4 Things That Live in Your Carpet

Do you have carpet in your home or workplace? The answer is probably yes. Do you have built up dirt, hair, dead skin, bugs, food, drinks, mold, and mildew in your carpet? You may want to say no, but the reality is that if you have carpet, you probably have these things hiding below the surface.

Dirt, Dust and Soil

The average U.S. home can accumulate up to 40 pounds of dust per year. This buildup can be the result of dirty shoes, pets, and leaving your windows open frequently. Dust and dirt may seem harmless, but excess buildup can cause serious allergies and make a perfect home for dust mites and other bugs.

Bacteria

Bacteria is everywhere, so it’s not a big deal, right? Well, did you know that the carpet in your house or office likely has 40,000x more bacteria than your toilet seat? Strains such as Salmonella, Staph, and E coli can be living in your carpet and pose serious health risks to those nearby.

Dead Hair and Skin

People shed millions of skin cells per day and lose hair constantly. While this is a common occurrence, skin cells and hair can end up in your carpet and serve as a meal for fleas, ticks, and dust mites. These mites are the leading cause of chronic allergies, which can lead to serious respiratory issues.

Odors

Can you guess what the leading odor is in carpets? Urine! Urine is not easy to get rid of and will continue to cause a foul odor unless properly and permanently removed with a special treatment. Other odors that latch onto carpets include cigarette smoke and food or drinks that are not properly cleaned up.

So now that I’m totally grossed out about my carpet, what can I do?

• Don’t wear outside shoes or boots inside your home.
• Vacuum regularly.
• Immediately clean up any food or drink spills that may happen with the right products.
• Have quality equipment on hand for hard stains or odors such as pet urine.
• Regularly wash or replace carpets or mats in high traffic areas.
• Use a deep extracting carpet cleaner with the appropriate cleaner at least once a year.

At the end of the day, there are thousands, if not millions, of factors affecting the cleanliness of your home or workplace. One effective way to greatly decrease unwanted bacteria, odors, or allergens is to start at the bottom…your floors!

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