ripping up old carpet
ripping up old carpet
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Many people love their indoor carpeting and look forward to having brand new wall to wall carpeting installed.
Did you realize however, that no matter how clean you keep your rug, even if you steam clean it weekly, it is still highly toxic to you, your family and your pets?
Carpets cover the floors of our business and schools.
Whether your carpets are new or old, they probably have more bad things in them than you want to imagine.
The list is staggering.
Known carcinogens such as pdichlorobenzene are in new carpets, as are chemicals that produce fetal abnormalities in test animals.
These chemicals also cause hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness in humans.
Other compounds in new carpeting that affect your health are adhesives, stain protectors, mothproofing and flame retardants.
In 2000 the 3m company removed the chemical perflourooctanyl salphonate from their product, scotchgard, because it had been found to cause reproductive problems in rats.
It had also been found in high levels in the wildlife of urban areas.
Mothproofing chemicals contain naphthalene, which is known to produce toxic reactions, especially in newborns.
Every time you spray for bugs or use a fogger, the chemicals settle in the rug and stay there for years.
Just put in a new wood or laminate floor?
Household dust contains lead and other heavy metals, because lead is in our soil and will be for a long time to come.
Older carpets are so toxic that your chances of being exposed to hazardous chemicals are 1050 times higher in a carpeted room than outdoors.
If the carpet is plush or shag, your risk increases substantially.
What can you do?
First you can take action to reduce your exposure to carpet toxins.
First, if you can, get rid of the carpeting.
If not that, then vacuum with a well sealed high quality hepa vacuum cleaner that can do a much better job of cleaning your carpets than the cheaper vacuum cleaners found at most department stores.
Low quality vacuum cleaners are not sealed well!
Even many of the so called filtered ones often leak air through gaps in their cases causing dirty air to blow back into your indoor environment!
Steam cleaning can kill dust mites and bacteria.
A good doormat will stop a lot of toxins right at the door.
Take your shoes off when entering your house and you make it a much safer place.
If you must buy a rug or carpet, choose one made of naturally flame retardant fibers such as wool, and get a woven rug.
Finally, get a quality hepa air cleaner or air purifier that will remove dust and toxins that rise from the carpet or rug every time you step on it or vacuum.
If you follow as many of these precautions as possible, you will certainly have a cleaner and healthier home.
Another tip at recommends the following when looking for a safer carpet.
In 2004 this initiative by the carpet and rug institute certifies that carpets have passed independent laboratory tests for emissions from thirteen notorious chemicals.
Your best alternative is to seek area rugs made from natural fibers such as wool, hemp and corn husks laid on top of natural hard surface flooring.
If that is not possible, open your windows and do the best you can with air filters because you can bet that your home is much more toxic than you ever realized.
This information, is brought to you by absolute air cleaners and purifiers inc.
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