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Carpet Cleaning and Health

7/25/2014

22 Comments

 
IICRC carpet cleaning classes, workshops, seminars
By Jeff Cross, Executive Editor

Wouldn't it be a better world if your customers, clients or facilities believed that listening to your experience and expertise would result in cleaner carpet and a healthier indoor environment?

Because of a lack of cleaning education on their part, it's a fact that most complaints about carpet are due to cleaning and maintenance issues.

There are billions of yards of carpet on the market crying out for better cleaning and maintenance.

Instead of analyzing current cleaning programs and increasing frequency of cleaning, consumers blame the product - the carpet.

Can we educate?

Because of the aforementioned problems, the carpet often looks terrible and the solution - to the consumer - is to replace them with hard flooring.

It's interesting that the hard floors in a home or facility will get a frequent cleaning, while carpet is ignored until it is blamed for non-performance.

And therein lurks the problem - and the solution. Clean each surface equally, with the same dedication, and you will see myths dispelled.

If we, as cleaning professionals, have a solid education as to how to clean all surfaces effectively and to the best of our abilities, we can pass this information on to decision makers, whether these are homeowners, building owners or facility managers.

Carpet myths abound in today''s world. Let's look at some of these that affect your customers or facilities.

Health comes first

A study commissioned in Sweden is often cited as proof that carpet is a good choice for healthier indoor air quality.

Many blamed carpet as the culprit for allergy sufferers. They said that carpet was the cause of poor indoor air quality. Interesting is the fact that allergic reactions and other illnesses blamed on carpet in homes and facilities went up dramatically during the years of less carpet usage.

Quite the opposite of what was expected.

Sweden has become a nation consuming less and less carpet, and at the same time, suffering more and more from what was originally blamed on carpet.

When you analyze and compare all living conditions in today's world, carpet actually makes a healthier home or facility. You don't have the dust load in the air as you do with hard floors - all things being equal, of course, and cleaned accordingly.

Dust mites and pet dander are often blamed for allergic reactions. Both can build up in carpet, and both can be found on hard floors. We won't even go into tobacco smoke, pollution from automobiles, pollens, and more...

When in carpet, the proper vacuum system - used regularly - along with regular carpet cleaning, keeps allergen levels low.

For hard floors, the proper dusting and mopping system is important. With just a small amount of air movement on a hard floor, allergens are swept up into the air and into the respiratory systems of occupants.

Potential carpet problem

Many people feel that carpet is a "dirt sink" that traps potentially dangerous contaminants.

True, and a positive aspect of carpet.

With carpet, the fibers act as a filter and hold onto contaminants until they can be vacuumed or cleaned. Hard floors do not do that.

One way to see this for yourself is to watch the air in a home or business when the sun is shining into the home. With carpeted surfaces, you see some dust in the air, but not much.

So you have two options:

Option #1: Carpet, which will hold onto dirt and contaminants until the carpet is either vacuumed or cleaned. Option #2: Hard floors, which do not hold onto dirt and contaminants, but still perform well if cleaned regularly.

Regular cleaning makes any building or home healthier. Don''t blame the product - instead, make it perform better with better maintenance.

Carpet has another great trait: There are less slip and fall accidents on carpeted surfaces.

Education is vital.

Carpet and mold

Can mold grow on carpet? Yes. Can mold grow on just about any surface? Yes. All it needs is an organic base - dirt, as one example.

Mold grows most often when it has a food source, moisture, a warm temperature and typically a dark place to reside.

Mold does not use carpet as a food source. Today''s carpet, the vast majority, are made from synthetic materials. Mold has no "appetite" for these materials.

Mold, however, will use contaminants in carpet as a food source, so if a carpet is damaged (water damage, sewage, etc) and not remediated properly, mold can grow on it.

It also will grow on the walls, concrete, furnishings, and hard floors.

It''s not picky. It just needs certain things to exist, just like people need certain things to exist. Control those things and mold should not be a concern.

Carpet and off-gassing?

People who are chemically sensitive definitely have a challenge in today's world.

Carpet is no more of a problem for chemical reaction than any other product on the market.

Some claim that carpet off-gasses fumes, such as formaldehyde. Formaldehyde isn't used in the manufacturing of carpet.

Any odors from a new carpet is simply a "new carpet odor", just as you might find in a new car or other manufactured product.

Then people blame the latex in carpet, saying they have an allergic reaction to the natural glues.

Problem is, latex in today's carpet is also synthetic, which studies show does not contribute to allergic reactions.

How can you respond to customers and clients when they begin to question the value of carpet? Educate them. Have documentation from organizations such as the Carpet and Rug Institute. There are plenty of documents you can use as your education arsenal.


22 Comments
Sonny Winters
7/29/2014 08:41:51 am

Very good information. However I have had some customers who, no matter what you tell them, just will not hear what you say. Their mind is set and they just don't want to believe what you tell them unless it is something that they want to hear.

Reply
Carpet Cleaning Phoenix link
9/25/2014 12:45:55 am

Having a skilled cleaner, I'll know my carpet is as clean as it can get at least and that may please me.



Type respect,
Kent Leblanc

Reply
Noah link
10/3/2015 04:02:06 am

Really an informative post and I agree that it is important that people should understand the importance of carpet cleaning. Regular cleaning can no doubt make your home clean and healthy. If you clean your carpets properly then it will definitely help in keeping your kids away from various diseases.

Reply
JRK - Lauenburg link
12/25/2015 10:33:14 pm

Before even looking for a cleaning company, the very first step you should do is to take stock of the actual cleaning needs of your company. Your cleaning needs will depend on the size of your company, the building, the location, and of course, the actual nature of business.

Reply
Johnny link
6/13/2016 08:40:20 pm

I believe you should be well educated before you attempt to do any kind of furniture or carpet cleaning your self. Using the wrong kind of chemicals can ruin everything. That's why it is best to get a professional in to do the work.

Reply
Logan Brown link
6/29/2016 10:21:38 am

Health is the number one reason to get your carpets cleaned no doubt. If my kids play on the floor than my carpet must be clean and healthy. Just think about it they are right above the floor that could be as old as you. Keep your carpet clean and your family healthy!

Reply
Tom Samual link
12/22/2016 06:28:44 pm

Never thought that carpet could actually not be bad in a home. I always hear that if you could, simply get rid of it and replace with wood or laminate floors.

Reply
Rick link
1/31/2017 06:36:06 pm

Having a professional cleaning every now and then is great for extending the life of your carpets. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you have kids or pets.

Reply
Andrew link
5/15/2017 07:50:43 pm

What else is there for ECO-friendly carpet products out there? I would like to know more about that, but have just never jumped in. I have been too stuck in my own routine to venture out.

Reply
NYC Carpet Cleaners link
8/1/2018 05:27:09 am

Always ask carpet cleaners to use the Eco friendly products while cleaning carpets because using humans are sensitive to chemicals.So that's why don't use chemicals for cleaning which can cause harm to your health.

Reply
Best Pet Vacuum link
9/12/2018 07:10:55 pm

Nice article with relevant information. Thanks for sharing these type of knowledgeable content.

Reply
Danny link
3/5/2020 11:12:48 pm

Cleanliness and hygiene is a significant part of health and wellness, so it is necessary to hire the local carpet cleaning professionals for the assured results.

Reply
Carpet Cleaners Baltimore link
9/25/2020 09:42:38 am

Hire professional carpet cleaners who use advanced tools and techniques that are safe and can extract every type of dust, dirt, and grime from your carpet and can make them look like new.

Reply
dalesac.com link
10/6/2020 02:17:10 pm

Need HVAC services? We're the company for you! Grab your estimates from repair, installation, or inspections on all of your air condition, heating, and ventilation.

Reply
Mold Remediation Union link
11/10/2020 06:14:50 am

If there's mold in your carpet, there're chances of infection to you and your family especially kids. Their hand and other body parts come in directly contact with the mold on the carpet and may cause dangerous infection.

Reply
Dales Air Conditioning and Heating link
11/11/2020 09:19:35 am

Our carpets often will absorb everything that gets in our air. A clean a functioning ventilation system always helps to keep carpets clean. Considering hiring an HVAC company could prove to help.

Reply
professional carpet cleaning link
8/31/2021 01:13:12 pm

I am very happy when read this blog post because blog post written in good manner and write on good topic.
Thanks for sharing valuable information.

Reply
Residential Cleaning Services link
1/24/2022 04:33:02 am

A lack of time is a common problem for many people. Many people have busy schedules and have to spend their time with work, family, and other responsibilities. There are some though who have the luxury of being able to spend more time with themselves. What happens when that person decides they want to take care of themselves? They might hire a residential cleaning service. These services can clean everything from flooring to kitchen appliances. They can even wash windows!

Reply
Renee link
2/8/2022 11:33:49 am

Cleanliness and hygiene is a significant part of health and wellness, so it is necessary to hire the local cleaning professionals for the assured results.

Reply
Pablo link
2/8/2022 11:37:30 am

Great topic about being educated regarding cleaning and health in every aspect.

Reply
Oriental Rug Cleaners link
4/30/2022 03:01:13 am

Carpet cleaning is important for two reasons: health and aesthetics. so it is necessary to hire the local cleaning professionals for the assured results. Dust mites, which are tiny creatures that thrive in dirty environments, carpets trap dust and dirt, which can lead to the build-up of allergens. Additionally, carpets that are not regularly cleaned can become stained and unsightly.

Reply
Adam Brock link
10/27/2022 05:59:26 pm

Here shoulder art talk general seven condition. Ask former decade state side. Real particular later approach light about notice region.

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    Jeff Cross...

    ... is the executive editor of Cleanfax.com and an IICRC-approved instructor. His goal is to help cleaning and restoration technicians to become the best in the industry. He can be reached at (740)973-4236 or by email (click here)

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