How to keep your carpet and floors as clean as possible at home or the office to prolong the life of your carpet and flooring:

This post is geared for an office environment but it is just as important in a home with a lot of children or even one with a lot of visitors.

One of the best ways to keep your carpeting and flooring clean is through preventive maintenance.  You need to get a good exterior and entrance mat.  These mats will help keep dirt from reaching your flooring or carpets so that it stays clean. Having mats at entrances is very helpful for dirt containment and reducing the costs of cleaning and maintenance. It is best to have an exterior mat that can be used for scraping heavy debris and an interior mat that can be used to trap smaller particles of dirt.

The strategy of preventative maintenance is as simple as it sounds: You keep your carpet clean by keeping dirt from reaching it. 

The best type of mats have some heavy yarns to scrape and to absorb moisture. You should test the mat by sprinkling ice melter on it and using a standard upright vacuum to remove it. If the debris isn’t removed easily than you need a different mat.  You will need to clean the mat on a regular basis to prevent it from becoming loaded with dirt and debris that will get on your main flooring if it is not removed from the entrance mats.

In addition to the mats, make sure you have a regular cleaning program for all of your flooring.  With carpet make sure you get a quality vacuum cleaner and do regular deep professional cleaning. as well.

Here is a good resource for the type of vacuum cleaner to purchase based on your needs.

http://www.carpet-rug.org/CRI-Testing-Programs/CRI-Seal-of-Approval-Program/Vacuums.aspx

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A common misperception is that people with asthma and allergies should avoid having carpet in their home.

Studies have shown that the opposite is true. Properly cleaned carpet helps reduce allergy symptoms and is actually the best flooring choice for those dealing with asthma and allergies.

Their is a significant body of research that shows that carpet is not bad for allergy sufferers:

The Carpet and Rug Institute, an industry trade association, is committed to educating people about carpet and to dispel untruths and myths. The CRI has this to say;
“The suggestion that carpet causes indoor air quality problems is a significant issue for the carpet industry to address,” said Werner Braun, president of CRI. “Through research, CRI offers information that is valuable to medical professionals and to anyone living with carpet.”
According to Werner Braun; ” An extensive toxicological assessment of components of carpet concluded that the chemicals in carpet pose no health risks of public concern. ”

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Listed below are 4 more studies on carpet and allergies.

1. Airmid Healthgroup of Ireland conducted a study that showed, “effectively cleaned carpets can trap allergens and other particles, resulting in fewer particles escaping into the air.” Airmid performed the study for CRI member carpet manufacturer Shaw Industries.
2. A study on childhood asthma study from 2005, known as the Inner-City Asthma Study, concluded that there was no difference in symptom improvement or allergen levels in carpeted homes vs. uncarpeted homes.
3. A 15-year Swedish study found there to be no link between the use of carpet and incidents of asthma or allergy. The study also found that when carpet usage in Sweden decreased by 70%, allergic reactions increased by 30%.
4. Researcher and toxicology expert Dr. Mitch Sauerhoff, reviewed a number of scientific studies and concluded that the literature on carpet and asthma or allergies confirms that children and adults living with carpet do not have an increased incidence of asthma or allergy

Properly cleaned carpet is the best way to combat allergies and raise indoor air quality. The best strategy for effectively cleaning carpet is:

1. Regular vacuuming with a quality vacuum.
2. Have your carpet professionally deep cleaned every year.

Professional cleaning and regular vacuuming might sound simple, but that is all you need to do to keep your carpet from becoming a source of allergies and asthma.

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1. Keep your carpets warranty intact. Carpet warranties require that your carpet be cleaned using the extraction method every year to 18 months.

2. Extends the life of carpet. Regular cleaning can increase the life of carpets considerably.

3. Protects your air quality. Carpets trap airborne particles. These must be removed in order to preserve your carpet and support air quality.

4. Preserves carpets. Carpet soiling is primarily made up of dry soils. Regular cleaning removes these soils.

5. Removes stains and spots that can attract more soiling. Removing them protects carpeting from more damage.

6. Prevents bacteria and allergens from accumulating.

7. Enhances the appearance of your home or office. Clean carpets portray overall cleanliness of the building.

8. Removes dust mites, insects and bedbugs that may have found a home in your carpet.

9. Clean fresh smelling carpets make people feel good about themselves and where they live or work.

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