Rug Cleaning El Dorado Hills CA removes the grime that builds up inside a rug over time. Dirty carpets can hide bacteria, food particles, and pet dander that can irritate your family’s skin and affect their health.

Professional cleaners use specialized methods for different rug materials to prevent damage. Regular rug cleaning can help extend the life of your rugs.

Rugs trap microbes and germs that enter your home from the outside world. These include allergens, dust mites, pet dander, and bacteria. While vacuuming removes some of these contaminants, others are stuck in the deep fibers of your carpets. This is why routine cleaning is so important. Getting rid of these contaminants and then sanitizing the carpet helps to keep your family healthy.

Food is the number one source of contaminant buildup in your rugs. From crumb spills to late night snacks, these crumbs provide food for germs that are living in your rug. When crumbs get stuck in the carpet, they can create a moist and dark environment that is perfect for bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter and other bacteria that can cause illness.

These bacteria can be spread to your carpet by tracking in feces from people and their pets, or from contaminated food. Once in the carpet, these bacteria can survive for weeks in a moist and dark environment. Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, while E. coli can cause vomiting and abdominal pain. Campylobacter can cause diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can lead to kidney failure and death.

In addition to bacteria, a dirty carpet can contain viruses like Norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. In fact, there was a case in which two hospital employees who removed a rug 13 days after an outbreak of Norovirus fell ill. Even though they were wearing protective clothing, this indicates that the virus could have survived in a porous surface, such as a carpet.

A dirty rug can also be a breeding ground for dust mites, which can cause allergies such as hives, asthma and rhinitis. The feces of these mites can also release proteins that are known to trigger these health issues.

To get rid of these critters, use a HEPA-type vacuum cleaner and clean your rugs regularly with hot water that meets the care label instructions for the rug. This will help to remove the odors that the mites are producing and reduce their numbers.

Allergens

Allergies can trigger a variety of unpleasant symptoms including itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing. They are caused by the immune system recognizing an invader, such as animal dander, and overreacting with a series of chemicals.

Carpets act like giant filters, trapping allergens and preventing them from circulating in the air. However, walking on the floor disturbs these particles, releasing them back into the air and causing allergic reactions in sensitive people. In addition, carpets can become breeding grounds for pests such as beetles and moths.

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that thrive in warm and humid environments. They feed on dead skin flakes, and their droppings are potent allergens that can cause symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, or sneezing. Pet dander is another common allergy trigger. It consists of tiny, even microscopic, flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds, and other fur-bearing animals.

Mold spores are also frequently found in carpet, as they tend to grow in damp or moist conditions. The disturbance of these spores by cleaning or by walking on the carpet can send them into the air, where they can trigger allergies and other respiratory issues.

Regularly vacuuming and using a high-quality, HEPA filter can help to reduce the number of allergens in your home. However, these are only a temporary solution. A more permanent way to reduce allergens is to use a cleaning method that penetrates deep into the carpet fibers and removes embedded pollutants and allergens.

Steam cleaning, which uses a powerful combination of heat and moisture to sanitize the carpet fibers, is effective at killing dust mites and other allergens. This method of cleaning is recommended by most experts as the best choice for reducing allergens in carpeted areas.

If your facility has a significant number of allergy sufferers, you may want to consider investing in a high-quality commercial carpet cleaner that provides both hot water extraction and a chemical treatment. This method is highly effective in removing pollutants, allergens, and bacteria from carpet, while leaving it safe for allergy sufferers to walk on immediately afterward.

Skin Irritation

Even if a rug appears clean on the surface, it might still contain bacteria and other irritants. These can cause rashes, itchy skin and other conditions like athlete’s foot and eczema. These irritants can be spread by touching the carpet or by putting on shoes that have been in the rug. A doctor can prescribe a cream or ointment that helps relieve the symptoms.

Allergens such as dust mites, mould and mildew tend to get embedded in rugs that look clean. They can trigger allergy attacks, causing sneezing, runny nose, eye redness and itchy skin. They can also affect breathing, triggering asthma. Regular vacuuming does help to some extent, but it can’t remove the allergens entirely.

It’s important to use a rug cleaning product that doesn’t have a strong fragrance and is safe for the environment and your family. The best option is to have professional cleaners do the work. Professionals are well-versed in using eco friendly products that do the job without harming people, pets or the environment.

If you choose to wash your rugs yourself, stick to room temperature water and spot clean only when necessary. Washing a rug too often can damage it and make it less durable. Also, washing a rug with hot water can destroy the warp and weft of the rug, leaving it unattractive.

It’s best to have a professional clean your rug every six months. This prevents the accumulation of dirt, toxins and allergens that can negatively impact your family’s health. Dirty rugs can weaken the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to germs and pathogens. They can also lead to illness in young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

Damage

Dirty rugs collect a lot of bacteria and microorganisms in their fibers. They can cause health problems, especially for children with sensitive lungs. Rug cleaning removes this grime buildup and makes your home a healthier place to live.

However, if you try to do your own rug cleaning, the process can damage your rugs and potentially harm your family’s health. Many rug cleaners contain harsh synthetic chemicals that aren’t safe for human skin or lungs. These chemicals also damage rugs, causing abrasions and color bleeding. If you are using DIY rug cleaning products, read the labels carefully and perform a patch test on your carpet before using any product.

In addition to these harsh chemical, DIY rug cleaning can lead to a number of other problems. For example, over-wetting can leave detergent residue on the rug, causing it to attract dirt and accelerate re-soiling. Moreover, if you aren’t familiar with different fabric materials and techniques, you may not be able to remove tough stains or debris.

If you want to avoid these risks, consider hiring professional rug cleaners who use safe chemical and natural methods. Ask your cleaners what types of chemicals they use and avoid those that contain perchloroethylene, a toxic dry cleaning chemical that can cause irritation to your eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Naphthalene, another chemical commonly used by cleaning professionals, can also cause irritation when ingested or if it comes in contact with your skin. It can lead to nausea, confusion, vomiting, and even nerve, liver, and kidney damage.

Another common mistake is scrubbing too hard when cleaning a rug. Intensive scrubbing can actually push the stains, dirt, and allergens deeper into the rug’s fibers. It can also pull at the rug’s fibers, resulting in snags and reducing its softness.

Once you’ve rinsed your rug, it is essential to blot it dry rather than rub it. This will prevent the formation of mold and other water-borne toxins. After blotting, let the rug air dry in a well-ventilated area. Make sure it doesn’t come into direct contact with sunlight, as this can cause fading.