Carpets add warmth and comfort to our daily life in our houses and offices. But, it can pose significant health risks if dirty. Because carpets are the breeding ground of bacteria, allergens, dust, and other pollutants.
So, you may face dirty carpet health hazards such as:
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Respiratory issues
- Immune system health risks
- Skin infections
- Headache, and more.
In this guide, we will describe the health hazards of dirty carpets in your house or office. After reading this, you will be informed enough to understand the importance of carpet cleanliness.
The Dirty Carpet Health Hazards- Risks You Face
Dirt carpets in your house and office pose various and serious health risks. We have discussed the health risks of different elements below.
1. Carpet Bacteria Exposure Causes Gastrointestinal Issues
Dirt carpets are the breeding ground of bacteria. Your carpet can hold around 200,000 bacteria per square inch area. It is an alarming issue because this is 4,000 times more than your toilet.
In a survey, 27% of Aussies don’t want to clean their carpets and floors.
The bacteria that can be found in your carpets include:
- E. coli: E. coli can cause gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and mild to severe stomach cramps.
- Salmonella: Stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and fever are common health issues that Salmonella can cause to you. It can even cause life-threatening conditions if spread beyond the intestine.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): MRSA can cause skin infections, swelling, dizziness, high temperature and many more health issues.
- Campylobacter: People with weakened immune system health can mostly suffer from Campylobacter. It weakens your immune system more and causes diarrhoeal diseases like Campylobacterosis.
2. Dirty Carpets Cause Respiratory Issues
Carpet surfaces accommodate dust, allergens, mould and mildew. They cause different types of respiratory health problems.
Dust and Allergens
Dust mites and allergens are found in carpets. When you inhale the indoor air of your house or office, the dirty carpet affects the immune response of your body. Dust allergies cause sneezing, runny nose, and itchy and watery eyes.
Due to dust and allergens, poor air quality causes asthma, chronic bronchitis, and allergic rhinitis. House dust mite allergens are highly risky for children in Australia.
Mould and Mildew Grow on Dirty Carpets
Humidity and lack of cleanliness cause damp carpets. Damp carpet is a major breeding ground for mould and mildew.
Mould creates particles called spores, and they are released into the air. Too many spores create poor air quality, and improper ventilation keeps the poor air indoors.
The mould and mildew in carpets cause the following respiratory issues.
- asthma development and exacerbation,
- dyspnea,
- wheeze,
- cough,
- respiratory infections,
- bronchitis,
- allergic rhinitis,
- eczema, and
- upper respiratory tract symptoms
Aside from these, in rare cases, mould can cause mould infection in human lungs. This rare immune disaster can bring severe results in the end.
3. Dirt Carpet Release Chemicals That Cause Headache
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released from new carpets. If used inefficiently, VOCs can also be released from old carpets due to cleaning products. VOCs are vapoured forms of carbon-based chemicals and can be harmful to your respiratory system.
If you inhale VOCs, it will irritate your mucus membrane. It also negatively impacts indoor air quality and can cause you to experience:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Chronic SBS, etc.
4. Dirty Carpet Can Cause Skin Irritations and Infections
Dust allergens from dirty carpets can cause skin irritation when they come into direct contact. This mostly happens to sensitive skin. Irritated skin can result in:
- Rashes eczema flare-ups
- Fungal infections and other infections.
If you have pets in your house, there is a chance of pet dander accumulating from your carpet. Pet dander consists of tiny, allergenic particles shed by animals. When these particles settle in carpets, they can exacerbate allergies and asthma symptoms.
5. Dirty Carpet Can Cause Toxicity and Mycotoxins
Mycotoxin is a naturally grown toxin mainly created by mould (fungi). It is mainly found in crops and foods such as:
- cereals,
- nuts,
- spices,
- dried fruits,
- apples and
- coffee beans.
Mycotoxin is developed in war and damp environments. When your carpets have fruits and nuts leftovers, they create fungal growth and mycotoxins.
The mycotoxin can cause severe health issues, including immune deficiency and cancer. The toxicity of the element is dangerous for both humans and livestock.
Dirty Carpet Health Issues Prevention Strategies
To safeguard you, your family or your employees from the consequences of dirty carpets, the following tips will help you.
- Do regular vacuuming: Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner. This helps remove surface dust, allergens, and pet hair. Do this for at least:
- Twice a week for high-traffic areas.
- Once a week for low-traffic areas.
- Schedule professional cleaning. Opt for steam cleaning or hot water extraction periodically. These will eliminate deep-seated dirt, bacteria and allergens.
- Spot-clean the spoils immediately. Use absorbent towels and non-toxic cleaning solutions for this.
- Use eco-friendly carpet cleaning solutions. Non-toxic cleaning agents reduce VOC emissions.
- Keep windows open, use air purifiers and control humidity. This will improve air quality and minimise dust.
- Replace old carpets if they are heavily damaged. Replace them with allergen- and moisture-resistant material carpets.
Final Thoughts
Dirty carpet health hazards are adverse. You must keep your carpets dust and allergens-free. Also, make sure carpets stay dried so that humidity can’t help mould and mildew to grow. Schedule professional North Brisbane carpet cleaning services periodically.
At Eco Cleaning Brisbane, they have provided cleaning services for more than 20 years across Brisbane. You can hire them to make sure your carpets are free from any kind of health hazards. Their expert and skilled cleaners are certified who will take on all the responsibilities so that your carpets are health-safe.