Allergies are very common, and it’s thought that the number of people who suffer from allergies like hay fever, asthma and eczema is increasing around 5% year on year. If you’re one of the unfortunate people to be affected, you’ll know that limiting your exposure to allergens is really important. Many people worry that having carpets in their homes could make their allergy symptoms worse. After all, carpets are known for trapping allergens like dust mites, pet dander, pet hair, pollen, mould spores and other allergy-triggering dirt or chemicals. But there’s no reason why you should have to miss out on enjoying the benefits of owning carpets. With the right carpet cleaning for allergy sufferers and the best choice of hypoallergenic carpets, you won’t need to experience any uncomfortable allergy flare-ups having carpets in your home.
1. Don’t just pick any carpet
When you’re considering buying a new carpet, be mindful about the type of carpet you choose if you’re an allergy sufferer, because some carpets are more troublesome than others.
When choosing hypoallergenic carpets, look at the label on the carpet and seek advice from a professional carpet manufacturer. Most allergy-friendly carpets tend to emit low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, and have a low pile. Having short fibres and a tight loop in the carpet makes it harder for allergens to get trapped inside it, and there’s also less shedding of the carpet.
Another thing that you should consider when choosing a hypoallergenic carpet is what materials the carpet is made from, as not all fabrics are created equally when it comes to triggering allergy symptoms.
2. Wool carpets
One of the best carpet fibres for allergy sufferers and those with asthma is wool. This is because wool consists of natural hypoallergenic properties, and its fibres are coil-shaped, which makes it inhospitable to dust mites.
Better still, wool is resistant to mould, mildew and bacteria, and can absorb any contaminants in the air, so you don’t have to breathe them in. Thus, if you want cleaner, fresher and healthier air, having a wool carpet can help.
As an added bonus, a wool carpet looks beautiful, feels soft and luxurious, and with the right cleaning and care, can last for many years.
3. Nylon carpets
If you want a carpet that’s easy to clean and maintain, whilst still providing valuable hypoallergenic credentials, you won’t go too far wrong with a low-pile nylon carpet.
Ideal for asthma and other allergy sufferers, nylon is made from a type of thermoplastic that repels moisture, dirt, mildew and dust – which are common allergens.
What’s more, nylon is a cheaper option compared to wool, so if you’ve got a limited budget, this type of carpet is an affordable choice for those with allergies.
4. Olefin carpets
Whilst not as popular as wool or nylon, olefin is an option worth considering when you’re looking for allergy-friendly carpets. This synthetic material is good at resisting allergens like mildew, dust and dirt, and because it also resists UV fading, it’s beneficial for areas that receive a lot of direct sunlight.
The only downside to owning an olefin carpet is that it doesn’t stand up well to oily stains, so you might want to consider other easier-to-clean options if spills and stains are common problems in your home or business.
5. Polyester carpets
Easy to clean, polyester is a good choice of carpet if you want to reduce the number of allergens in your home. This man-made material is resistant to mould and mildew, and repels water, but it’s not as durable as other types of fabrics, such as wool, nylon or olefin.
6. Allergy-friendly underlay
As well as choosing the right hypoallergenic carpet, it’s important to consider the type of underlay that gets installed beneath the carpet.
The underlay helps to protect the carpet, increasing its lifespan whilst providing insulation benefits.
Some types of underlay are hypoallergenic, and can trap dust and other allergens. You can also get an underlay made from natural fibres that won’t emit any VOCs, and is moisture resistant, making a carpet antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial.
7. Keep up with the cleaning
Even if you own hypoallergenic carpets, this won’t be enough to protect you from the allergens that can live in your home or settle in your carpets. You’ll still need to maintain and clean your carpets regularly to keep on top of any allergens.
When it comes to carpet cleaning for allergy sufferers, it’s important to use a high-filtration vacuum machine on your carpets at least once or twice per week, or more often depending on the severity of your allergy symptoms and the frequency of use your carpets experience.
Take note that some carpet cleaning products, such as shop-bought stain removers and deodorisers, can actually contain chemicals that may trigger an allergy reaction, so always choose allergy carpet cleaning specific products, for your peace of mind.
Good ventilation in rooms is also important, to clean the air, and regular dusting of furniture will keep dust levels down.
8. The importance of professional cleaning
Allergy sufferers can also benefit from a twice-annual deep clean for their carpets from professionals like our carpet cleaning Hove business.
We use the steam cleaning method for deep cleaning carpets, as this allergy-friendly approach is effective at destroying allergens living in carpets, whilst also removing dirt, stains, odours and grime from all areas of the carpet.
Better still, because steam cleaning is a low-moisture cleaning method, your carpets won’t get saturated with water, and the drying time is quick. This means that mould and mildew, which can trigger allergy symptoms, won’t have time to develop in your carpets.
Steam cleaning is also a natural deep cleaning method that doesn’t involve using any allergy-triggering chemicals or soapy detergents, and no residues from the cleaning process will be left behind in the carpet, so you won’t be exposed to anything that could impact your health.
With the right choice of hypoallergenic carpets and regular cleaning from Carpet Bright UK, our allergy carpet cleaning specialists can help to keep your allergy symptoms under control.
For allergy-friendly carpet cleaning Hove or surrounding area services, contact us today.
