I recently read the story of a person with serious allergies who removed all the carpet from her home to get relief. Can carpet cause people to get sick?

An excellent question! In recent years we have all heard about some of the unfortunate people who suffer from extreme allergies. This condition is called hypersensitivity. It can be a terrible ordeal for the person suffering, and for those who live and work with the sufferer. Hypersensitivity is important and deserves our attention.

First, carpet is found in virtually every hospital in this country. If it were a health threat, it would be banned in hospitals instead of being used in them. That does not rule out carpet as a possible problem. Carpets are constructed from several components. It’s rare, but a person could become allergic to one of a carpet’s components. For example; if a person develops an allergy to wool and they have wool carpet, the carpet will have to go.

Thinking about the wool allergy, we can see why hypersensitivity can be so disruptive. Wool is animal hair. The hypersensitive person would have to remove the wool carpet and their cat or dog. Also, any wool clothing, and any wool blankets would have to go. Family members would be subject to the same restrictions. Friends, family, and coworkers could not wear wool clothing near the hypersensitive person. Some cleaning brushes are made from animal hair. Many sofas and chairs have animal hair woven into some of the fibers used in their construction. Not only the carpet, but many other things would have to be removed from the home.

If the person were sensitive to nylon, it would be worse. Nylon is in almost all the clothing we wear. The waistband in our clothing usually contains nylon. Sox, underwear, hats, gloves, shoes, shoe laces, and countless other items all contain nylon. Most furniture and draperies have some nylon in them also. Imagine trying to rid your home or office of everything containing nylon.

The hypersensitive allergy sufferer would have to remove most of their furnishings and even change their life style. These cases are drastic and rare, that is why the stories grab our attention.

Carpet actually helps.

In the case of most allergy sufferers, carpet can actually help to keep the problem under control. When gravity is combined with carpet, a healthy benefit is born.

The dust and spores that cause allergies in most people tend to settle to the floor. People who study indoor environment call carpet a sink. They use that term because carpet tends to trap the dust and soils which settle on it. Carpet filters them from the air. If the carpet is vacuumed and cleaned on a regular basis, it becomes a valuable ally in the war against indoor dust and pollens. That is one of the reasons why it is used in so many health facilities.

So in answer to your question, if a person has a rare hypersensitivity to something in a carpet, that carpet (and everything else in the home or office with the same content) should be removed. But, more often than not, carpet is part of the solution to allergies. Clean carpet contributes to good health.

Tru-Clean is a family owned environmentally responsible carpet, tile and upholstery cleaning company serving all of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lee, Collier and Charlotte County.  Our technicians are certified by the world’s most respected certification body for textile professionals and we are an “A” rated company with Angie’s List and the Better Business Bureau.  Our cleaning solutions are certified environmentally friendly, allergen-free and safe for small children, expecting mothers and pets.

If you are an allergy sufferer give Tru-Clean a call today.  Our cleaning solutions are allergen free and our thoroughly exhaustive cleaning services are designed to remove years of deep set allergens, soil and pet dander.  We also offer an anti-allergen treatment for furniture and mattresses.

For more information on our full range of cleaning services please visit us online at www.trucleansurfacecare.com or call us any time at 239-541-4888 – Lee, 941-621-2198 – Charlotte or 239-206-1935 – Collier County.