A good carpet is more than just something to cover your floors. Carpets add a layer of comfort and familiarity to your home.A good carpet, especially one that has gone through a professional carpet cleaning, is one you love to sink your feet into after a long day. A good carpet is comfy, durable, and acts as a quasi-air filter by gathering dust, dirt, and hair out of the air, similar to a water filter.
Carpets, as good as they are, do have some problems though. First and foremost, carpets attract way more dirt and grime than hardwood or tile floors. Carpet fibers by their very nature pick up dirt and dust. So while it may not look like it on the surface, your carpet can be a haven for dirt, dust, dust mites, and bacteria.
Carpets are great but they require routine maintenance and care. Professional carpet cleaning service Safe-Dry® covers 7 dirty secrets that your carpet may be hiding from you and how you can take care of them.
1. Bugs
A report published in Scientific Reports found that homes with carpeted floors have more insects per square footage than homes that have fewer carpets. While some insects, like dust mites, actually live in carpet fibers, the majority get caught in your carpet and die, making your carpet kind of like a fuzzy insect cemetery.
Solution: Vacuum your carpet at least once a week, focusing on areas near doors that lead outside and by siding.
2. Mold
One bad thing about carpets is it can be hard to completely mop up liquid spills. Carpet fibers absorb liquid and retain moisture which can exacerbate the onset of mold and other fungal growth. Mold spores are an extremely common source of indoor allergies.
Solution: Clean food and drink spills immediately, and clean with an enzyme solution afterward to break down components that fester.
3. Bacteria
According to Philip Tierno, a Ph.D. microbiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, the average carpet contains over 200,000 bacteria per square inch. Common bacteria found in carpets include E. coli, staph, and salmonella. Even worse, vacuum cleaners usually do not reach the deep roots of carpet fibers where the majority of bacteria reside.
Solution: Hire a professional carpet cleaning service at least once a year. The hospital-strength sanitizer system penetrates deep into carpet fibers and kills any pesky bacteria.
4. Skin cells
Even if you do not notice it, you lose a lot of skin every day. The average adult human loses over 40,000 skin cells every minute, which comes out to an average of over 5 million per day. Plush carpets attract skin cells and dead skin cells are veritable all-you-can-eat buffets for dust mites.
Solution: Frequent vacuuming should take care of the majority of dead skin and dander. You should vacuum as many times a week as the number of people living there (e.g. 2 people = vacuum 2X a week).
5. Dirt
The single biggest dirty secret your carpet is hiding is dirt. We mean a lot of dirt. Experts estimate that your carpet could contain up to a few pounds of dirt hidden in its fibers. Most dirt in your carpet gets tracked in by your shoes and feet, though a fair bit can come from pets and can blow into open windows and doors.
Solution: Place doormats near every door to the outside and try to not wear shoes indoors. Wipe your shoes frequently and vacuum regularly.
6. Pollen and other allergens
During the spring and warm summer months, your carpets become a magnet for pollen and other allergens. Even in the cold months, pollen can be a problem and some allergens like pet dander, mold spores, and dust are a year-round issue. Some pollen and allergens get tracked in from shoes and others blow in through windows and doors.
Solution: Keep screens on the windows during the warm months and vacuum at least once a week, more if you live somewhere with an abnormally large amount of pollen.
7. Pet feces
Yep, you read that correctly. Even if you do not own a pet, there is a good chance your carpet contains microscopic bits of animal poop. Any day you are out walking around, your shoes pick up tiny bits of animal feces that get transferred to your carpet. Even worse, animal poop can sometimes contain harmful parasites that get tracked into your home.
Solution: Take your shoes off before going indoors and deep clean your carpet with a sanitizer at least twice a year. If you own a pet, make sure to wipe their feet off when they come in from outside and bathe them regularly.
Contact Safe-Dry Today
Carpets are great but they have their dark side. An improperly maintained carpet can turn into a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and a repository for dirt and grime. Hence, why one needs to be diligent in keeping their carpet clean.
Sometimes the best option is to hire a professional carpet cleaning service. If you need thorough and professional carpet cleaning services, give Safe-Dry a call at 1-888-817-8339. Our mission is to provide cleaning that is safe, efficient, and that you can be proud of.