The relationship between carpet, indoor air quality and health has long been passionately discussed by the carpet industry and in the media. After all, many people are exposed to carpet for prolonged periods of time seeing as how they are used extensively to provide soft surfaces in the home, school and workplace. The most persistent untruths and myths about carpets include the following:
- There are health risks associated with carpets
- Carpets encourage the growth of mold and mildew
- Carpets can cause an increase in the incidence of asthma and/or allergies
- Carpets are a sink for allergy-causing substances
In truth, carpet is one of the lowest emitters of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in the indoor environment; VOCs are emitted by most interior products and affect indoor air quality alongside things like combustion sources (oil, gas, tobacco products), building materials and furnishings, products for household cleaning and maintenance, outdoor air pollution and central heating and cooling systems.
As a matter of fact, since gravity causes airborne particles to settle on the floor, in addition to providing a soft, beautiful and desirable surface, especially in the winter months, carpet offers an extra perk: It traps and holds dust and dirt until these can be removed by routine vacuuming. So contrary to popular beliefs, carpets do not increase the amount of allergens and bacteria trapped in our homes, they serve the important function of keeping allergens out of the air you breathe until these can be removed by regular vacuuming.
However, note that domestic vacuum cleaners (even the more powerful and expensive ones) do not get rid of deep-down dirt or nasty germs. Regular vacuuming provides the first line of defense in keeping your carpets clean and hygienic. You also need to get your carpets professionally cleaned every 3 – 4 months depending on the amount of traffic they receive and other factors. For example, if you have a pet, pet accidents can make it a real challenge to keep your home clean, healthy and smelling fresh.
The trick here is to choose the right carpet cleaning service that delivers a deeper and safer carpet cleaning that’s healthier for your family. In particular, you need to keep in mind that not all carpet cleaning services in Toronto are created equal. For example, in traditional steam cleaning, a large volume of water is used to flush dirt out, which is then extracted. In effect, what happens is that the dirt on the surface is removed but the dirt left in the carpet soon ‘wicks’ back up, leading to quick resoiling. So while steam cleaning may refresh your carpets, it does not deep clean them.
In contrast, Chem-Dry’s approach to carpet cleaning leverages the natural cleaning power of carbonation to lift dirt and grime from deep within carpets. These are then extracted using state-of-the-art equipment, a process that uses 80% less water than steam cleaning. The solution that is carbonated is Chem-Dry’s revolutionary cleaning solution, The Natural, with ingredients copied straight from nature and is therefore safe for kids and pets.
For more information about indoor air quality, All Star Chem Dry– your local Chem-Dry carpet cleaners or how Chem-Dry is superior to other carpet cleaning services in Toronto call us now on 416-916-0550.
