Is your carpeting making you sick in the Lehigh Valley area?

Cleaning your carpet is not only important for aesthetic reasons, but also a way to keep your family healthy.

There are certainly times when carpets are obviously dirty, and nobody wants their beautiful, posh, expensive carpet to be called dirty when it’s visually not, however, carpets and rugs can look clean to the naked eye while harboring dirt, dander, bacteria, and other harmful irritants. Once these irritants make it into the air you breathe in your home, they eventually end up in your lungs where they can cause issues.

Once these irritants have accumulated in your carpet, they can cause problems such as skin problems, respiratory issues, and potential mold growth. Having the carpet professionally cleaned to ensure proper care is important, but there are ways to slow down the accumulation of irritants that gather in your carpets.

Restoration 1 Lehigh Valley can professionally clean your carpeting, but in the meantime, try these tips to keep your carpet a little healthier.

Moisture filled damp areas are excellent breeding grounds for mold. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting by choosing area rugs for areas in your home that potentially hold a lot of moisture, such as bathrooms, the kitchen, laundry room, or basement. Also, avoid placing wall-to-wall carpeting in the rooms of people with allergies, asthma, COPD or other breathing issues as they may be susceptible to severe reactions if affected by the irritants.

Use a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum.

Using a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum weekly or bi-weekly is recommended by the National Center for Healthy Housing. It is also highly recommended that you pass the vacuum over the carpet multiple times, or at least one minute per square yard if your carpeting is on the thicker or shaggier side. HEPA vacuums contain filters that can help reduce dust so be sure to replace the filters as directed for the best results.

Take notice of unusual smells in the home.

Unpleasant or musty odors around your house could be a sign of mold or other bacteria. Mold can anywhere it wants to as long as the environment complies, such as in basements, behind or on walls, insulation… and yes, also under carpets. Indoor mold types have the greatest potential to create health problems. Take immediate action If you suspect mold issues, and have it checked by a mold expert so you can take steps to protect your family’s health.

Heavily soiled or worn carpet in the home should be replaced.

Through the years, irritants build up in and on carpets and replacing them with new, low-pile carpet is a good option for many homeowners. When the old carpet is being removed, be sure to use special care if the home was built before 1978 in case lead dust is under or in the carpeting or padding. Once removed, clean the walls and floor surfaces before adding new carpet. You can request that the carpet installers use low-emission adhesives to install the new carpeting or consider tacking it down instead of gluing.

Carpet Spot and Stain Removal Tips

You should refrain from rubbing any type of stain because it may end up causing the stain to be driven further into the carpet as well as damage the structure of the carpeting. Always start around the edge and work inward to avoid making the stain bigger.

Avoid harsh cleaning solutions and hot water as they can cause the structure of the stain to change and allow it to bond with the surface of your carpet. Use mild cleaning solutions and cooler water for cleaning carpet stains.

Because dirty carpets can cause many different problems, if you need help cleaning your carpet, Contact Restoration 1 Lehigh Valley today and for an estimate and schedule an appointment for professional carpet cleaning.