“For Stress-Free Healthy Living”

Clean Carpets and Your Healthy Home

Viruses, germs, and bacteria can be a hardy lot. Thanks to “microbial adhesion,” viruses and bacteria like Norwalk (stomach flu) and some types of Salmonella can survive on an uncleaned carpet for a month or more. In addition, some of these little nasties – like Campylobacter – transfer almost immediately by contact, so say goodbye to the “five second rule.” It isn’t just your carpet, either. It can be upholstery, drapes, and mattresses. In addition, microbiologists have identified high levels of germs and allergens in the air blown from a running vacuum cleaner. But for now, let’s talk about your carpeting.

Depending on the size of the room and amount of traffic, several pounds of soil and dust can accumulate in and under a carpet in just a year or less. Scientists estimate that over 43 million tons of dust fall on the U.S. every year. Couple that with the fact that the average person sheds an amazing 1.5 million skin flakes in just one hour. Of course dander accumulations will be higher if you have a four-legged family member (but that’s a topic for later).

Keeping the dust and dander at bay is important because about 2,000 dust mites can live on just one ounce of carpet dust. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments (like Florida), happily eating dead skin cells and nesting in dust-collecting carpet. The residue that mites leave behind can mix with dust and become airborne, which may cause allergies, further affecting your healthy home.

Fortunately, with proper cleaning and maintenance, clean carpeting can actually improve the quality of air by trapping allergy-inducing dust and allergens. Unfortunately, most people do not clean their carpets correctly, which can actually exacerbate allergies. For the average home, having carpets professionally cleaned once every six to 12 months should be sufficient. Just remember that higher traffic areas or homes with pets may need more frequent cleaning.

Why Choose Daystar?

Since 1986, Daystar Cleaning has been helping northwest Floridians maintain clean and healthy homes. We don’t play pushy sales games, so call for an appointment and we will send one of our professional, IICRC-certified technicians to your home to give you an exact, no-obligation price quote before the work is started. Keep in mind that you will never be charged extra for normal spot removal, preconditioning, or deep cleaning. We know we’re the best around, that’s why we offer a no-risk carpet cleaning that is 100% guaranteed.

Call us at 850.769.0606 or visit our webpage www.daystarcleaning.com

References
American Lung Association. “Your Carpet and Indoor Air Quality.” Accessed: July 30, 2009.
Bakalar, Nicholas. 2003. Where the Germs Are: A Scientific Survey. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Brown, Jack. 2001. Don’t Touch that Doorknob!: How Germs Can Zap You and How You Can Zap Back. New York, NY: Warner Books, Inc.
Maczulak, Anne E. 2007. The Five-Second Rule and Other Myths about Germs: What Everyone Should Know about Bacteria, Viruses, and Mildew. New York, NY: Thunder’s Mouth Press.
Tierno, Philip M. 2001. The Secret Life of Germs: Observations and Lessons from a Microbe Hunter. New York, NY: Pocket Books.
Woodward, John. 2002. What Lives under the Carpet? Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.