You might be thinking that air quality is better indoors as compared to the outdoors. However, the opposite is true. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air quality in your home or office could be two to five times worse than outside.
The air inside your home may be polluted by microscopic dust mites, pet dander, allergens, and even volatile chemicals. Children and people with asthma are more susceptible to particle pollution. Poor air quality in your home will have negative effects on your health.
If you want to ensure that your indoor spaces are pristine, give extra attention to your carpets, rugs, and other filtering surfaces. Here are some steps to keep your carpets clean and minimize sources of indoor air pollutants within your building.
Choose the Right Carpet
Nowadays, new carpet systems and adhesives emit volatile organic compounds after being installed. These emissions can be reduced but not completely eliminated through proper ventilation techniques. VOCs easily evaporate into the air and contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Prolonged exposure to VOCs can result in eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, and other health problems. This is why you need to choose low VOC emission products. Here’s what you should be looking for when buying carpets:
- Tested for VOC Emissions
- Easy To Clean and Maintain
- Made of Materials That Repel Liquids
- Hassle-Free Carpet Removal Without Using Toxic Chemicals
Vacuum Your Floors and Carpets
Not all dirt is visible, which is why you always need to clean your surroundings. Always vacuum both carpeted and hard surface floors especially the heavy-traffic areas. You are encouraged to vacuum carpets and area rugs at least once or twice a week. To clean floors faster, start with vacuuming before mopping the floors.
A vacuum cleaner equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter helps reduce concentrations of lead and allergens in your home. It also ensures that dust and dirt won’t get blown back out in the air,
Don’t forget to clean areas near often used furniture, walls, and carpet edges because these spots accumulate dust often. Moreover, you should follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.
Limit Carpet Re-Soilage
Dust particles do not just enter through windows but also the bottoms of your shoes. To prevent dirt from tracking inside, put a large floor mat at every door and entryway. A doormat reduces the amount of dirt and other pollutants from getting into your home.
Employing a no-shoe policy will also prevent rapid carpet re-soilage and debris buildup. The more attention you pay to keep your entryway floors clean, the better your indoor air quality will be.
Follow Carpet Cleaning Frequencies
Not all carpeted space has the same amount of traffic. Depending on several factors, your carpet may fall under the following categories:
- Light Soil
Homes where only adults live may only have light-soiled carpets. You only need to vacuum once a week and deep clean your carpet once a year. Spot cleaning is also necessary for stains that might occur every now and then.
- Medium Soil
If you have children and the elderly but no pets at home, then your carpet may fall under medium soil. Your carpeted areas can get dirtier because kids tend to spend a lot of time closer to the carpets and rugs.
You are encouraged to vacuum your carpets once or twice per week. Professional deep cleaning should be done every 6 to 12 months.
- Heavy Soil
Do you have pets or smokers in your home? Then, you might have heavy-soiled carpets. In this case, vacuuming should be done 2 to 4 times per week. We recommend regular carpet deep cleaning at least every six months to ensure its tip-top condition.
- Extreme Conditions
Large families with cats and dogs need to vacuum every day. This will help reduce the presence of dust mite allergens and pet dander. Upholstery cleaning of sofas, upholstered chairs, and beddings should also be done on a regular basis.
Reduce Humidity Levels
Too much moisture in the air will make you uncomfortable and increase the amount of dust mites. Always keep in mind that the ideal indoor humidity should be around 30-50%. A dehumidifier and air conditioner will keep humidity under control and reduce moisture indoors. Follow these tips to dehumidify your home or commercial space:
- Use an Exhaust Fan and Ventilation Fans
- Open Windows When Your Air Conditioner Isn’t Running
- Replace Furnace and Air Conditioning Filters
- Fix Any Leaky Plumbing
- Replace Area Rugs Frequently
- Repair Cracks and Holes in the Walls
Make Sure to Deep Clean
Vacuuming is good, but it is not enough to remove dirt, stains, and allergens lurking in your carpet fibers. Deeper cleaning is important to extend the carpet’s lifespan and get rid of all those blotchy stains.
If you want to have your carpet professionally cleaned, there are different carpet cleaning methods to choose from. You can choose water-based cleaning or dry carpet cleaning technique depending on your needs and budget.
Let’s Keep Your Carpets Clean and Fresh
Getting carpets professionally cleaned is worth it if you’re in good hands. At Carpet Cleaning Pros of Lancaster, we will make things a lot easier for you! We can take care of your residential and commercial carpet cleaning requirements, anytime and anywhere. Our team can help establish regular cleaning schedules and maintain a healthier living environment.
Schedule an appointment with our carpet experts to find out how we can help you! We look forward to working with you!