Asthma, Allergies and Carpets In The Home

If you suffer from asthma or allergies, then no doubt at some point in your life you’ve been told to avoid carpets in your home. Actually, this was bad advice, and the opposite is true. Numerous studies have shown that carpets that are cleaned regularly can actually help reduce the symptoms of asthma and allergies, and is in fact the best choice in flooring for those that deal with both asthma and allergies.

But how can this be?

Asthma and allergy flair ups (or reactions) are often the result of bad air quality, indoor our out. Carpets can actually have a direct relation to the quality of air indoors. Carpets improve indoor air quality in two ways:

Traps Dirt

Gravity causes common household particles, such as dust, pollen, pet and insect dander to fall to the floor. Carpet traps particles, removing them from the breathing zone and reducing their circulation in the air.

Filters Air

Your carpet is in effect, a giant air filter. If you have an electronic air filter in your home, or a filter on your heat pump, then you’ll notice the way it works is to force air through a filter, a filter that is oddly similar to the composition of carpet fibres. As air naturally circulates through the home your carpet acts as a giant air filter.

The Fine Print

Yes, there is a caveat here. You probably picked up on the conflict of the two benefits of how a carpet can actually be good for those with Asthma and Allergies. If your carpet traps dirt, and also acts as an air filter, well over time both of these benefits decrease in effectiveness, and can actually have an adverse affect on your Asthma and Allergies.

The Solution

The importance of keeping your carpets clean cannot be overstated as it relates to your asthma and allergies. Keeping your carpets clean is a two-part equation. Yes, there will be math: Your homes carpets need to be professionally cleaned ever six months; once, every six months. Secondly, between professional carpet cleanings you should be vacuuming your carpets at least once a week. Why? How? What is the best vacuum for those with allergies and asthma?That will be the topic of our next article – What is the best vacuum for asthma and allergies.