Carpet Cleaning and Allergy Prevention
Thank you to our guest writer Edna Thomson
If you fall within the category of those poor souls who suffer from asthma and other pollen and dust mites-induced allergies, know that allergy prevention and treatment begins at home. As you are much more susceptible to dust, your allergic reactions will likely occur oftener if you reside in a dusty home. One of the ways to reduce these occurrences and eliminate the allergy triggers is by taking proper care of your carpeting and rugs. There are several ways to ease your allergy symptoms or to prevent the attacks altogether.
Keep your carpets cool and dry
As you can probably imagine, high humidity may cause your carpets to collect mold and
this is bad news for all who suffer from allergic reactions. Even those who don’t, are not completely safe when they frequently come in contact with mold. The most common type of mold is known as mildew and again is caused by excess moisture. The symptoms of a mold allergy include sneezing, running nose, red and itchy eyes and skin rashes – yes, those are definitely unpleasant. Mold is especially difficult to remove from carpeting, so the best way to go is to avoid it altogether by keeping the humidity in your home as low as possible. Carpet cleaners in Putney say that is below 60 percent.
Maintain your carpets as cleans as possible
If your carpets are dirtied up, this might enhance mold formation. There are two reasons for that. First, dirt contains mold spores and second it has the capacity for collecting excess moisture. That’s why if you suffer from mold and dust-induced allergies, it is advisable to vacuum-clean your carpet two or even three times a week. Sure, that’s a bore but on the other hand asthma attacks are not particularly amusing either…Once the bag of the vacuum-cleaner is full, don’t attempt to empty it yourself. Ask someone who’s spared from allergies to do it for you. Dust mites might trigger another allergic episode.
Avoid scented cleaning detergents
If you opt for cleaning your carpet yourself, bare in mind you should do your best to avoid all fragrant cleaning solutions and detergents. Read the labels of the cleaners you buy before you end up at the counter paying for them. Shop for products which are not scented as the other kind might induce another allergic reaction. In case your carpets need a thorough clean, you should opt for calling a dry cleaning or hot water extraction technician. And if there’s no need for any steam cleaning, you can wipe the carpet once a week with a wet piece of cloth to trap allergens which otherwise might end up in your lungs while you’re vacuuming.
Collect pet dander and fur from your carpeting
Pet dander is one of the greatest enemies of those who suffer from allergies. What is that? Basically pet dander consists of dead skin cells, shed from all warm-blooded animals. And of coarse, these too can trigger various allergic reactions. In fact it would be a better idea to avoid animals all together but if you’re a pet lover, do your best to maintain your carpets dander-free. Another problem that arises when you have an animal at home is fur-related. Certain breeds of long-haired dogs and cats shed excessive amounts of hair each spring and autumn. A great deal of fur will end up on your carpet. As soon as the process starts, you should ask a non-allergic member of the family to collect the pet’s hair from carpets using a rubber glove or (don’t laugh!) a balloon – these will create static electricity and the fur will end up sticking to their surface. But rub them against your couch first. Another option is using a lint roller.
Don’t allow your carpets to turn into a breeding ground for allergens, dust mites and mold. Clean them regularly, using some of the techniques we suggested to reduce chances of allergic episodes and eradicate allergy triggers. Remember the best way to cope with allergies is by preventing them from ever happening!
