If you find yourself sneezing, coughing, or dealing with itchy eyes more than usual, especially while indoors, your floors could be to blame. Dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens tend to accumulate in carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture over time.
While vacuuming helps, it’s often not enough to remove the deeply embedded particles that affect indoor air quality and aggravate allergy symptoms.
The Link between Flooring and Indoor Allergens
Carpeted floors and soft furnishings act like filters for your home, trapping airborne particles that eventually settle into the fibers. Over time, these allergens build up and are released back into the air every time you walk across the carpet, fluff a cushion, or turn on a fan. Even hard surfaces like tile and hardwood aren’t immune – grout lines, cracks, and corners can harbor mold and dust.
Indoor air quality can significantly impact your health, especially if you suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. Poor air quality can lead to symptoms like frequent sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and even skin irritation.
In homes with pets or high humidity, these problems can be more severe due to the presence of dander or mold.
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Why Professional Cleaning Makes a Difference
While DIY cleaning is helpful for surface-level maintenance, professional cleaning targets the root of the problem – deep-set allergens. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaners use high-powered extraction equipment and specialized cleaning solutions that remove particles trapped deep within fibers.
For carpets and rugs, hot water extraction is often the most effective method for removing allergens without damaging the materials. Upholstered furniture benefits from similar deep-cleaning treatments that lift dust, sweat, pet dander, and food particles from hard-to-reach areas like seams and cushions. Tile and grout cleaning also eliminates mold and mildew that can linger in damp bathroom or basement areas.
Professional cleaning does more than make things look good – it contributes to a healthier home environment.
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Year-Round Tips to Keep Allergens Under Control
Maintaining clean floors and furniture throughout the year doesn’t require constant professional intervention, but it does require a consistent routine.
- Vacuum weekly with a HEPA filter vacuum. This captures more allergens than standard vacuums and prevents them from recirculating in the air.
- Use washable area rugs. These can be laundered frequently, helping to reduce allergen buildup in high-traffic areas.
- Keep humidity in check. Use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements to discourage mold growth in carpet or upholstery.
- Groom pets regularly. Frequent brushing and bathing can cut down on dander that settles into carpet and furniture.
- Schedule professional cleanings at least once or twice a year. Allergy sufferers or homes with pets and kids may benefit from more frequent service.
With the right combination of at-home care and periodic deep cleaning, you can create a healthier, more comfortable space for everyone in your household.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I know if my carpet is making my allergies worse?
A. If your allergy symptoms seem to get worse when you’re home, especially after spending time on or near your carpet, it could be the culprit. Carpets trap allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen, which are often invisible but very irritating.
Q. Is vacuuming enough to control allergens in carpets and furniture?
A. Vacuuming helps, especially with a HEPA-filter vacuum, but it only removes surface-level debris. Deep-seated allergens require professional cleaning to be fully removed from carpet fibers and upholstery.
Q. How often should I get my carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned?
A. For most households, once or twice a year is ideal. If you have allergies, pets, or high foot traffic, consider scheduling cleanings more frequently, every 3 to 6 months.
Q. Does professional cleaning help with mold or mildew in my floors?
A. Yes, especially in damp areas like basements and bathrooms. Professional tile and grout cleaning can remove mold and mildew buildup that contributes to poor indoor air quality.
Q. Can cleaning my carpets really improve indoor air quality?
A. Absolutely. Removing the allergens and pollutants trapped in carpets and upholstery directly impacts the air you breathe, making your home healthier and more comfortable.
If your floors or furniture haven’t been professionally cleaned in a while, now is the time. Contact Professional Surface Restoration today to schedule a service and take the first step toward breathing easier in your home.
