Carpet, carpet everywhere, and wondering if it’s clean?
Whether you’re looking to buy a new house or trying the sell the one you’re in, chances are one of the first aspects of the home you’ll inspect is the flooring.
According to a survey by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification – a group that certifies Clean ‘N Fresh), nearly 80 percent of those asked connected their family’s health to the cleanliness of floors in the home. It’s no wonder given that some articles describe thousands of bacteria being found on floors (WebMD), even more than toilets.
Why? Floors take it all: the dirt (and grime and unthinkable) brought in on shoes from the outdoors and the food dropped from the table, hair dropped by humans and pet fur.
A sample from your floor may delight any scientist wanting some good material to example under a microscope.
So what are you to do? We’ve got a few ideas.
On a regular (as in at least weekly) basis, vacuum your carpets and rugs. Make sure you’ve invested in a high quality vacuum and replace the filter frequently. (Check trade or consumer magazines and expect sales persons to provide technically accurate information. Also, check the Carpet and Rug Institute’s list of vacuums that qualify for the Green Label Program at www.carpet-rug.org.)
Invest in your health by scheduling a professional cleaning. We can take sure of the carpets, tiles, rugs and upholstery in your home – every little corner and crevice that may be harboring unwanted germs and bacteria.
A cleaning before you put the home on the market – or before the holidays if you’re staying put – can help your home put “the best foot forward,” so to say.
Professional hot water extraction cleaning lifts and suspends fine particles of soil. Then careful extraction flushes them from carpet fibers.
If you’re moving into a new home, you may want to make sure the carpets are clean before you move in to give yourself a fresh start. Giving the upholstery and rugs a cleaning also keeps from moving dirt from home to another.