Carpets and flooring can be a magnet for dirt. Scuffs, stains, and sticky patches are a daily occurrence in some of the most highly used areas of the home.

But did you know that clean carpets are not simply a matter of appearance? The cleanliness of your carpets can also have an impact on your personal health and hygiene.

A recent study published by the National Library of Medicine showed that carpets have an impact on both germs and air quality.

This is especially important for anyone suffering from asthma, chest infections, or even the common cold. But a clean and well-maintained carpet is positive all year round, helping to keep your home — and your health — in top condition.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the most common indoor ‘nasties’ you might find in your carpet. Fortunately, with regular cleaning, they can all be eliminated from your home.

UNWANTED VISITORS: Bedbugs and Dust Mites

Both bedbugs and dust mites can be found in various areas of the home. They can hide and breed in bedding, upholstery, mattresses, and carpets.

Signs of bedbugs in the home might not be readily visible. Occasionally there can be marks on bedding or the carpet, such as small unidentified stains. You may even notice marks on your own skin, or small patches of blood on bedding from bites.

If you have itchy skin or feel that you are regularly bitten, bedbugs might be the culprit. Dust mites, by contrast, may not regularly bite. They can, however, severely irritate those with respiratory allergies or skin complaints.

Washing bedding and upholstery is important for controlling the problem, but carpets also play a crucial role.

Ensure that your carpet is regularly cleaned so that anything that falls from your bedding does not remain on the ground. Carpet cleaning also eliminates any eggs or larvae.

With preventative measures like these, you will not have to take pest control actions with harsh chemicals. Simply incorporate carpet cleaning into your routine with an occasional deep clean by professionals!

FUNGI AND MOULD

Moisture and fluctuations in temperature can quickly lead to fungi and mould. Some of the most common can include alternaria, aspergillus, cladosporium and more. They can all be responsible for aggravating allergies and harming hygiene, as well as causing damage to the carpet itself.

Carpet cleaning can help prevent one of the major causes of fungi and mould: moisture. It is very easy for carpets to become damp, but they can be difficult to dry.

The heat is often constantly changing in our homes due to air conditioning, central heating, and the bustle of opening and closing doors and windows.

Cleaning the carpets regularly ensures that they stay dry and well-maintained, even in the busyness of home. Cleaning keeps the moisture balance maintained and ensures that no nasties like mould and fungi are able to grow.

ALLERGENS

Regularly cleaning the carpets ensures that your home not only looks beautiful, it is healthy too. Poorly maintained carpets can be host to a plethora of allergens.

Dust, bugs, floating fabric hairs and more can all aggravate conditions. Skin complaints such as eczema and even acne may be exacerbated by dirty carpets.

Respiratory conditions such as asthma or bronchitis can also be made worse. With the British Lung Foundation estimated that over 5 million people in the UK suffer from asthma, this can be a serious problem for friends, family, and visitors.

With a clean and cared for carpet, however, you immediately reduce the chance of aggravating any existing conditions. You may even experience some relief from your symptoms.

BACTERIA AND VIRUSES

Don’t panic… but your home could be harbouring a wide array of bacteria and viruses, right beneath your feet! The good news is that you can solve the problem. Clean carpets not only look great, but they help keep you healthy too.

Research by the New York University Medical Centre suggests that viruses and ‘superbugs’ aren’t only limited to hospitals — they can be found in the home too.

It is possible that MRSA (that’s Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, for those who want to know) could be lurking on your shoes or in your gym bag, and then be walked straight into your home. While it can be carried safely for years by a healthy person, it’s still unlikely to be wanted in your home.

Norovirus is another common and unwanted presence. Without the regular maintenance of high traffic areas such as kitchen surfaces and carpets, it can spread quickly. The symptoms are similar to food poisoning, and the virus can survive for up to six weeks in the carpet if not thoroughly cleaned.

Enterococci and micrococcus have also been found on poorly maintained floors, and can compromise the whole immune system.

But it’s not all doom and gloom! Keep calm, clean your carpets, and carry on. A deep clean of the carpets — especially by trained professionals — can then be maintained with regular carpet cleaning that prevents all of the above.

Clean Carpets for a Healthy Home

Cleaning large surface areas in the home, such as carpets and floors, can seem overwhelming at first. Many of us have busy home lives and are working hard to achieve the all-important balance.

That’s where professionals can come in. With a professional carpet cleaning surface, you can rely on a ‘deep clean’ of these important areas and then simply maintain the results with your normal routine.

Clean carpets are not only beautiful to look at, they are healthier too.

You can prevent a wide range of allergies, health problems, and infections simply by keeping your carpets well-maintained.

It is more economical in the long run too. A professional carpet cleaning can be an investment. It can lead to years of good use and a better appearance for your carpet, where general wear and tear could otherwise quickly set in.

A regularly cleaned carpet is healthy, hygienic, and will have years of use!