home and business owners cringe at the thought of white carpeting, and for good reason—white carpets are guaranteed to show any and all dirt and stains that accumulate over time. But is white easier to clean stains from? And what color carpet is the best at hiding the most common stains?
Dark or light?
White carpet is easier to remove stains from than dark carpets because you can more easily use chemical agents, like bleach, to lift the stain’s color. Using bleach on a dark carpet will cause discoloration that will stick out.
However, dark-colored carpets are better at concealing stains. Dark brown carpet, in particular, is the best color to have if you need to conceal any number of stains, from red wine to dirt. Be wary when cleaning these stains, though, so you don’t accidentally lighten the carpet and make the areas that are the most frequently soiled suddenly more obvious to guests.
Choosing colors
If you’re looking to install a colored carpet in your home or business, darker versions of the color will hide stains better than lighter versions, especially colors like plum or navy. However, you’ll want to keep in mind that colored carpets can be extremely difficult to maintain, with or without stains, as cleaners can reduce the vibrancy of the color and leave it looking washed-out.
Consider patterns
Solid-colored carpets tend to be popular in most homes and businesses, but that doesn’t mean a patterned carpet won’t look good, too! Patterns can help draw the eye away from dirt or stains, unlike solid colors, and may also help stains blend in if there are multiple colors in the design.
A bold-patterned carpet may be the ideal choice if you expect a lot of foot traffic or heavy staining in a particular area. The intricate designs and multitude of colors can draw the eye away from stains.
A speckled-style carpet may also help conceal stains better than a solid color. Dirt may blend in more easily because of the random pattern of the specks.
Speak with the experts
Before your carpet installation, make sure you consider what type of stains you expect in that particular area of the home or building. Will red wine be a consistent issue, or are you more concerned about mud from outdoors? Once you know what stains you’ll probably need to conceal, you can make a more informed decision.
Additionally, newer rugs come with stain-resistant fibers that make them last longer and look better. Ask your carpet provider about what kinds of rugs and treatments will help you avoid stains, so you can even go with white carpeting if you so desire.
If you’re interested in new carpet installation in South Amboy, NJ, call Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center. We offer a variety of carpet services, including installation, stretching and cleaning. We also clean hardwood flooring, tile, grout and much more! Call today for a free estimate.
Your pets bring joy to your life each and every day. Though you love your pets, they can be a problem if your home is carpeted. From knocking over drinks to having accidents on the floor, pets can cause a lot of headaches. What are you going to do, though? It’s not like you can just get rid of your cat or dog! Don’t get mad at your pet the next time he has an accident on the floor. Instead, follow these simple cleaning instructions from professional providers of carpet installation and repair in South Amboy, NJ.
First things first, get a white paper towel or cloth and start blotting the urine spot as soon as you see it. You’ll want to keep blotting the stain until it’s as dry as possible. Your goal in doing this is to dry the area without grinding the stain further into the fibers of the carpet. Make sure your paper towel or cloth isn’t colored, as that coloring could bleed onto the carpet.
After the area is dry, mix together a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. Mix enough of the solution so that it can get down into each of the carpet’s fibers. Pour the solution onto the stain and scrub it with a toothbrush. The vinegar should work to neutralize the ammonia in the urine without also discoloring your carpet. Once you’ve sufficiently scrubbed the stain, get out the paper towels and start blotting the area dry again.
Next, get out the baking soda and sprinkle one or two handfuls over the stain. Once you’ve covered the stain with baking soda, mix one half-cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and pour that on top of the baking soda. Get your toothbrush out again, and once again start scrubbing. This mixture will do wonders to lift the stain while deodorizing it, as well.
Once the stain is dry (and hopefully gone), go over the area with your vacuum. Remember, timing is everything when it comes to stains—especially pet stains! The sooner you’re able to get in and start working on it, the better your chances that the stain will come out. The longer that urine sits untreated on the carpet, the deeper the liquid will soak in, and the worse your carpet might end up looking.
If all else fails, you’ll need to bring in professionals to clean your carpet. Luckily, the pros can remove practically any type of stain, regardless of where it came from or how big it is. And the best part? Our services are affordable for any budget. Give us a call today to learn more about our pricing and services.
At Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center, we specialize in carpet installation and repair in South Amboy, NJ, so you can trust that we’ll be able to get rid of that stain once and for all. We have years of industry experience removing stains and getting carpets back to looking good as new.
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