Carpet Cleaning and Allergies
Allergic rhinitis affects around 10%-30% of people throughout the entire world. These people may be sensitive to a lot of allergen types, from pollen to dust, pet dander, or mould. Due to high foot traffic, many of these allergens find their way into people’s carpets. Regular carpet cleaning has been shown to reduce allergens, therefore preventing further triggers. Gunner Reynolds, the owner of Wow Carpet Cleaning Brisbane done his own research and write this article for issues readers.
Hot Versus Dry: The Pros and Cons When it comes to carpet cleaning, you have two options: hot water extraction and dry cleaning. One option uses pressure to push hot water into the carpet, whereas the other uses powder and limited water to clean the surface.
1. Using Hot Water Extraction (HWE) The main benefit of hot water extraction is that it uses pressure to remove dirt from the entire carpet – which means the bottom as well. If there are any build-ups at the bottom, then hot water will remove the allergens and improve the hygiene of the carpet. The main problem is that hot water extraction uses water – and if the carpet is not given enough time to dry in proper conditions, it can lead to mould growth. This can further trigger allergies in sensitive people.
2.Dry Cleaning Dry Cleaning uses limited amounts of water or sometimes no water at all, which means there is no risk for the carpet to develop mould and mildew. It also makes it less likely for the carpet to attract dust mites, as there will be little to no humidity on the carpet. The issue is that dry cleaning can leave powder residue on the carpet – which can cause a lot of discomfort for some people. Even if no powder is left, dry cleaning only cleans the surface, so if there are any allergens at the bottom of the carpet, the cleaning technique may not catch them. Plus, no matter if they are for carpets or clothing, certain dry cleaning solutions can trigger an allergic reaction. This is why you may want to discuss matters with your carpet cleaner so that they choose a product appropriate for your situation.
Removing Allergens from the Carpet Many people, especially those who are struggling with conditions such as asthma, can be heavily affected by allergens in the carpets. Most of the allergens come into your home and fall into the carpet, triggering an allergy or an asthma attack. Seeing that you spend a lot of time indoors, it’s important to remove those allergens.
Carpet cleaning can remove a variety of allergens from the carpet, including dust mites and pet dander. Regular dry cleaning can keep the allergens from settling too deep into the carpet, whereas steam cleaning can go even deeper into the surface of the carpet.
Removing Bacteria and Viruses Bacteria and viruses are a significant health concern and a possible cause for triggering allergies as well. Carpet cleaning can help remove germs from the carpet, provided the right technique is used. Hot water extraction can eliminate contaminants from the carpets using high temperatures, as bacteria and viruses cannot survive these conditions. If certain sanitizers are used, dry cleaning may also be used to remove bacteria types that cause allergies.
Improving Indoor Air Quality Most of the allergens from the air are caused by people walking over allergen-filled carpets, sending the particles right back into the air. In a high-traffic room, this can significantly decrease the quality of the air. Regular carpet cleaning degreases the mass of allergens – therefore, increasing the indoor air quality. As there will no longer be as many contaminants sent back into the air, the air quality will also improve.
Tips for Allergy Sufferers Very often, dealing with allergies means that you will need to reduce the triggers yourself. Here are a few carpet cleaning tips that you will want to keep in mind.
1. Vacuum Regularly If you are suffering from allergies, you may want to vacuum as frequently as you can – don’t forget to vacuum behind and under the furniture as well. Unseen allergens tend to lay forgotten there, which can trigger an allergy episode. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to keep the allergens from coming back. And remember, you need to vacuum your furniture as well; upholstery tends to gather a lot of allergens.
2.Clean the Spills Whenever you spill something on the carpet, you may want to clean it as soon as possible. Once that spill dries out, not only will it leave a difficult stain, but it will also send dried allergens back into the air. Blot the spill, don’t rub it in; rubbing will only push the allergens farther into the carpet.
3.Remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) When someone has problems with allergies, sometimes the nose does not know what triggers it. Cleaning products with a high VOCs level have a strong smell that can be quite irritating on the nose.
So, by trying to get rid of an old allergen, you are making it worse by bringing in new allergens to the table. Make sure that the products used for cleaning the carpet have low VOC levels.
The Bottom Line Regular cleaning of your carpets can help reduce most of the allergens in your home, as long as the right cleaning techniques are used. Bear in mind that while most of the allergens gather on the carpet, some will settle on the upholstery as well. It might be a good idea to have all of them cleaned regularly.
This document is published by
Wow Carpet Cleaning Brisbane Address: 4/333 Ann Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000 Phone Number: 07 3184 4008
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