Does Carpet Cleaning Affect Indoor Air Quality?
That you didn’t know about carpet cleaning.
Most people reading this article are interested in having their carpets professionally cleaned. Doesn’t anyone really want fresh, clean carpets? We don’t like the hassle, the planning, and the fuss. It’s like going to the dentist: everyone wants strong, white teeth, but we hate going to the dentist.
Most people think of lounge carpet steam cleaning as the nasty streaks in the hallway and living room that are embarrassing every time they have guests over, or because Johnny Junior spilled his Kool-Aid in the middle of the bedroom, or because Johnny Senior spilled his coffee in the living room, or because Fifi spilled something “different” in the hallway. These are all legitimate reasons to clean your carpet, but did you know there’s a better reason to do it?
Most major carpet manufacturers require professional steam cleaning every 18 months and recommend professional cleaning once a year. But did you know that the EPA recommends following manufacturers’ instructions for proper carpet care to combat indoor air quality problems?
Here’s why.
Did you know that the EPA estimates that indoor air is typically several times more polluted than outdoor air? Did you know that the average American spends 90% of their time breathing polluted indoor air?
Obviously, someone needs to get outside and walk their dog! Maybe even go for a jog. But beyond that, what can you do to improve the air quality in your home?
Let’s start with a few reasons why indoor air quality can deteriorate.
1. Release chemicals
Cooking and cleaning release chemicals and odors into the indoor air. Over time, they build up in the surfaces and soft tissues of your home, increasing pollution levels more than you think.
2. Smoking.
You don’t have to explain anything! Of course, smoking is a personal choice, but we all accept the fact that it significantly degrades indoor air quality. (By the way, you’d probably be surprised how effectively we can eliminate smoke odors).
3. Look for “stuff” on the street.
You’ll be amazed at the variety and extent of what enters your home through the soles of your feet, your children’s and dogs’ feet, your clothes, and your hair. Pollen, tar, grease, dirt, sand, exhaust fumes, bacteria, fungi, pesticides, herbicides, and dozens of other chemicals and pollutants all find their way into your home, where statistically you spend 90% of your time.
4. If you have pets at home
it’s harder to keep your home clean. Dog and cat fur (just like human hair) is naturally greasy. Our bodies produce oil and distribute it throughout our fur to protect it and us from outside influences. Some people have more oil than others, and certain skin conditions can exacerbate the problem by exceeding the natural oil content.
The bottom line is that the oil is transferred from the fur or hair to any surface that animals lie or play on. These oils then attract any pollutants and contaminants that enter your home, exacerbating the air quality problem.
These are just a few of the major causes of indoor air pollution, and of course, this article is not meant to be an exhaustive study on the subject!
Let’s look at some ways to deal with air quality problems.
1. replace dead air with fresh, clean air.
This is a great idea, but it only works when it’s not raining, snowing, cold or even hot outside in the middle of July. We only live in houses to protect ourselves from the fury of Mother Nature! Opening windows is a good option but only works under ideal conditions, which is rare.
2. Reduce the influx of pollutants into your home.
This is not difficult… Use doormats at the door, take off your shoes, vacuum regularly, wash your dog with shampoo, don’t smoke indoors, use exhaust fans in the kitchen… There are dozens of ways to reduce the amount of pollutants that enter your home.
3. Clean your air filters.
And that’s where a good carpet cleaning comes in! Did you know that your carpet is often considered the largest air filter in your home? It really is. It’s an incredibly effective filter that traps and holds all the pet dander, chemicals, and dirt so it doesn’t float into the air you breathe.
However, there’s a catch. Just like the filter in your furnace, dirt builds up in the filter over time and it loses its effectiveness. Eventually, it gets so full that it starts releasing pollutants into the air, and you start breathing and smelling all that debris again.
At this point, carpets and upholstered furniture can become almost unhealthy because they are so full of “dirt”. With many filters, you can just throw them away and buy a new one. But with carpets and upholstered furniture, it becomes quite expensive. Carpets have been around for years and the industry has found a solution to this problem.
Carpets need to be steam cleaned every year or two to remove the dirt, abrasive sand, and grime that accumulates on the underside of the carpet and causes premature wear. With the right maintenance cleaning program, your carpet will last for years, not only as a beautiful, soft, warm and quiet surface for your home but as a great weapon in the fight against indoor air pollution.
It works quietly to pick up all the dirt in your home and hold it until your carpet cleaning professional arrives and removes it all, leaving your carpet fresh and clean again.
