10 Gross Reasons To Clean Your Carpets More Often
The joys of carpeting are many: It’s undeniably the softest, most comfortable type of flooring, it muffles sound, and it helps insulate rooms from temperature swings. But that plush pile is hiding a dark side.
Admittedly we are easily fooled by appearances. This is true when it comes to the state of our carpets. We notice stains, sure. But the surface only tells part of the story. The fact is, if you had the slightest idea what kind of nasty things are living in your carpet, you would probably start deep cleaning right now.
Disgusting Facts About Your Carpet
Carpets can be nasty, but most people outside of the cleaning industry are unaware of this. Most carpets indeed act as breeding grounds for all types of nefarious creatures. Regardless of where they are placed. Residential carpets and commercial carpets are both susceptible to infestations.
The following contaminants are commonly found in your carpets and might make you squirm.
#1 – Dangerous Bacteria
Perhaps the most worrisome thing in carpet is what you can’t see. E Coli, Staph, and Salmonella cause a variety of illnesses and can be found in household carpets. Your carpet can contain 40,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
#2 – Allergens
You don’t always need to see allergens to be allergic to them. Carpet is a great place for dust, pet dander, and other allergens to build up without getting disturbed. These can lead to asthma attacks and breathing problems.
#3 – Odors
There are plenty of ways that odours get into your carpet. From spilled milk or coffee to a wet dog smell, an old musty smell after the air conditioner has been running for too long, or even smoke damage from cigarettes. Or one of the thousands of other smells. Unfortunately, these odours can penetrate deep into the fibres of your carpet and become very difficult to remove.
#4 – Pet Urine and Feces
Even if it appears that you’ve thoroughly cleaned up your pet’s messes, remnants of their waste are frequently found in carpet fibres. Plus, their odours remain trapped in the carpet until eliminated with a pet urine removal treatment.
Many people don’t realize that pet urine and fecal matter can spread diseases to humans including Feline Leukemia and many more. The risk is so high that it’s advised not to let children under the age of five or elderly people clean up after pets for this reason. There are also signs that there could be a link between childhood respiratory problems and pet dander in carpets.
#5 – Harmful Chemicals
Whatever floats around in the air of your home will make its way into your carpet including cleaning chemicals, paint particles, and more. This means that you’re breathing in these chemicals which can cause respiratory problems along with other side effects. To solve this problem, remove your shoes while you’re at home and be sure to use an outdoor-based vacuum cleaner if any paint or construction projects are going on.
#6 – Dirt and Dust
While routine vacuuming does help, the average home accumulates about 40 pounds of dust each year which can be tough to stay on top of. These particles can cause allergies and other health problems. The good news is, regular professional carpet cleaning can help keep dust and dirt under control. The most important thing to consider here is that the more dirt that accumulates in your carpet, the worse it’s going to look.
#7 – Hair, Dander, and Dead Skin
Carpets absorb hair, dander, and dead skin from humans and pets like a sponge. Fleas, ticks, and dust mites feed on these dead skin cells and can cause serious health concerns. If you’re experiencing an infestation of fleas or ticks, it’s probably best to call an exterminator.
#8 – Tiny Bugs
Ticks, fleas, and dust mites that live in carpets are not only unsanitary but can cause respiratory issues and allergies. This is especially true for those with asthma and other respiratory problems. Not to mention, if you have pets with long hair or a family that is frequently barefoot, these bugs can easily spread throughout your whole home.
#9 – Mold and Mildew
When too much moisture is used in the carpet cleaning process or if you experience flood damage, dangerous mold and mildew can begin to grow within days. These spores can cause health problems and pose a serious risk, especially for those with respiratory issues. To avoid having mold and mildews build up in your carpet, all you need to do is be sure to use the proper amount of water when cleaning and take care of any leaks or spills quickly.
#10 – Skin Flakes
On average, people shed 1.5 grams of skin flakes each day. Multiply that by the number of people living in your home, and then consider that those flakes have to go somewhere and that “somewhere” is generally down to the floor, where the flakes wedge between carpet fibres. That’s about two kilograms of skin hitting your floor each year. While that’s gross enough, the real problem is that those flakes become dinner for dust mites, and dust mite waste is one of the most common causes of indoor allergies.
Other Harmful Things
Sadly, there are a lot of creepy creatures that like to consume rotting organic matter. Insects, for example, thrive on a concoction of food residue, pet feces, and other insects. And they can continue to thrive on it as it rots away beneath the surface of your carpet.
What’s more: Within your home, there may be tiny channels that provide direct access to your kitchen and bedroom. In addition, some of the organic matter will escape the carpet to land as dust around your home. Such insects transmit diseases. That ought to be motivation enough. However, dirty carpets can sometimes make you sick without any additional help.
Norovirus, for instance, is an intestinal and stomach virus that is highly contagious. It can remain in carpets for an extended period. That is why norovirus outbreaks are difficult to control. This can be difficult to eliminate without the assistance of a professional.
It can have life-threatening effects on young children, the elderly, and people with other health problems. It is not the only virus that can survive on your carpet. Contaminated textiles throughout your home can help sickness spread.
In short, we are exposed to such microorganisms regularly. Our homes, however, are conducive to their growth. Eventually, our immune systems are overwhelmed by repeated exposure. Fortunately, the solution is simple and no, you don’t have to do anything too extreme.
What To Do About Carpet Contaminants
They must be kept clean. Regular vacuuming is a great first step, but professional deep cleaning is even better. The power of household vacuums is insufficient to remove debris below the surface. Even dry vacuuming from a professional is unlikely to be sufficient.
Getting your carpets deep cleaned will remove thousands of germs. Especially if you opt to have a disinfectant and sanitizer applied.
Using different techniques, Dynamik’s professional carpet cleaners can remove embedded carpet contaminants. Apart from preventing sickness, it also prolongs your carpet’s life. Most carpet warranties require professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months.
It could be that you just moved to a new house, or that you have lived in the same house for 20 years. In either case, you should begin scheduling professional carpet cleanings regularly. Even better, choose a qualified cleaner like Dynamik to better identify what you need.
No matter who you choose, professional deep cleaning will benefit you and your family and your carpet in the long run.
Dynamik has a huge service area. We cover Downtown to Thornhill, to Stouffville further out in the country and even Oshawa in Durham. All over the GTA. Call today to get booked in!
