In addition to enhancing your home’s aesthetic, carpet has a soft touch that offers you and your family comfort. But have you thought about what lies in the world between its fibers? No, we’re not talking about common soiling. Let’s think beyond the cookie crumbs and talk about your nose’s worst enemy—household allergens!
Up to 60 million Americans suffer from allergic rhinitis, while 25 million Americans suffer from asthma. Although many people try to control their running noses and itchy eyes, triggers seem to be inevitable. Even your home can be a trap for pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust. In fact, it can be one of the worst!
It’s important to know what areas are major breeding grounds for these allergens to prevent them from lingering around. Carpet is a popular choice for flooring for obvious reasons, but it is common for its fibers to hold various allergens that can irritate allergy and asthma sufferers. If you don’t want to eliminate carpet as an option or already have it on your floors, there are ways to help prevent lingering household allergens in carpet and make your home hypoallergenic.
A yellowish powder that is transferred from plant to plant, pollen can be problematic for millions of Americans. It is often found outside and carried through the air, but it can easily find residence in your home and become stuck in your carpet if you don’t take the proper precautions. Here are a few ways you can prevent and reduce pollen in your carpet and home overall.
1. Shut Windows and Doors
The downside about pollen is that it peaks during seasons you’ll enjoy a fresh breeze. People often crack a window or leave a door open while the kids are playing outside. However, this contributes to pollen blowing in your home and landing on your carpet. Minimize the number of windows you keep open or better yet: keep your windows closed in general. If your kids are coming in and out of the house, make sure the door is closed behind them each time they enter or exit.
2. Use a Place Mat for Shoes
Although pollen is typically carried through the air, it can be tracked in your home by your family and guests. A place mat at the front door for everyone to place their shoes can help reduce pollen from being tracked on your carpet and stuck in your home.
Pets shed. It’s just their way of life and we’ve learned to deal with it. However, particles of their skin contain triggers for allergy and asthma sufferers. Follow these steps so your pet and carpet can properly coexist without irritating your nose:
1. Vacuum Frequently
In addition to picking up crumbs and helping your carpet look fresh, vacuuming can make the difference in your breathing. With a pet in your home, vacuum once a week to remove pet dander from your carpet and reduce it from your home.
2. Bathe Your Pet Regularly
You may normally take your pet to the groomer or even bathe them yourself. However, if you have allergies or asthma, you may need to do it more often. A bath once a week can wash of bacteria and dead skin and lessen the pet dander that can shed throughout your home.
Mold. The yucky allergen that is hard to avoid, especially in the home. Why? Mold can reside wherever our “lovely” friend moisture is present. That means your bathroom, kitchen, and basement can all grow this pesky allergen. Here are a few ways to avoid getting it trapped in your home and triggering your asthma or allergies.
1. Draw Out Moisture After Cleaning Spills
You may know how to remove stains from your carpet, but thorough cleaning doesn’t end with just getting rid of the spill. It’s common for the cleaned spot to remain wet, creating the opportunity for mold to grow. To help prevent this, lay a white towel over the freshly cleaned area and place a heavy object on top. This will help draw out remaining moisture and reduce mold allergens from growing in your carpet and your home.
2. Use a Dehumidifier
Humidity can do more than just frizz up your perfect hairstyle. It causes unwanted moisture in your home. Using a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity and the amount of moisture in your environment. You know what that means? That’s right—less mold!
Itchy eyes? Wheezing? Running nose? There’s a high chance that dust mites are the culprit for your pain and suffering. You can’t take these common household allergens to court, but you can prevent them from growing and staying in your home. Try these tips to help keep your eyes clear:
1. Clean Your Home Regularly
This may seem like obvious advice, but cleaning isn’t as simple as everyone thinks. Even if your home does look messy, that doesn’t mean dust mites aren’t hiding under your bed. Frequent and thorough cleaning even when your home just looks clean is a great way to prevent dust mites from hanging around.
2. Choose the Proper Vacuum
If your allergies or asthma are easily irritated, vacuuming can make a big difference. As recommended by the American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can be a solution. These filters trap allergens and prevent them from being expelled back into your household when vacuuming.
Although there are precautions you can take to reduce allergens and clean them from your carpet, it’s even better to have a carpet that is built specifically with allergy and asthma sufferers in mind. A 100% hypoallergenic carpet, HOME Fresh has a unique padding that has a better airflow than typical carpet. This makes it easier for household allergens to be vacuumed and harder to be trapped in its fibers. In addition to having a padding that is built for easy cleaning, its fibers don’t absorb moisture. This helps prevent allergens and microbes such as mold from growing in this carpet.
Paired with stain resistance, this hypoallergenic carpet was made to keep your home clean. However, it’s also made to keep it fresh. Its natural odor-neutralizing minerals help get rid of nasty smells on the carpet, such as those from pets, cooking, and even smoking.
If you’re ready to take a stand against allergens and have a fresh home, Schedule your FREE In-Home appointment now and explore our HOME Fresh hypoallergenic carpet, One and Only and Incomparable, for a cleaner, fresher home.
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