| When you're considering the safety of your home, | | | | childhood. |
| you may immediately think of some aspects, like | | | | This under-recognized health danger is often |
| door locks and smoke detectors. What about the | | | | undetected because it is usually invisible, especially |
| safety of your carpet? The carpeting in your home | | | | when deep in the layers of your carpeting rather in |
| can hold not only stains, but also odors, pollutants, | | | | the walls or other locations where it may become |
| toxins, and mold. These are released into the air | | | | visible. Mold usually growing in the carpet begins on |
| where they are breathed into the lungs, and the | | | | the underside and in the pads, not on the upper |
| residue may be ingested or enter the body through | | | | surface where it would become visible quickly. Mold |
| the pores in the skin. These dangers can cause a | | | | growth is directly caused by exposure to water, |
| number of health effects, including respiratory issues | | | | along with warmth. |
| and cancer, and exacerbate a wide range of | | | | To get rid of these toxins, you may immediately |
| conditions. In the long-term, no one knows for certain | | | | think of carpet cleaning. But the truth is, traditional |
| what the effects of these contaminants in carpeting | | | | carpet cleaning with a truck mounted water |
| may be. | | | | extraction system can actually add to mold problems. |
| Regular dust is just one of the substances found in | | | | Up to a hundred gallons of water may be used to |
| your carpet. It may contain wool, textiles, wood, | | | | clean the carpet in a home, and much of this remains |
| animal fur, hair, skin, pollen, or other materials. | | | | deep in the carpet and padding once the carpet |
| Invariably, dust mites live in your carpeting. This | | | | cleaners have left. The heat used during the carpet |
| component of indoor dust can exacerbate allergies. | | | | cleaning process can promote mold growth in this |
| Other toxins in carpets include those from smoking | | | | left-over water. On the other hand, proper carpet |
| cigarettes or painting indoors. Long after you can | | | | cleaning with a low-volume, eco friendly method can |
| smell these toxins, they have settled into your | | | | remove many of these pollutants from your carpet, |
| carpets. | | | | without leaving behind a large quantity of water in |
| In 2004, the Carpet and Rug Institute started the | | | | your carpets to cause you problems later on. |
| Green Label Plus Certification, which certifies that | | | | Low-volume carpet cleaning will not only remove dirt, |
| carpets are free from 13 toxic chemicals. Still, new | | | | but also kill dust mites and bacteria. |
| carpets are made with a staggering number of | | | | Some carpet cleaning products contain chemicals that |
| chemicals, many with studied negative consequences | | | | will harm the environment and low the air quality |
| or with unknown health consequences. New carpets | | | | inside your home. Look for those with "Green Seal" |
| come with their own contaminants, including Volatile | | | | certification, a rigorous testing process that ensures |
| Organic Compounds (VOCs). These may include | | | | that the solution will not contribute to health issues |
| petroleum byproducts, vinyl, latex, PVC, urethane, | | | | and is nontoxic and hypo-allergenic. According to the |
| and artificial dyes. 4-PC, the chemical giving carpet its | | | | EPA, with traditional carpet cleaning products "it is |
| distinctive "new carpet" smell may cause eye, nose, | | | | important to keep building occupants away from |
| and upper respiratory issues. 4-PC is currently used in | | | | wet, freshly cleaned carpets so as to reduce their |
| nearly all carpets installed in homes in the U.S. Having | | | | exposure to these chemicals." This is not so with |
| new carpets cleaned frequently can cut down on the | | | | eco-friendly cleaning solutions. |
| amounts of these chemicals, improving your indoor air | | | | It is especially important to frequently clean older |
| quality. | | | | carpets using a low-moisture method. Often, they |
| Mold spores are among the most dangerous toxins | | | | were made with chemicals that are now banned. Plus, |
| lurking deep in your carpeting. EPA studies show that | | | | the accumulation of toxins in carpeting is gradual, so |
| air levels of pollutants indoors may be two or three | | | | older carpets have had more time to accumulate |
| times that of outdoor levels. According to the EPA, | | | | toxins ranging from pesticide sprays to paint fumes |
| exposure to mold can cause symptoms such as nasal | | | | to cigarette smoke. Older carpets may actually |
| congestion, itchy or watery eyes, wheezing, skin | | | | contain many times their weight in dirt filled with |
| irritation, headaches, asthma, and fatigue, especially in | | | | toxins, and you may not even know it. Whether your |
| those with asthma or allergies. Some medical | | | | carpets are newer or older, the recommended time |
| professionals also believe that exposure to mold | | | | between cleanings is only 4 months to 2 years. |
| plays a role in the development of asthma during | | | | |