Enhance Indoor Air Quality with Carpet—Breathe Easy with Allergy-Friendly Flooring
Carpet offers more than just warmth and comfort; it plays a significant role in maintaining cleaner air and controlling allergens when properly maintained. Unlike smooth surfaces that allow allergens, dust, pet hair, and other pollutants to re-circulate, carpet traps these particles until they are effectively removed through vacuuming.
Carpet Improves Air Quality
“Properly maintained carpet actually leads to improved air quality and a healthier indoor environment,” explains David Numark, President of Summit International Flooring. Vacuuming locks pollutants inside the machine, removing them from the air you breathe.
Summit International Flooring is the exclusive U.S. distributor of OBJECT CARPET, a brand renowned for its durability, innovation, and beauty. “OBJECT CARPET is an exemplary choice for both residential and commercial spaces, showcasing how carpeting can improve air quality,” adds Numark.
A Solution for Allergy and Asthma Sufferers
Carpet is often misunderstood as a trigger for allergies and asthma, but scientific studies prove otherwise:
- No scientific study links carpet use to an increase in allergies or asthma. In fact, a 15-year Swedish study found that while carpet usage decreased by 70%, allergy cases increased by 30%.
- Carpet may even benefit asthma sufferers: A study of nearly 20,000 people across 18 nations found that carpeted bedrooms were associated with fewer asthma and allergy symptoms.
- A 2003 study involving over 4,600 schoolchildren in New Jersey revealed that carpeted bedrooms were linked to fewer missed school days and less reliance on asthma medication.
Research comparing hard and soft flooring surfaces shows that walking on hard surfaces disturbs more particles, making them airborne. In contrast, carpet improves air quality as it traps particles, resulting in fewer airborne pollutants and a cleaner breathing zone.
Van Besouw and Jabo Wool Carpets: Natural Elegance with Health Benefits
For those seeking a natural and luxurious option, Summit International Flooring also offers Van Besouw and Jabo wool carpets. Wool carpets are naturally hypoallergenic, resistant to dust mites, and capable of filtering indoor air by trapping airborne particles. These premium wool carpets provide not only elegance and warmth but also contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
Tips for Maintaining a Healthier Carpet
- Vacuum Regularly: Slow, repetitive front-to-back motions are more effective than a quick once-over. Don’t forget to vacuum corners and crevices using proper attachments.
- Top-Down Cleaning: Dust blinds, windowsills, and furniture surfaces first, then vacuum away the fallen dust.
- Replace Vacuum Bags: Remove and replace or empty vacuum bags when they are half to two-thirds full.
- Professional Cleaning: Have your carpet professionally cleaned every 12 to 18 months to remove embedded dirt.
- Green Label Certification: Choose carpet certified with Green Label or Green Label Plus to ensure low chemical emissions.
“Proper cleaning and maintenance of your carpet keep your family, workers, clients, and customers healthier, reducing allergy symptoms and enhancing indoor air quality,” concludes Numark. Plus, you’ll enjoy the added benefit of a beautiful carpet in your space.
