Dirty carpet is a nuisance for any home. It looks unsightly and makes your home feel unclean. However, dirty carpet can be more than just an aesthetic problem. It can also be bad for your health!
But can dirty carpet make you sick? Unfortunately, dirty carpet can have a negative effect on your health. In this blog, we will cover the types of bugs that you will find in your carpet along with how exactly dirty carpet can make you sick. We’ll also answer the question: can dirty carpet make you sick?
Can Dirty Carpet Make You Sick? An Overview of Bugs in Your Carpet
Did you know that there are bugs living in your carpet? This is nearly unavoidable, as all carpet fibers can attract bugs. Think of it in terms of dust mites, which are always around no matter how much we scrub and clean.
Are these bugs harmful to your health? They can be if you do not take the proper steps to clean your carpet and get rid of pests inside.
If you were wondering what kind of bugs are in your carpet, these are the most common that you’ll find.
Carpet Beetles
A common species of beetle that’s found in your carpet. They reproduce rapidly and lay up to 100 eggs at one time. They can also live up to 3 years.
Carpet beetles come in three different species, and they can look different from one another. The black carpet beetle is one of the most common and recognizable.
Do you have carpet beetles? If you do, you will want to take the proper steps to get rid of them. If there is a serious infestation, you will likely need to contact a pest control company.
Meanwhile, a professional carpet cleaning can also help rid of these pests.
Carpet Moths
When you think about a moth, you probably think of most flying around outdoors. You probably envision them being attracted to light, such as an outdoor lamp post or exterior spotlights.
However, the truth is that there are also carpet moths. These moths are not exactly the same as moths that you will find flying around at night toward sources of light. But they are definitely a pest that you will want to get out of your carpet as quickly as possible.
What’s the matter with carpet moths? Just like carpet beetles, they can reproduce at a rapid rate. They can lay up to 200 eggs at one time by the time they are 2 to 3 months of age.
Before you know it, you can have more carpet moss and you know what to do with!
Bed Bugs
Wait, aren’t bed bugs only found inside your bed? Not necessarily. You can also find bed bugs located inside the carpet fibers. If this is the case, you will want to get the infestation under control as soon as possible. Otherwise, it is likely only a matter of time until the bedbugs either way inside your bag.
Do bed bugs in your carpet make you sick? Bed bugs don’t necessarily make you sick, but they do bite. No one wants to get bit by bedbugs, whether they are in your bed or a new carpet. Be sure to seek professional assistance if necessary.
Ants
While there is no such thing as carpet ants, they can certainly take refuge inside of carpet fibers. This is especially true if you have a high carpet pile height.
Ants will be attracted to your carpet if you drop food and do not vacuum it up. All the food and crumbs inside the carpet fibers can become a magnet for ants.
Can ants make you sick? Unfortunately, yes. Ants are known to carry numerous types of diseases including salmonella.
Now that you know about bugs in your car bread that can potentially make you sick, there are other sources and ways that can cause sickness deriving from your carpet.
Can Mold in Carpet Make You Sick?
Do you have mold in your carpet? If so, this is bad news. Mold is perhaps the worst thing that you can find in your carpet, especially when it comes to your health.
Mold than your carpet can yield various onset of symptoms. Some only cause minor sickness while others symptoms can be quite serious. Mold in the carpet can cause eye, skin, and lung irritation.
If you find mold in your carpet, typically the best course of action is to replace the carpet entirely. While moldy carpet can be cleaned, it can also lead to unsightly stains. The last thing most homeowners want is a mold stain carpet, even if it is clean. The good news is that you can keep your carpet clean from mauled by making sure it stays dry.
Can Dog Urine in the Carpet Make You Sick?
You have a beloved cat or dog. Sometimes accidents happen with pets, and you might find cat or dog urine on your carpet. Urine can stay in quite easily on your carpet. But what does cat or dog urine mean in terms of your health?
The big problem with pet urine is the smell of ammonia. Urinating in a room with reduced ventilation can give off fumes that lead to asthma problems and even pneumonia.
Urine can make you sick in the sense that it attracts moisture, which can allow mold to grow. Some mold variations coming from dog or cat urine in the carpet can lead to long-term lung conditions. While the latter is an extreme circumstance of what can happen in terms of sickness from pet urine, it is not something that you want to ignore.
The best course of action to prevent sickness from pet urine is cleaning it as quickly as possible.
Can Damp Carpet Make You Sick?
We already mentioned that wet carpet can be a problem for your health. But how can damp carpet cause a problem for your health? If you have damp carpet, such as in a basement or from wet and snowy shoes, you do not want to allow water to settle here. There are numerous reasons why damp carpet is bad news.
Damp carpet is more alarming than you may think. This is because water damaged carpet can result in neurological symptoms including memory loss, fatigue, and migraines.
The root of the problem isn’t necessarily the wet carpet by itself, but the mold and mildew that can thrive in it.
Damp carpet should be properly dried as quickly as possible. You can start by collecting towels and placing them on the floor. Put your foot on the towel and press down, allowing the water to soak up into the towel.
If your carpet is still wet, try opening some windows if the weather allows. You can also get a dehumidifier to help air out the carpet as well.
Can Smoke in Carpet Make You Sick?
Whether you are a smoker or you live with one, it is inevitable for third hand smoke to attach the carpet fibers. In fact, third hand smoke attaches to just about everything including the furniture and walls.
But when it comes to your health, can smoke in your carpet make you sick?
Third hand smoke in the carpet can have an impact on your health. There is an increasing number of lung cancer cases that are not related to first or second hand smoking, which has researchers looking into third hand smoke as a potential culprit.
Children are the most susceptible to getting sick from third hand smoke. This is because they are constantly touching a variety of surfaces and putting their hands in their mouth.
Dirty Carpet Can Cause Asthma Attacks
Are you suffering from asthma attacks or allergies? The culprit might be inside your carpet. Unfortunately, many allergens will attach themselves to the carpet fibers. This includes dust, pet dander, and more.
What’s worse is that dirty carpet fibers attract even more dirt. If the carpet is not vacuumed on a regular basis, you can find yourself suffering with all kinds of allergy or asthma related ailments.
As you can see, there are a surprising number of ways that your carpet can make you sick. The good news is that many of these instances are preventable! Keeping your carpet clean and vacuuming it routinely can dramatically cut down on the potential of your carpet making you sick.
Keep in mind that it is best to have your carpet professionally cleaned at least once every six months. If it’s been longer than a year since your carpet has been cleaned, it is time to take action and schedule an appointment today.