More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. An allergy occurs when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance, called an allergen. Allergens are often found in the air and create reactions when people breathe. Allergies in the home are most often due to the indoor pollution caused by dirty carpets. If you are an allergy sufferer, it is essential that you deep clean your carpets regularly. Keep reading for more information and tips on carpet cleaning for allergies.
What Are Dust Mites?
Dust mites are a major cause of indoor allergies. Roughly four out of five homes in America contain high levels of dust mite allergens.
Dust mites are microscopic, insect-like pests that exist in almost every home. They thrive in high-humidity locations. Dust mites love to cling to areas where they can easily hide, such as bedding and carpets.
People with dust mite allergies are allergic to the droppings and not the dust mites themselves. Pretty disgusting, huh?
So, how do you get rid of these microscopic nuisances? You need to keep your house clean.
Carpet Cleaning for Allergies 101
There are several health benefits to keeping a clean home.
To prevent allergies, you need to keep your home and carpets clean. Here are the essentials for ridding your home of dust mites and other indoor allergens:
Start With the Air
Do your best to keep your house aired out and dry.
The allergens affect the air you breathe so it’s important to keep your air as clean as possible. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for your furnace and change it often.
Invest in a dehumidifier to keep your house at humidity levels below 50%. Dust mites thrive in high humidity so do what you can to keep your home as dry as possible.
Dust Often
Dust your home at least once a week to remove the buildup of allergens. Keep your surfaces clean and dry. It will make it less likely for dust mites to flourish and invest your carpeting.
Vacuum Frequently
Plan to vacuum your carpets once or twice a week. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to collect dust mite particles and pollen.
The allergy sufferer should avoid vacuuming as it tends to kick the particles into the air. If this is impossible then make sure to were a mask while you are cleaning.
Steam Clean Regularly
It is crucial to steam clean your carpets several times a year.
While dry vacuuming is effective at picking up dust mite droppings, it doesn’t kill them. Steam cleaning washes your carpeting, kills dust mites in the process, and limits the presence of allergens in your home.
Purchase a vacuum cleaner that steam cleans or hire a professional to get the job done.
Hire a Professional
There is nothing wrong with hiring a professional if this all seems like too much to take on yourself.
If you are an allergy sufferer cleaning your home yourself will just exacerbate your symptoms. A professional service will come as often as you need. They will have the correct tools and the time to do a thorough job.
Make sure to research cleaning services to find the right one. Trust a pro to keep your carpets clean and help rid you of your symptoms.
The End Result
Now that you know the importance of carpet cleaning for allergies you are on your way to a life free of symptoms.
If you need assistance keeping your home and carpets clean, contact us, we are here to help.