Does Carpet Make Allergies Worse?

If you or someone in your household suffers from allergies, asthma or a similar respiratory issue, you may be reluctant to install carpet in your home. There are many articles and stories out there that admonish people to steer clear of carpeting if they have these types of health woes. While evidence does suggest that carpeting can exacerbate certain conditions, that doesn't mean that people who suffer from asthma or allergies need to forgo it altogether. As long as a person's condition isn't excessively severe, they should be able to coexist peacefully with high-quality carpeting. Of course, that's only true if the carpeting is kept in tiptop shape. Learn more about using carpeting in a home with those who have respiratory ailments below. Keep it Out of Moist Parts of the Home Whether someone in your household has a respiratory condition or not, you should never install carpet in a part of the home that is prone to excessive moisture. The biggest reason is because mold can easily form below the surface of the carpet, where you won't be able to see it. Unbeknownst to you or anyone else in the home, mold spores will emanate from that carpeting and wreak havoc on your respiratory systems. In some cases, the mold has a strong odor; other times, it is completely odorless. Either way, its presence will cause problems, and it will create strong reactions in those who have conditions like allergies and asthma. Vacuum it Regularly Vacuuming a carpet doesn't just keep it looking neat and clean; it also pulls dust particles and other allergens out of it. Dust eventually settles; other debris does too. When it does that in a carpeted room, it ends up in the carpeting. Every time a person walks through the room, those particles are stirred up and go back into the air. The more frequently you vacuum your carpeting the less likely it is to harbor excessive amounts of dust, dander and other allergy-exacerbating particles. If you often forget to vacuum, set a reminder and stick to a schedule. It really is important! Use Carpeting with a Low Pile Another way to decrease the odds of carpeting causing problems for asthmatics and allergy sufferers is by sticking with low piles. Shag carpeting is much more likely to hide away dust and other particles. The lower the pile the less likely it is for such particles to find hiding places. Vacuuming is more effective too. Some people even stick with Berber carpeting to avoid this issue while still enjoying the soft step of such flooring. If you don't like the appearance or feel of carpeting that has a low pile, you may have to go back to the drawing board. Steam Clean Your Carpets Another great way to keep carpets free of debris, dust, dander and other allergens is by having them steam-cleaned on a regular basis. You can rent a machine and do it yourself, but the professionals do an even better job. The best rule of thumb is to have this done once every six months or so. If your home has high levels of foot traffic, you may want to increase the frequency to once every three months. Having them cleaned regularly will keep them clean and attractive, and they will be less likely to exacerbate allergy symptoms. In some instances, it may be best to keep carpeting out of the house altogether. If someone in your household has an especially troubling condition like COPD, for instance, it may be best to stick with hardwood floors. Remember that those types of floors still need to be cleaned regularly to keep dust and other particles at bay. There is no surefire way to keep dust and other allergens out of the home, and you don't necessarily have to steer clear of carpeting. Consider the needs Flooring America carpet of in your household and act accordingly.