Carpeting is widely considered a beautiful and essential floor covering in many homes and offices. It not only completes a rooms aesthetic appeal, but is a practical and cost-effective way in which to retain indoor heat when temperatures drop during cooler months.
Unfortunately, your carpet which can feel so luxurious under bare feet, also acts as a trap for all dirt and grime traipsed in from outdoors, as well as air pollutants you may not even be aware of… Carpeting in high traffic environments, such as offices and entranceways, can hold as much as 4 times it’s own weight in dirt and pollutants if unmaintained!
Many believe that regular sweeping and vacuuming removes this dirt and maintains your carpeting, but sweeping and vacuuming alone cannot remove the dirt that has been embedded deep within the fibres.
What’s Really Beneath Your Feet?
Aside from the obvious dirt / sand particles, there are many allergen inducing substances that accumulate in carpeting becoming embedded by foot traffic over time:
1) Air Pollutants
Probably the least expected particles one thinks of as being trapped in carpets is air pollutants, such as traffic fumes, road dust, pollens etc. These minute particles are rarely noticed as they enter our homes / offices via the welcomed breeze, but as the air indoors settles, so these particles fall to the ground settling in carpeting.
2) Human & Pet Hair / Skin Cells
Both humans and pets shed millions of skin cells and hair strands on a daily basis. Much of this settles between carpet fibres adding to the dust build up. To make it worse, this attracts bugs and mites which feed on these particles.
3) Food & Drink Remnants
Spills are inevitable – especially in a home with young children. Cleaning spills up from your carpet quickly can help to prevent unsightly stains and sticky residues, but remnants often remain in the fibres which attracts bugs, mites and can encourage mold & mildew growth.
4) Bugs, Mites & Germs
A carpet makes an idyllic habitat for a variety of micro and microscopic organisms. Fleas, ticks, dust mites and even bed bugs are of the most common insects which can be found in carpeting. However, your carpet can also host a variety of allergen & illness inducing bacteria and viruses making the “5 second rule” one you may want to reconsider, especially if you have young children!
5) Mould & Mildew
Although mould and mildew are most often associated with bathrooms and kitchens, both can be found in carpeting too which can be an ideal breeding ground if conditions are right. Mould / mildew are well known for sporing allergens which can be quite dangerous for people, especially those living with asthma. One of the first signs of potential growth in your carpeting is a persistent, odd odour.
How To Care For Your Carpet?
As your carpet acts like a filter for all types of dirt and pollutants. Regular and effective cleaning is essential to ensure the quality of your indoor air as well as the longevity of your carpeting:
- Place a good door mat at key entranceways and ask everyone to wipe shoes before entering the building
- Vacuum your carpets regularly. At least once a week in low traffic areas and twice weekly in high traffic rooms.
- Have your carpets professionally deep cleaned at least twice a year to extract and remove embedded dirt from within the fibres.
CLiCK Cleaning offer Professional Quick-Dry Carpet Cleaning to Residential, Corporate & Commercial Clients, with the fastest drying times around (1-2 hours). We also offer FabriGuard Protection ensuring your Carpets stay cleaner for longer!