For years I’ve been hearing that allergy sufferers should rip up thier carpets and refinish or install new hardwood floors to rid themselves of allergy problems. That’s not entirely true.
A number of years ago I was at a seminar regarding indoor air quality and learned some interesting facts about carpets and allergies. Dust is everywhere. We can’t run from it, nor can we hide from it. It all comes down to maintenance.
A study on carpets was done with laser particle counters. They found that when you walk across a carpeted area, significant amounts of dust particles were stirred up at low levels (2-3 feet off the ground.), but the amount of particles that reached a respirable level were significantly lower at higher levels (3-6 feet off the ground.) When they performed the same test on harwood flooring, they found that there were higher particle counts at higher more respirable levels. The lack of carpet allows the dust particles to glide across the floor unrestricted and follow the air currents stirred up from someone walking. The carpet actually acted as a buffer, keeping the dust at a lower level.
Whats the answer then? Maintenance, and more maintenance. Before you go ripping out your carpet thinking that hardwood is going to eliminate all of your allergy symptoms, have your carpets professionaly cleaned. Not by one of the companies you have a coupon for from the sunday paper, but by a good professional carpet cleaner. Secondly, invest in a good HEPA filtered vacuum for your home. Vacuuming with a good vacuum daily is going to help keep the dust levels down, and hopefully your allergy symptoms. Don’t forget about your drapes, and your furniture. Fabric covered couches hold alot of dust.The same holds true for hardwood floors. Clean those floors daily.
I realize that’s probably the last thing you wanted to hear, but it will help.
As always, I hope I’ve answered some or all of your questions, but if not please feel free to give us a call at 630-776-6326 , visit our facebook page, or check out our website http://www.airborneprofessionals.com/
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