Allergy and Carpet Information

 

     Keep in mind that although carpet can be a haven for allergens, unless you have not cleaned it regularly it is not usually the cause of your allergic reactions. Your carpet actually acts much like a filter trapping the allergens in the floor keeping them out of your breathable air and allowing you to reduce them by cleaning the carpet regularly. In fact, it is rare for a person to be allergic to carpet as carpet is usually made from the same sort of fabric types as your clothing. (Of course if you know that you get a horrible rash from that wool sweater you got from Aunt Irene last Christmas; make sure you talk to your carpeting specialist to avoid inadvertently buying a wool or wool-blend carpet.)

     There are individuals who are allergic to certain types of carpet or the fumes that are released from new carpet but they are a small percentage. The majority of people will have no trouble with the carpet in their home as long as it is well maintained.

 

     Below is a short list of some of the most common household allergens that may be in your and carpet. For the most part, these allergens will always be present in your but you can reduce their impact on you by learning more about them.

 

Dust Mites

     Dust mites are the single largest allergy. Mites are too small to see but live in particles of dust and eat both the dust and human skin that has been shed. It would be impossible to completely rid your of home dust mites but there are ways to significantly reduce their numbers and their effect on you.

 

Pet dander

     Pet dander is the little flakes of skin and hair that your pet sheds during the normal course of his lifetime. Pet dander, like dust mites, are very small particles that are attracted to the fibers of your carpet. If you have no carpet, pet dander could pose a more significant allergy problem as walking on the wood or tile will kick the dander up into the air to be breathed.

 

Pollen

     The word "pollen" comes from a Latin word that means "fine flour" or "dust". Pollen is a very fine, powdery, yellowish grain that fertilizes flowering plants. Allergenic pollen is usually generated by plants that are pollinated by the wind carrying pollen from one plant to another. Because pollen is carried in the air, it is generally a part of your home's atmosphere, although it will be worse during certain times of year. As with pet dander and dust mites, there is no real way to eliminate pollen from your home, but there are ways to significantly reduce the amount to which you are exposed.