Carpeting a living room, hall way, entry room or bed rooms makes the room look cozy and stylish. But it will also be the house of allergens if not cleaned regularly and properly. This allergen gets kicked in the air whenever it is disturbed. These irritants living inside the carpet may come from either from outside the house or even inside.
Carpet fiber, padding and glue in the carpet help the allergen to hold on to it deep inside causing allergic reaction on some people. Check for the symptoms why you are sneezing or have itchy eyes when you enter the house, for carpet also may be the culprit.
There are different types of carpets available in the market. The types of carpet impact the result in cleaning. Some carpets are easier to clean such as short, low-pile carpets made of low surface area fibers or coated in fluorocarbon.
The common allergens that adhere on the carpet are settled down from the air. The allergens may also get trapped from beneath the feet or shoes. Some common allergens are pet dander, pollen, insect parts, dust mites, molds, etc. If the person is allergic to any of these substances, it may result in diseases like asthma, contact dermatitis or allergic rhinitis. The common symptoms of allergic reaction may be:
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Itchy, running nose
• Scratchy, irritated throat
• Itchy, red skin
• Sneezing
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling of pressure in the chest
Even if the carpet is regularly vacuumed, it can harbor a large quantity of dust and allergens in and around the carpet fibers. Using Low-pile carpets is beneficial as the tighter, shorter weave leaves less room for the allergens to be trapped. If a person is allergic to the carpet materials or the dirt and dust in the carpet, removing it may be the best, most comfortable and easiest option. Allergy-proofing the home may also help.
Things to try for cleaning the carpet include:
• Use steam cleaner to wash and clean the carpet. Make sure to clean the carpet regularly, several times a year. Also after steam cleaning, make sure to dry the carpet completely.
• Vacuum clean the carpet every day to make sure to get rid of dust and allergens from the surface of the carpet.
• Use the deep-cleaning techniques and chemicals to clean the carpet.
• Rather than carpeting, opt for throw rugs which can be washed in hot water.
• If you have a pet, make sure the vacuum is also designed to pick up pet hair.
• Keep windows closed during allergy season and on days when pollen levels are high.
• Install an air-filtration system, which uses a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters remove and trap allergens, so they don’t get circulated back into the air.
• Reduce the humidity in the home so dust mites and mold cannot breed.