“Skulking in my carpet? What do you mean? My carpet is spotless!”
This is the usual response when someone is told that their carpet could very well be a breeding paradise for dust mites and a million other bacterial species. In defense of these people, at first glance, a well vacuumed carpet does indeed seem to be spotless and absolutely clean. However, if you examine it using a magnifying glass, you might well need to call in the medics, because your wife might have fainted.
Humor aside, carpets can be home to thousands of creepy crawlies just waiting for the opportunity to spread infections and diseases. Every day, there is plenty of dirt, soil, mud, debris and chemicals tracked into the house unintentionally and then transferred to the carpet. Additionally, your home might be home to insects like carpet beetles and cockroaches, as both of these insects love residing and reproducing in the carpets, especially if it’s the furry, shaggy kind.
The statistics give no respite either, telling us a very dark and worrying story. Every year, several pounds of dirt can gather and accumulate both in and under your carpet. This is owing to the fact that there is nearly twice the amount of dust inside homes than outside. Given that, one cubic inch of air constitutes more than one million microscopic particles; this is indeed a startling figure.
- The average US home collects more than 40 pounds of dust every year.
- The carpets are home to more than 15 species of harmful mites which have a lifespan of around 50 days but reproduce at an alarming rate.
- One single ounce of these 40 pounds of dust can contain well up to 42,000 mites.
According to a latest study, the toxic substances in cigarette smoke embeds in the carpet fibers and leads to a risk of both children and pets being infected with several diseases including asthma and cancer.
Additionally, it can be home to some not so desirable critters, which include:
- Dust Mites
- Ticks
- Fleas
- Silverfish
- Bacteria
- Mildew
- Mold
All these microorganisms and insects increase the risk of harmful infections spreading in your house. The entire blame doesn’t lie on these external factors though, we have ourselves to blame for a few things as well.
- The average person sheds about 1.5 million skin flakes per hour.
- That’s about 36 million skin flakes every 24 hours.
So what’s the issue? Well not only do these skin flakes accumulate in your carpet giving a musty odor, but they are also readymade food for the many insects and microorganisms mentioned above.
Are you worried now? Let’s look at what you can do about it.
What can you do about it?
It might scare (or disgust) you to find out about the filthy substances living in your carpet. You might even be concerned about the health hazards you may possibly be exposed to, but the good news is that you can definitely do something about it; other than throwing away your carpet, of course.
The dirt accumulated in the carpet sometimes gets so deep that it is impossible to be removed by the good old vacuum cleaner and this may even spoil the look of your carpet, making it look drab and dull.
While vacuuming your carpet can get rid of most dust mites, what it will not get rid of are the fleas, toxic substances, bacteria, skin fakes, mildew and mold, etc. To ensure that your carpet isn’t serving as an ecosystem for organisms that can damage your health and to increase the lifespan of your carpet, it is recommended that you get your carpet professionally cleaned at least once a year.
Having your carpet cleaned professionally is even more important if you have kids or pets. Since it increases the chances of things being spilled or soaked on your carpet, getting your carpet cleaned will also improve the quality of the air in your room, make it look fresh and tidy, and it will be easier to clean and maintain afterwards.
NYC Steam Cleaning uses the best carpet cleaning methods, detergents and tools to clean your carpets and restore them to their original (and clean) state. Not only does NYC Steam Cleaning offer carpet cleaning services, but they also specialize in pet odor and stain removal, which is a common problem faced by pet owners who have carpets in their homes. Call NYC Steam Cleaning now by dialing 1-888-245-1199 to speak with a specialist and get the cleaning services your home deserves!