For this question, the answer is simple: a firm yes. In general, you should definitely get your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
If you live in London, then you need to get them cleaned more frequently. We’ve compiled some reasons here that explain our point of view. So, read on if you want to know what pollution can actually do to your health, your carpet, and why you can’t just give it a good old vacuuming.
– The Nature of London’s Air
The fact that London air is more polluted than the norm is not a surprise. What we care about here are the pollutants themselves. The two of main concern to London City Hall are particulate matter, as well as, Nitrogen dioxide. Both, at long term exposure, can affect your lungs, air pathways, and even your heart. While Nitrogen dioxide can result in inflammation and more severe asthma cases, the small particulate matter in the air can sneak into the body and accumulate; damaging organs with time.
In fact, according to a study done by King’s College in London in 2015, the two pollutants were definite causes of thousands of premature deaths. In 2008, particulate matter resulted in an estimate of 4,300 premature deaths, and while that number decreased to 3,500 in 2010, it still is an issue. As for nitrogen dioxide, the long-term exposure has resulted in an estimate of 5,900 premature deaths in 2010.
Now, that we’ve bombarded you with enough numbers and figures, it’s time to get to the main topic.
– How Does This Relate to Carpets?
Have you ever jumped on a carpet? Or watched someone do so? Well, it’s most likely that you’ve seen a cloud of dust burst out of the carpet as soon as it got hit. This happens because of the fact that carpets are made of thin fibers which easily retain dust, suspended particles, and other pollutants in the air. So, the link is pretty direct: pollutants in the air can be absorbed by carpets. In places where pollutants are of a high concentration; like, London, a carpet needs to be cleaned frequently to avoid retaining pollutants for a long period of time. Since, long-term exposure to pollutants is harmful to all residents; especially, kids and those with sensitive lungs, and pets, too.
Not only that, but you also need to keep in mind that air isn’t the only source of pollutants; germs and bacteria exist everywhere. When you go about your business outside the house, then come back in, there’s no doubt that you’ll drag in an amount of dirt with you. This again, is not healthy. Add to that, your carpets end up looking dirty. This all supports the idea that you should regularly have your carpets cleaned.
If right about now you’re wondering where you have left your vacuum cleaner, stop. A vacuum won’t do you any good.
– Why Do You Need a Professional Cleaner?
Simply put, because vacuuming isn’t thorough enough. Using a vacuum cleaner will definitely get some of the dirt out of your carpet; it will even make it look shinier than normal. But, this is only on the surface; think of vacuuming as wearing perfume. On the other hand, think of professional carpet cleaning as using anti-bacterial soap. There are plenty of carpet cleaning London based companies, and they really do take the process of carpet cleaning to the next level in a way that you would not be able to by yourself at home, as it is strenuous and you want to make sure not to ruin your carpets. The regular carpet cleaning process is engineered to kill bacteria and eliminate pollutants, as opposed to solely making a carpet look good.
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the material carpets are made of tend to accumulate pollutants pretty quickly. If you leave them long enough without cleaning, they will end up trapping smells and bacteria, and eventually they’ll become a health hazard. Granted, you can get them professionally cleaned and properly maintain them, but at some point, they will get dirty again. Of course, it isn’t logical to get them cleaned every month since, this takes a toll on the carpet’s life.
– So, How Often Should You Get Them Cleaned?
There are a few factors you should take into consideration: the area where you live, how many people/animals live in your house, and if there are any smokers. However, the main period between each clean should be somewhere between three to six months.
If you live in an area where there’s a high traffic circulation, it usually means that pollutants go airborne with every car passing by. This increases their chances of going into your house and getting trapped within carpet fibers. As for the number of residents living in your house, this should be a measure of how many people step on the carpets and the extent of particles they gather. The more people you have in your house, the more particles of dead skin and germs you’ll find in your carpets. Not to mention, each person has already acted as a vehicle for pollution from outside, so if you have three people living in your house, you have three people bringing in pollutants from outside. Needless to say, smoking is also a huge factor you should take into account when deciding when to hire a carpet cleaning service because of the ashes, and the fumes.
If your house and lifestyle happen to lead to a more polluted carpet, it is advisable that you go for a clean closer to the three-month mark. Contrarily, the less pollution factors there are in your daily life, the longer you can wait before getting your carpets cleaned; twice a year should be good.
In a Nutshell
People often underestimate the importance of professionally cleaning their carpets. Little do they know that it can be harmful for them, as well as, their carpets. Despite the fact that authorities in London are working on reducing air pollution, it isn’t the only type of pollution that affects carpets. This is why it is advisable that you get your carpets cleaned by a seasoned professional every three to six months. In doing so, you’ll be guaranteeing cleaner, healthier carpets and, in turn, a healthier house.
