How to Protect Carpets From Indoor Air Pollution
For every person who loves the feel of carpet with bare feet, there are others who consider carpet to be the worst flooring and the first thing we rip out when we move in. Carpet hatred is not only aesthetic—carpet can be difficult to keep clean , and is often only superficially “clean” no matter what we do.
Is carpet really that bad?
Research has shown that carpet can “serve as a pollutant store,” which is a fancy way of saying that dirt, insects, and all the skin and hair we shed regularly can get caught up in the carpet pile and “re-suspend” in it. air as we walk on it. And even “clean” carpets release tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) . All of these factors can affect your health .
But what if you hate carpet but are stuck in an all-carpet rental? Your landlord probably won’t let you do your own new flooring, so you’ll have to live with the material. If you have carpet in your home and are worried about its effect on your health, there are some things you can do to minimize your worries.
Stick to the “no shoes in the house” rule.
One of the simplest and most effective things you can do is stick to a no-shoes-in-the-house policy. In case you haven’t noticed, the outside world is mostly dirt, and our shoes track tons of dirt, as well as pesticides, ice-melting salts, animal excrement, and pretty much anything else that gets into the dirt quickly. carpet.
Having entry mats or rugs right inside the door will also help, as they take advantage of carpet’s tendency to trap dirt to your advantage, helping to lock it in one place. Combined with the rule of taking off your shoes, entry mats can greatly reduce the amount of pollutants that enter your home in the first place.
Schedule a weekly cleaning
One of the most important aspects of healthy carpets is vacuuming. Don’t assume that just because the carpet looks and “feels” clean, it is – there’s a lot of dust, dirt, and germs in that pile, and all of that ends up in the air you breathe every time you walk on it.
Invest in the right high quality vacuum cleaner for your home and use it at least once a week on your carpet – and spend some time there, criss-crossing it several times to dislodge stuck dirt. Make sure the vacuum cleaner you choose is equipped with a high-efficiency particulate filter (HEPA) that prevents microscopic dirt particles from escaping your vacuum cleaner and circulating in the air.
Finally, clean up spills and stains right away with an all-natural cleaner. Allowing stains to “harden” will only hasten your carpet’s transformation into a germ factory, and the use of harsh chemical cleaners can further degrade indoor air quality. A simple cleaner made from vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda will remove most stains without making you dizzy.
Do an annual steam cleaning
Even with regular vacuuming, your carpet will still collect a lot of dirt throughout the year, so consider steam cleaning it once a year. The key here is to use ” dry steam cleaning ” which combines very low humidity with powdered cleaners and high temperature to clean and sterilize your carpet without leaving it wet. Traditional steam cleaning is also very effective at cleaning carpets, but it can take a while to dry completely, leaving your carpets vulnerable to mildew if you’re not vigilant about drying them.
Whichever method you choose, deep cleaning your carpets once a year will prevent dangerous contaminants from building up in them. It will also prolong the life of the carpet, keeping it “like new” for longer.
Ventilate your home to improve airflow
Finally, think about the airflow in your home. Carpeting affects your health because of the dirt and germs it traps and then releases into your home, as well as the gases it gives off. One of the best ways to counter them is to make sure your home is well ventilated. If you have a central air conditioner, make sure your filters are new and clean and your air ducts have been serviced recently. When the weather is nice, open windows and doors to let in fresh air and use fans to circulate it.