The carpet would be the last thought through your head after a long day of work or night out with friends. Bacteria, dust mites, and mold can live inside your carpet without you ever knowing. These small atoms can come from anywhere and everywhere and, if you’re not careful, can lead to health problems. Someone with allergies could start to feel ill and become uncomfortable in their own homes. So, keeping your carpet well-maintained is essential. Without a deep clean about every once or twice a year, your carpet could experience these sorts of problems. Having a professional clean your carpet will prevent any bacteria from affecting you or your family.
There is no way to stop the bacteria from entering your house, so the best thing to do is to keep a daily routine of vacuuming several times a week. Most bacteria are not as harmful as others, but two of the worst things that your carpet could catch is a Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and E. Coli 6.
MRSA is an infection of the skin that can cause painful red bumps that can grow large. These bumps can become rashes and leave you with fevers. 1. People who have come home sweaty with a filthy gym bag, socks, or feet are more likely to spread MRSA into the carpet 1. Those who have just come out of the hospital could be carrying MRSA too. Healthy people can take this disease without ever showing any symptoms 2. The most common place people give MRSA is through their nose or hands and can also be carried through objects 2. MRSA is not the only bacteria that can spread throughout your carpet; E. Coli can come in as accidentally as MRSA.
Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) commonly comes into the household when someone accidentally steps in dog feces and enters the house. Being affected with E. Coli can cause urinary tract infection and respiratory infections 4. It can also spread from your toilet, and no matter how careful you are, these things could happen 4. Taking off your shoes when you enter the house can be a significant help in keeping the bacteria at bay. Vacuuming several times a week will help keep your carpet in good shape, but a deep clean will remove more of that bacteria and grim hiding away. However, frequent vacuuming is an excellent way to keep the allergies in check.
Allergies are a pain to deal with, and no one likes a runny nose or a constant sneeze because of the discomfort it brings. Vacuuming on a regular basis will help keep dust mites and pollen from affecting you severely. If you notice that your living area is causing your allergies to act, it is best to get it cleaned before any serious problems occur. If you do not vacuum routinely, you are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems and discomfort. It will be the same with mildew, after some time, as it can cause problems.
Mildew can also be a massive problem if accidental spills do not lift from the carpet. It can build up on the carpet as a white fungus or a grey spot 5. When your home starts to have an odd odor, there is a possibility your house has mildew. Not treating mildew when it is small can lead to more significant problems. Eventually, mildew can form into a mold and start to grow on the carpet. Signs that mold is growing are: from stains, strange odors, and water damaged carpet 3. Over time the carpet will wear out, but keeping it in shape will help it last longer. Most carpets can last about ten years, but they will not reach that long without a good clean once or twice a year.
In those ten years, your carpet goes through all your rough days. Like when your dog comes running in with a pile of mud, or your kids come home from a hard workout, or even when you accidentally drop your dinner. You will never think twice about the leftover mess that stays. No one does it on purpose; it happens to everyone, so every household should keep up a daily schedule of vacuuming and get a deep clean once or twice a year.
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1 Barnett, Heather. “Let’s Talk Dirty.” SheKnows, SheKnows, 2014,
www.sheknows.com/home-and-gardening/articles/1037757/7-nasty-germs-that-are-lurking-in-your-carpet-and-mattress.
2 Guidotti, Tee L. “Fighting MRSA with Conventional Thinking.” Cleaning & Maintenance
Management, 2010,
www.cmmonline.com/articles/fighting-mrsa-with-conventional-thinking.
3 Gromicko, Nick, and Ethan Ward. “Carpet Mold: Identification, Prevention and Removal.”
InterNACHI,
www.nachi.org/carpet-mold.htm.
4 Jessica. “Let’s Talk Dirty: Hidden Germs in Your House.” BrightNest, 19 June 2013,
https://brightnest.com/posts/let-s-talk-dirty-hidden-germs-in-your-house.
5 Shannon-Karasik, Caroline. “Mold vs. Mildew.” HGTV, HGTV, 19 Feb. 2015,
www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/mold-vs-mildew.
6 Strutner, Suzy. “The Ugly Truth About What Lurks In Your Carpet.” The Huffington Post,
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 Apr. 2016,
www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/carpet-cleaning_us_570fb9d0e4b03d8b7b9fa45e.