Who would have thought your carpet can make you really sick? And no, it’s not because of a bad smell. There are different diseases (some of them quite shocking) linked to dirty carpets. Today we are listing just 5 of them, which can lead to serious and long-term health implications.
Eczema
You didn’t expect this, did you? But, yes, newly published scientific research shows the links between not frequently cleaned carpets and eczema.
Eczema is a skin condition, which can appear in different forms and is usually untreatable but its symptoms can be managed in different ways. Modern medicine is still unsure what are the exact causes of the condition but we know that the symptoms can be triggered by different factors. One of them seems to be house dust and dust mites trapped in the carpet fibres. Regular vacuuming is not enough to remove these germs and professional carpet cleaning becomes essential in households with eczema sufferers.
Allergies
Three of the most common non-food allergens are pollen, dust and mould. They are all present in incredible high amounts on your carpet and accumulate every single day. This is why you should make sure you get carpet cleaners in every 6 months at least. Pollen and dust allergies are not life-threatening but when triggered can be very uncomfortable and decrease your quality of life. Mould, on the other hand, can cause some further and, in some cases, permanent damage. Mouldy carpets often lead to allergic rhinitis, especially in young children, who feel extremely unsettled by the symptoms.
Asthma
If house dust and mould are left to accumulate for years, allergic rhinitis can grow into a full-blown asthma. Asthma is a long-term respiratory condition, which can be life-threatening. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be managed and triggers for asthma attacks, oftentimes, can be avoided. Asthmatic people need to live in dust and allergen-free homes and areas with low air pollution. Dirty carpets can trigger really bad asthma attacks, especially at night.
Bacterial Infection
Apart from dust mites and allergens your carpet traps many different bacteria. Some of them are harmless and others can be deadly. E Coli and Salmonella are just two examples that people are shocked to hear could be hiding in their carpet. That’s why professional carpet cleaning is vital in homes with babies and toddlers. They usually have direct access to the carpet and transfer anything they pick on the floor straight to their mouth.
Sinusitis
Another very unpleasant respiratory illness is sinusitis. That’s an inflammation of the sinuses, usually caused by a bacteria. The symptoms include a badly congested nose and a terrible headache. If your living environment is proven to be the cause of sinusitis and you make no changes, this can turn into a chronic condition and significantly impact your life. Sinusitis is mainly treated by antibiotics. If you neglect it, the infection can travel up and reach other parts of your body and your brain. That’s a scenario you surely do not want to explore.
As you can see, taking care of your carpet is not just a sign of cleanliness but more of taking care of your health. Make sure you book professionals to come help you with this at least twice a year.