Carpet has a lot to recommend it. Its softness and warmth underfoot will instantly make a room feel cosier. The carpet has a less sexy side as well, though: it holds stuff, and these are things you can do without.
Even with the carpet looking nice, what gets stuck in it?
Your home is bombarded on an almost daily basis with detritus from day-to-day life. Carpets tend to trap dust, pollen, soil from shoes, and small skin flakes, as well as pet hair. Perfectly normal foot traffic pushes them deeper, making removal more challenging.
Carpet can exacerbate allergy symptoms because there are more places for dust, pet dander or seasonal pollen to collect.
The hygiene problem nobody thinks about
Carpet does not only trap dry dirt. It can also catch a microscopic amount of whatever you’ve stomped through outside. Fibres can cling to bacteria and residue, even if you wipe your shoes. This is where normal cleaning often fails.
The best way to minimise allergens and prolong shelf-life:
You’ve got two realistic options:
1) Switch to a hard floor
With hard flooring, dust and hair sit on top rather than disappearing into the fibres, so it is easier to keep on top of. That is why many people tend to use laminate. For 12mm Laminate Flooring, visit https://www.irwintiles.ie/wooden-flooring/laminate-flooring/laminate-12mm-water-resistant
2) Retain carpet but clean thoroughly
Use a vacuum cleaner at a minimum once each week (more regularly in high-traffic places)
Focus on areas where pets nap or play
Schedule an expert deep clean two times a year (ideally, spring and early autumn)
A final tip – Don’t over-wet the carpet with DIY machinery. Damp fibres can also promote musty smells and help some types of mould, which again may be an allergy trigger.