Clean Your Carpets for a Healthy Home

Many see having their carpet professionally cleaned as a hassle. From the expense to the drying time to the toxicity of the chemicals, some homeowners, surprisingly enough, have never had their carpets cleaned. But regularly having your carpets cleaned professionally not only removes obvious dirt and stains on the surface, it can also remove dust and allergen irritants that become even more noticeable in warmer weather.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), vacuuming is not enough to eliminate dust, dirt, mites and other materials that filter into carpet. Dr. Michael Berry, former Deputy Director of the EPA's Environmental Criteria Assessment Office, said that neglecting to thoroughly clean your carpets can be a possible health threat. "I have reached the conclusion that carpeting and fabrics not cleaned and properly maintained have the potential to cause a variety of health problems inside the building environment," said Berry. These findings have led the EPA to recommend having your carpets cleaned one to two times per year.

Some homeowners believe that having their carpet professionally cleaned would only add pollutants to the air instead of removing allergen irritants trapped in the carpet. This might be a reasonable assumption for many carpet cleaning businesses, but one company that has made safety a priority has created a non-toxic method for cleaning carpets. Chem-Dry, based in Logan, Utah, has formulated a solution based on the old method of using club soda to remove stains. It contains carbonated bubbles that literally explode dirt and grime from your carpet. But unlike plain club soda, this process adds heat and powerful vacuum extraction to create a one-of-a-kind cleaning system.

This unique, non-toxic system has been recognized around the world. The Quebec Asthmatic Association (QAA) recognizes Chem-Dry as one of the leading health-wise carpet cleaning companies in the world. "The most efficient system among all others is the Chem-Dry system. The distinguishable differences include deep cleaning ability and its resistance to bacterial proliferation," said the association. Bacterial proliferation contributes to poor indoor air quality and puts the inhabitants of the home or environment at risk. "the benefit of extracting is the overall reduction of respirable particles which cause most health effects, and can result in reduced cases of biologically induced illnesses, and reduced lifetime cancer risks," says the EPA.

The Chem-Dry system removes dust and allergens from carpet and upholstery, and the company's carbonation formula uses one-fifth as much moisture as conventional cleaning and dries in one to two hours - compared with one to two days for other forms of cleaning. This is a vital factor in controlling and preventing the development of mold in your home, another contributor to allergies. A 1999 Mayo Clinic study determined that nearly all the chronic sinus infections afflicting 37 million Americans were directly related to the presence of molds. Chem-Dry's short drying time deters mold and bacteria from forming in a moist carpet - a process that can begin after only four hours.

Along with these qualities, the QAA recognizes that unlike other carpet cleaning chemicals, Chem-Dry doesn't leave a sticky residue, is odorless and serves its purpose as an outstanding stain removal system. These qualities are attracting customers worldwide to the Chem-Dry system, along with the widespread knowledge that indoor air quality is just as important, if not more important than outdoor air quality as the average person now spends 90 percent of their time indoors (EPA).

For more information on Chem-Dry and to find the location nearest you, contact Chem-Dry's franchisor, Harris Research, Inc. at (435) 755-0099 or visit the company's Web site at www.chemdry.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.aracontent.com, e-mail: info@aracontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information call Keith Gerson of Chem-Dry at (435) 755-0099, ext. 1008, e-mail: keith@chemdry.com.