Carpet and Asthma: What we found might surprise you!

Did you know that if you suffer from allergies or asthma, you can still enjoy the comfort of carpet?  

Here is why - Shaw Industries Inc, (the world’s largest carpet manufacturer and leading floor covering provider) recently released a series of studies that were carried out at Airmid Healthgroup comparing hardwood and carpet regarding indoor air quality.  

An important thing to note is that asthma and allergy sufferers are mostly affected by the bio-contaminants that are in the air they breathe, not what is on or within the flooring surface.  

What they found might surprise you, and many others!  

They discovered that effectively cleaned carpets can trap allergens, dust, and other particles, leading to better indoor air quality!  

So, if dust and allergens do settle in the carpet, they stay there until the vacuum sucks them up for good. Sweeping hard surfaces, like hardwood for example, stirs up dust and allergens making them airborne again, and again.  

These studies are based on carpets that were adequately cleaned and cared for. So, what does a sufficiently cleaned carpet look like? Vacuuming once a week and steam cleaning once a year should be done! 

There are many steam cleaning services available and rentals are available from home improvement stores.  

Carpet is best suited for bedrooms, playrooms, stairs, hallways, living rooms, or any place that is typically dry. Avoid installing carpet in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms, where they will absorb moisture and cause mildew and mold. Blot spills with a dry cloth and ensure the area is dry to prevent mold. To remove stains like coffee, red wine, and pet urine, we love Shaw Floors Stain & Soil Carpet Cleaner. We sell it here at the carpet store in smaller bottles.  

Visit The Carpet Store in Kitchener for honest and expert advice on all your carpet and flooring questions!