As spring gets into full swing, many of us may have the best intentions when it comes to getting out the carpet cleaning equipment, stocking up on those chemicals and mustering the motivation to get stuck in. The only problem is that many people believe this yearly ritual will suffice until the season comes round again. This however should not be the case. It’s usually the facts and figures that move people to action and when it comes to maintaining cleanliness in the household this should be no exception. So here are a few reasons why you should be a bit more conscientious in your consistent cleaning efforts.
Got Germs?
Carpets can be our biggest friends in winter. That cozy, central heat-retaining cushion of underfoot love. But we’re possibly too enamoured with the floor covering that we fail to address the fact that as much as we may be attracted to them, germs are even more so. Extensive research has been done on the subject of why regular carpet and rug cleaning is so important to the home environment. Some of the most respected research has been conducted by Philip Tierno, Jr., a microbiologist from New York University’s Langone Medical Center. The results are rather disturbing, so if you subscribe to the “ignorance is bliss” philosophy, you may want to move onto one of our more easily digestible Lifestyle posts.
Nasty Numbers
The research worked on by Tierno returned the alarming result that each square-inch of a regular carpet contains approximately 200,000 bacteria. The reason for such magnetism is mainly due to the fact that the average person sheds around 1.5 million skin cells per hour. Essentially these cells attach to the carpet and act as moreish cuisine for famished bacteria. A quality steam mop is an empowering tool and arch nemesis of said bacteria, so it’s important to invest in one such appliance to keep the germs at bay. Just make sure not to let it become own worst enemy by allowing it to sit in the cupboard – gathering dust – once the novelty’s worn off.
Space Invaders
Naturally it’s not feasible to call out a professional carpet cleaning service every time you get a feel a pang of paranoia, but it should make you slightly more aware of the fact that having a steam cleaner, a bottle of carpet cleaning shampoo and a bit of DIY drive at hand is not a bad idea. There’s nothing stopping you from making it a family affair, either, and the next time you consider disciplining your child by handing them the lawnmower, maybe the fact that your carpet is 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat might shift that punishment in a different direction.
