My wife and I just purchased a pre-owned home.  The carpet was recently cleaned and looks nice, however, with all of the impact on indoor air quality now days we have a concern about what could be living in our carpet.  Should we just replace the flooring?  We are somewhat allergy prone and not sure what to do. 

Besides last year’s Super Bowl party leftovers, bacteria, allergens, pollens, micro-organisms, mold, mildew, dust and mites all could be living and growing right under your feet.  Even in the cleanest homes, fine particles of dust and pollutants accumulate in, under and round carpet.

You just purchased a pre-owned home, why live with someone else’s choices, or someone else’s leftovers?  Quality of life, health and a good living environment are a few keys to happiness and well being.

Carpet is the number one floor covering by most consumers because of easy care, super acoustical benefits, easy to match any decor, cost wise, carpet when compared to other floor covering options seems to have better value, i.e., low cost benefit.  However, in spite of these benefits, consumers such as yourself are becoming increasingly more concerned with indoor environmental issues and carpet chemicals and have concerns about carpet chemicals that are emitted from new carpet and  allergens that are contained in existing carpet.  Since you are concerned about existing carpet and what is living in your carpet, let’s start with that issue first.  Recently, Builders Choice Carpet One unveiled what they call Healthier Living Carpet Installation.  This is the first carpet installation system to address growing consumer demand for cleaner, healthier indoor air.  In response to rising concern about indoor pollutants and allergies, this installation system uses the most advanced technology to clean the air of dust, odor-causing bacteria, mold and mildew that can trigger allergic reactions during and after home-renovation projects.

The way carpeting is installed can dramatically reduce exposure to irritants that can provoke serious allergy and allergy-like symptoms.  By minimizing dust and odors, the cleaner, healthier practices of the Healthier Living™ Carpet Installation promote better home air quality, especially for families in which allergies and dust sensitivities are a hindrance.  The system also ensures that the subfloor under the carpet is sanitized.

During the Healthier Living™ Installation, extra precautions keep dust, bacteria and particles from becoming airborne and moving throughout the home when old carpet is removed and new carpet is installed.  Coupled with some high-tech steps to remove and prevent mold, mildew and bacteria growth under the carpet, this system is one-of-a-kind.

There are three steps to this new installation process; an exclusive antimicrobial agent that disinfects, protects and diminishes mold, mildew and bacteria is used to treat subfloors under the carpet.  This agent also traps micro-organisms on the surface so they cannot become airborne and it provides a lasting, clean surface that resists mold growth.  Throughout the installation there is another process that ensures that dust and particulates are contained to and removed from the work area.  This includes using a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum that will not release dust back into the home before and after cushion and carpet are installed.  Plastic sheeting is used to keep dust out of other rooms, and protective booties prevent tracking of dirt, grit and contaminants in the home. The final step is the installation of an antimicrobial premium carpet cushion that blocks spills from seeping through and inhibits growth of mold, mildew and odor-causing bacteria.  In addition to all of the great health benefits, Healthier Living™ installation also doubles the wear and texture retention warranties of the product it is installed with.  

Many consumers are unfamiliar with carpet cleaning and more than likely clean their carpets when it appears soiled.  The carpet industry today has greatly improved carpet fibers and they are able to withstand soils and stains unlike so many of the products before them.  Carpet should be cleaned when it appears to show signs of dirt and stains.  Failure to clean carpets allows allergens and dust to build up.  These allergens are released into the air when the carpet pile has been filled with the allergen.  The rule of thumb is to have your carpets cleaned every 12 to 18 months for normal situations.   Cleaning carpets does prolong the life of your carpet.  Studies have indicated that carpet is a good trap for allergens and removes them from the indoor air.  It is stated in a carpet buyer handbook that “carpet cleaning studies have revealed that more than 99% of biologicals and allergen collected by carpet can be removed with one carpet cleaning.  The key to limiting the biological load on any flooring surface is a regular, carefully planned carpet care program.”