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WHAT YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT CARPET CLEANING.
Most people reading this article are casually "interested" in getting their carpet professionally cleaned. I mean, does anyone really NOT want fresh clean carpets? It's the expense and scheduling and fuss that we don't like. It's like going to the dentist; everyone wants strong, white teeth, but we hate actually going to the dentist. The reason most people start thinking about getting their carpet cleaned is because of those nasty ugly "traffic lanes" in the hall and living room that embarrass you every time you entertain, or because Johnny Jr. spilled his Kool-Aid right in the middle of the bedroom, or because Johnny Sr. spilled his coffee in the living room or because Fifi "spilled" something "else" in the hall. Which are all legitimate reasons to clean your carpet, but did you know there is a better reason to get your carpet cleaned?
Most major carpet manufacturers warranties require professional steam cleaning every 18 months, and recommend getting a professional cleaning once a year. But did you know that the EPA recommends following the manufacturers instructions for proper carpet maintenance as one way to combat indoor air quality issues? (www.epa.gov) Here's why. Did you know that the EPA has estimated that most indoor air is many times more polluted than outdoor air? Did you know that the average American spends 90% of his time breathing that polluted indoor air? Obviously someone needs to step outside and take the dog on a walk! Perhaps even a run or a jog. But beyond that, what can you do to improve the indoor air quality at your home?
Lets start with a few of the reasons indoor air quality (IAQ) can get so bad.
1. Cooking and cleaning nd odors into the atmosphere of your home. These collect in the soft surfaces and fabrics of your home over a period of time, raising the levels of contamination more than you might think.
2. Smoking. No explanation necessary! Obviously, smoking is a personal choice, but we all accept the fact that it dramatically contaminates the air quality of an enclosed building. (by the way, you'd probably be surprised at how effectively we can eliminate smoke odors)
3. Tracking in "stuff" from the great outdoors. You would be amazed at the variety and magnitude of stuff that hitch-hikes into your home on the bottom of your feet, your children's feet, and your dogs feet, as well as in your clothes and hair. Pollen, tar, grease, mud, sand, exhaust smoke, bacteria, fungus, pesticides, herbicides and a dozen other chemicals and pollutants all find their way into your home, where you statistically spend 90% of your time.
4. Having pets in your home complicates the task of keeping your house clean. Dog or cat hair (as well as humans) is oily by nature. Our bodies produce oil and disperse it in our hair to help protect it and us from the elements. Some have more oil than others, and certain skin conditions can aggravate the problem beyond natural levels. The point is, that the oil transfers from the fur or hair onto whatever surface the pets are lounging or playing on. These oils then attract and retain all the pollutants and soils drifting through your home, thereby compounding the problem of air quality.
These are just a few major causes of indoor air pollution, and is certainly not intended to be a comprehensive study on the subject! Now lets look at a few ways of correcting our air quality problems.
1. Exchange your old dead air for fresh clean air. This a great idea, but only works when its not freezing rain outside, or snowing, or just plain frigid or even when its blazing hot in the middle of July. The whole reason we live in houses to begin with is to escape the fury of Mother Nature! Opening windows is a great way to go, but only works in the perfect conditions, which are rarely present.
2. Reduce the influx of pollutants into your home. This is a no brainer... use walk-off mats at the doors, take off your shoes, vacuum regularly, shampoo the dog, don't smoke inside, use exhaust fans in the kitchen... there are dozens of ways to reduce the amount of stuff that finds its way into your home.
3. Clean your air filters. Finally, this is where a good quality carpet cleaning service figures into the picture! Did you know that your carpet is often called the biggest air filter in your home? It certainly is. It is a wonderfully effective filter that catches and holds all that pet dander, chemicals and soils from bouncing around up in the air where you breathe. However, there is a catch. Just like your furnace filter, eventually the soil builds up in the filter and the filter loses its effectiveness. At some point, it becomes so full that it began releasing the contaminants back into the atmosphere and you began to breathe and smell all that junk again. At this point, carpets and upholstery can become almost unsanitary, because they are so full of "stuff". Now with a lot of filters, you just throw it away and buy a new one. But with carpet and upholstery that gets pretty expensive. Now, carpet has been around for quite a few years, and the industry has come up with a solution to the problem. Carpet is actually designed to be steam cleaned about once every year or two to flush out all those pollutants, as well as all the abrasive sand and soils that collect in the base of your carpet and cause premature wear. With a proper maintenance cleaning program, your carpet will function for years to come, not only as a beautiful, soft, warm and quiet surface for your home, but as a tremendous weapon in the battle against indoor air pollution. Quietly working at catching and retaining all the irritating contaminants in your home, and holding them there until a carpet cleaning professional makes a visit and extract it all, leaving it fresh and clean, and ready for work again.
Is getting your carpets professionally cleaned crucial to maintaining acceptable IAQ levels? You bet it is
Read more:
http://www.articlesbase.com/allergies-articles/does-carpet-cleaning-affect-indoor-air-quality-4616737.html#ixzz1MF5yV9l8
Under Creative Commons License:
AttributionSneezing.
Chronic cough.
Runny nose.
Nasal congestion.
Itchy, watery and red eyes.
Skin rashes and hives.
Sinus headaches.
Reduced lung capacity and difficulty breathing.
Black mold or toxic mold contamination has been in the news for several years. Black mold is extremely toxic and can be deadly, especially to children with mold allergies. Toxic mold has become almost epidemic in southern U.S. homes where foam board was used as wall insulation with no air space to let walls breathe. Wallboard, sheetrock or cellulose insulation can act as wicks for any floodwater or unrepaired water leaks. After black mold begins in homes or buildings, mold spores are continuously released by the mold clusters. Microscopic mold spores quickly become airborne and travel throughout the air conditioning and heating systems. A mold infested home creates a lethal environment for anyone predisposed to allergies. Many times the only method to rid a structure of toxic mold is with a bulldozer and trucks to haul off the debris. [Stachybotys is NOT the green mold found on bread or cheese and will not have a musty odor.]
Coughing up blood.
Nose bleeds.
Dizziness.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Chest congestion.
Difficulty breathing.
Anemia.
Skin rashes.
Forgetfulness and memory loss.
Pulmonary hemorrhage.
Death.
Having professionals test for toxic mold contamination can be quite expensive. However, many labs have affordable, and even inexpensive, testing for homeowners. If you see mold on sheetrock or vent, press a piece of clear cellophane tape to the mold and lift it off. Place the tape sample in a zip-lock plastic bag so that the tap sticks to the inside of the bag. If you have more than one sample, label the bags with different locations from your home or building. Contact one of the labs for procedures to have your samples tested.
Reduce your exposure to mold and mold spores.
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms to reduce the humidity levels.
Use mold-killing solutions in bathrooms and shower stalls, on bathroom tiles, shower curtains, around the bathtub and toilet tank.
Use paint with a mold inhibitor, or add a mold inhibitor to standard paint for use in baths.
Replace bathroom carpets with tile or linoleum.
Check tree bark for mold before using it in a home fireplace or wood-burning stove.
Use a chemical moisture remover in closets.
Never put away wet shoes or clothing.
Use exhaust fans in the kitchen to remove cooking steam and food vapors.
Repair all water leaks promptly.
Use a dehumidifier to keep the relative humidity below 40 percent to deter mold growth.
Install a high-performance electrostatic filter in your central air conditioning and heating system to trap mold spores and inhibit mold.
Never put damp clothing in closets or drawers.
Schedule allergy testing by a physician if your mold allergy becomes severe:
Allergy testing increases your knowledge about specific allergens and pinpoints the allergens to avoid. Allergy testing may include blood count and several other blood tests, including the IgE allergy antibody, nasal smear, pulmonary function study, chest and sinus X-rays, plus a detailed symptomatic medical history. As many 120 substances may be used in puncture testing on the upper back and arms to pinpoint exactly which allergens affect you. Intradermal tests of substances on the arms and dermatitis patch tests may be used as well, based on the puncture test results.
Avoid cumulative mold allergen exposures:
Mold allergy symptoms may grow more severe with each successive allergen exposure. Like stacking blocks, one too many blocks causes the whole stack to topple triggering an allergy flare-up. It is important to reduce your exposure to airborne allergens, food allergens and animal allergens.
Allergies can lead to asthma, especially in children, causing permanent lung damage. Fortunately, information about allergies and allergy control products can help people with mold allergies live normal lives.
ten things you should know about mold
- Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
- There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
- If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
- Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
- Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
- Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
- Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
- In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
- Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.
Air Sampling - Mold allergens Voc Air sampling is very important and also testing because lab results finds exactly what your breathing and levels parts per million. When I do inspection I highly recommend air testing also because it gives me a better idea what and possibly where to clean. Not to mention a scientific lab result for your physician in helping make a better diagnosis of whats making you sick .
Professional Inspection
Which consists of;
1 Find sourse of problem- Broken pipe, flooding in basement, Excessive moisture.
2 Visual assement Correct or repair sourse of moisture- What to do to correct problem now and future.
3 Conduct a preliminary assesment- Possible lab testing, What is outcome of problem.
4 Identify the type of containment - How the cleaning will be adressed, Demo first if needed, Containment.
5 Design a cleaning strategy - Make a overall plan how problem will be done, how much.Where. If problem seems to be making people sick or seems more complex will advise a IEP / Indoor Environmental Professional.
INDOOR AIR TESTING Odor Removal MOLD FLOOD AND CLEANING CARPET CLEANING
