If you are a homeowner, you probably understand the importance of cleaning and maintenance. From protecting the basic look of your home to ensuring all systems are running in an effective and efficient manner, it easy to see the benefits of caring for your home. Unfortunately, you may not realize improper maintenance can increase your risk of getting sick.

While an affordable and comfortable flooring option, carpet can trap in dirt, dust, dander, mold, and mildew that can make you sick. With this guide and the help of professional cleaners, you will understand the dangers of dirty carpet so you can restore your home back to a healthy and appealing state.

Allergies

Nasal allergies affect an estimated 50 million people in the United States alone. If you or a family member experiences the following, you most likely have allergies:

• Runny nose or nasal congestion
• Sneezing 
• Coughing
• Breathing difficulty
• Fatigue

In many instances, these allergy symptoms stem from dirt, dust, dander, fungal spores, and even small insects that live in the carpet fibers.

Taking prescription medications daily to relieve your allergy symptoms is possible, but these medications are not a long term solution. Regularly dry carpet cleaning will reduce allergens in your home.

Breathing Issues

In addition to the allergies, carpet that is old, worn, and dirty may lead to respiratory issues. Runny noses, nasal congestion, and sneezing are minor issues compared to severe cold-like symptoms, asthma attacks, and life-threatening inflammation and swelling of the throat from an allergic reaction.

If you or a family member struggles to breathe in a normal, healthy manner, you may have mold, mildew, dust mites, or an excess amount of volatile organic compounds in your carpet.

Mold and the presence of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are serious causes for concern. Even if mold is found only in your floors, mycotoxins will infiltrate the air over time, affecting the quality of your home's indoor air. This will make breathing difficult for you and your family.

VOCs are also surprising issues found in your carpets. These compounds are common in cleaning products, paints, stains, and even new carpet.  While respiratory problems are the most common sign of VOCs, the compounds can cause these symptoms, as well:

• Irritation of eyes, nose, throat
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Damaged to kidney, liver, central nervous system

Having your carpets, whether they are new or old, professionally cleaned can rid your floors and indoor air of mold, mildew, insects, and harmful VOCs.

Skin Irritation

You and your children may periodically play and rest on the carpet in your home. Unfortunately, this can lead to skin irritations and even rashes if your carpets are not clean.

Direct contact with carpet containing food particles and bacteria may cause you to itch and scratch your skin. However, the presence of certain pests in the home can cause more severe skin irritation.

Roaches and rats are attracted to dirty carpet riddled with food and food particles. These pests will leave waste across your floors, resulting in stains, foul odors, and irritation and inflammation to the skin.

Athlete's food is another common skin problem caused by direct contact with old, dirty carpeted floors. This fungal infection is contagious. If one family member develops athlete's food, others in the family may also develop the infection.

Again, professional cleaning of your carpet is key to protecting your home and health. With this guide, you will understand how your carpet is making you and family sick. Then, you will realize the importance of regular professional cleaning to rid your floors of unappealing and unhealthy mold, mildew, dirt, dust, and dander.