Did You Know: Clean Carpet is Good for Your Health

If you have carpet in your home, chances are it’s harboring a wide variety of harmful particles that can negatively impact your health. Did you know your carpet is likely dirtier than your toilet seat? It’s true, just one square inch of your carpet could be harboring up to 200,000 bacteria! If you aren’t in the habit of cleaning your carpets regularly, for the sake of your health, now is the time to start. How can regular carpet cleanings impact your health? Read on to learn how dirty carpets affect your body and what you can do to stay healthy.

Respiratory Health

According to Total Care Cleaning & Restoration, your carpet is your home’s biggest filter and can have a meaningful impact on the air quality in your home. Whether you realize it or not, there are thousands, perhaps millions of bacteria, microorganisms, fungi, mold spores, dust mites, and other off-putting particles lingering in your carpet fibers. If you’re sensitive to these particles, you may experience the following irritating respiratory symptoms:

• Asthma
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent coughing

Because these irritating symptoms are often thought to result from seasonal allergies, many people don’t realize that their carpets may be the source of their symptoms. A thorough carpet cleaning can remove harmful buildup from your carpets and help restore the health of your respiratory system.

Skin Health

If you experience ongoing skin issues, you may not readily assume your carpet is the culprit. Yet, despite its unassuming nature, carpet harbors many types of harmful bacteria and chemicals that can irritate your skin. Issues such as eczema, allergic contact dermatitis, itchy skin, rashes, and even athlete’s foot can all be traced back to fungi, bacteria, and irritants that may be residing in your carpet. To eradicate these irritants, make sure you practice regular carpet cleaning. Ideally, you should clean high-traffic areas every 12 to 18 months using a high-powered steam cleaner since the chemicals in many commercial carpet cleaning products can further irritate your skin. You should also perform a thorough, whole-house carpet cleaning once every two years. Between professional cleanings consider using a gentle cleaner, such as Ecover, to prevent any extra irritation from chemicals if you have sensitive skin.

Cognitive Health

Carpets have a tendency to harbor harmful bacteria and mold growth. While most people think of the typical runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and skin problems when it comes to dirty carpets, respiratory and skin issues could be just the tip of the iceberg. Mold growth within your carpet fibers can have a much more deleterious effect on your body than you may even realize cognitive complications. It’s true if you have toxic mold buildup in your carpet, you may experience brain fog, confusion, irritability, and even personality changes. If you’ve been experiencing inexplicable cognitive or emotional changes, eradicating mold development with a thorough carpet cleaning may prove helpful. According to Rabbit Air, an air filter can help with eliminating the spores in the air as well, so consider installing an air filtration system after getting your carpet cleaned.

Your unassuming carpet may have more of a negative effect on your health than anything else in your home. Make sure you stay consistent with your carpet cleanings, and you may be surprised at just how much better you feel.

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