Although many of us consider carpet cleaning to be more of an extravagance than a regular chore, it affects much more than just the appearance of your floor. An unclean carpet can cause significant health problems. The most difficult problems are understandably the ones most neglected, yet they can also be the most potentially dangerous. Cleaning methods can vary from just a cloth and some water to carpet cleaning machines, this is an issue that should not be ignored.

Common Misconceptions

It has been suggested that cleaning your carpet is directly linked to Kawasaki’s Disease, which is a very rare disease that affects only 0.015% of children under 5 years old (US data). Its symptoms include red lips, tongue, eyes and a rash on hands and feet. If it is allowed to progress it can cause damage to the heart and coronary arteries. This link however, is as yet unfounded and any suspicion can easily be rectified by preventing any contact between your child and a recently cleaned carpet for 30 minutes.
There is much more evidence to the contrary that irregular carpet cleaning can lead to other more serious health issues. Here are some good reasons to get that carpet clean…

Mould

Mould, although not proven to directly induce asthma attacks, has been strongly linked with substantial respiratory discomfort if left unattended. Build ups of bacteria and allergens on the mould can occur when carpets are left unclean for a length of time which, when ingested, can irritate the surface of the respiratory system. If the body is already weakened by other illness, worse problems can arise from bacterial infections which live on the mould spores. If you are getting a lot of cold-like symptoms it could be time to clean your carpet!

Damp

A recent study by the Kuopio Regional Institute of Occupation Health concluded that there is a direct link between damp in carpets and occurrences of asthma when people are regularly exposed to that environment. Microscopic organisms called volatile organic compounds and others growths flourish in an unclean, damp carpet and can cause bronchial asthma, which is one of the most advanced forms of the disease.

Dust Mites

Unclean carpets are a haven for dust mites, just like lice love dirty hair. Up to 100,000 mites can inhabit a square yard of carpet, feeding off bacteria, human cells and fungi that build up in the carpet fibres without regular cleaning. Research has found that the majority of people have a dust mite allergy to some degree, and health issues such as rashes, eye and nose irritation can occur if they are ingested on contact with the carpet.

Other problems

Athlete’s foot:

The previously mentioned parasites, fungi and other bacteria can enter small cuts in bare feet causing the fungal growth usually found between toes called Athlete’s foot which causes very itchy feet!

Mycotoxins:

The most serious health issues on high exposure to mycotoxins, which dirty carpets, again provide an attractive habitat for.  These microbial organisms can cause various problems from stomach aches to possible fatality if the initial health of the exposed person is broken down over time. Certain moulds produce a higher level of mycotoxins in the indoor environment and should be quickly removed.