Carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning is something that is usually done when we decide to improve the appearance of your home. Its main purpose is to improve the interior state of a property by removing dirt, stains and odors. There are, however many other positive effects of carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning which are not widely recognized despite of their great significance. Some of the most important health effects of carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning are associated with its effect on indoor air quality and on dust mites.
Dust mites
Dust mites are microscope bugs that feed with dead skin cells which shed from human and animal skin. Although dust mites do not carry diseases themselves, they can trigger allergic reactions in people suffering from asthma and other allergies. Skin cells accumulate in places like mattresses, sofas and carpeted areas and consequently those are the places with higher concentration of dust mites. Tens of thousands of dust mites are present in an average house, particularly in households with pets like dogs and cats.
Although it is almost impossible to completely eliminate dust mites from your house, there are several ways to reduce their amount.
Simple measures like hovering your carpets and mattresses airing your bed and the whole place can help. However, professional carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning can significantly reduce dust mites and control the health problems linked to them.
Carpet can also be favorable palace the development of other pesticides and fungi which might irrigate existing eczemas or influence appearance of new ones.
Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor air quality is directly influenced by the state of your carpet. Carpets trap various solid matters and small particles and can be source of chemical emissions and pollution if they are not properly maintained. This may lead to eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritations and cough.
It depends on the type of the property and the traffic patterns how frequently a carpet needs to be cleaned to avoid extensive levels of indoor air pollution. The chart provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) specifies the recommended carpet cleaning frequency.
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RECOMMENDED CLEANING FREQUENCY GUIDELINE FROM THE EPA*
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Environment
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Day Care
Center
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Nursing
Homes
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Residence
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Office Building
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Food Service
Establishments
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Commercial
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2 persons,
non-smoking
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2 persons,
with smoking
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young
children
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young children
w/pets
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ground
floor
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higher
floors
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retail shops,
banks
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Normal
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2 wks
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1 mts
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6-12 mts
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4 mts
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6 mts
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3-6 mts
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3-6 mts
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6-12 mts
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1 mts
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3-6 mts
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Contaminated
Outside Dusty
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1 wk
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1 mts
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2 mts
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2 mts
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1 mnt
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1 mts
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1-4 mts
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2-6 mts
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1 wk
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1 mts
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Extreme Cold
Weather Climates
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2 wks
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1 mts
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4-6 mts
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3 mts
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3 mts
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2 mts
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2-6 mts
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3-9 mts
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2 wks
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2 mts
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High Humidity
Biogenic
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1 wk
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1 wk
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4-6 mts
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4 mts
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3 mts
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2 mts
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2-6 mts
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3-9 mts
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2 wks
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2 mts
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* From: U.S. EPA Letter, January 1989
According to the US environmental Agency, carpets that are cleaned more often require less and not very strong cleaning chemicals which decreases their negative impact on the indoor environment and subsequently on your health. Regular maintenance and frequent professional carpet cleaning also prolongs fabric life so you can enjoy using your carpets longer.
Professional carpet cleaning is essential not only for maintenance of clean and pleasant appearance of your home as well as for health reasons as well as for the.