The Unspoken Health Benefits of Carpet – The time has come to replace the flooring in your home. You love the look and feel of carpet, but you’re not sure if it’s a healthy choice. Since you want to make an informed decision, now is the best time to do some investigative work.
Carpet has been around for centuries, historically made from organic wool or silk. Early examples were tediously hand-dyed and loomed, offering a wonderful display of wealth for homeowners.
Unfortunately, their organic fibers made them the perfect environment for molds and mildew to flourish. High humidity or moisture, combined with organic material such as wool or silk feeds the growth of mold on carpet.
The result is an allergen factory of spores, bursting into the air with every footstep. Thank goodness technology has come to the rescue. With each year, new, more powerful advancements make carpet an increasingly healthier alternative.
By the mid-1900s two new fibers, nylon and polyester made their way into the carpeting world. Each has a unique set of strengths, such as polyester is more affordable and incredibly soft. Nylon, on the other hand, is more durable.
Both fibers are inorganic, meaning they are naturally hypoallergenic and inhospitable to mold and mildew, making them a great choice.
More recently, carpeting has rounded another corner in its drive to produce a more health-conscious version. Low VOC, or volatile organic compounds, has reduced the amount of harmful fumes carpeting emits.
VOC fumes are highest when a carpet is new, but can continue in lower quantities up to five years. These fumes can irritate the eyes and respiratory system. The introduction of low VOC carpeting minimizes these fumes. The result is a higher quality of indoor air.
Other advancements include antimicrobial technology, which again reduces the number of airborne allergens. This new level of protection produces an unfriendly environment for mold, mildew, and odor-causing contaminants.
While its stain resistance properties protect carpet fibers from being infiltrated with pollutants. It’s a win-win for health-conscious carpet lovers.
The reduction of airborne allergens and VOCs are just two of the many reasons to choose today’s health-safe carpeting. The third, and that producing the overall largest haled benefit is soft, lush comfort. Today’s carpets come in a variety of styles and thicknesses. Each one offering toe-squishing softness.
The easy comfort of carpeting reduces stress on the body’s joints. The carpet, along with the additional support of the carpet padding, acts as a shock-absorber. The cushion of this alleviates pressure on ankles, knees, hips, and back.
Adults, especially the elderly can benefit from the shock-absorbing qualities of carpeting. But so can children. Carpeting offers a safer haven for rough-and-tumble kids. In comparison to the hard alternatives of laminate, vinyl, hardwood, and especially tile, the carpet’s softness can not be beaten.
Anyone who has walked across a hardwood or tile floor knows that it is not only hard but also cold. Cold flooring chills not only feet but works its way up into the body as well. This means constant protection, such as socks, slippers or shoes must be worn indoors to maintain the body’s temperature.
In addition to cold extremities, a cold floor can also cause irregularities with the heat distribution of a room. Warm furnace air will need to push back, or heat the cool air at the floor level. This can cause fluctuations in a room’s temperature, which makes for an uncomfortable environment. But it also put a strain on the wear-and-tear of a furnace, and a wallet as well.
As an answer to cold feet, chilled body, and uneven room temperature, carpet offers the solution. Today’s comfy, plush, and durable carpeting acts as an extra layer of insulation. This not only offers noise reduction but also holds cold outside temperatures at bay. A non-slip, warm, and comforting option for both children and adults.
When considering new flooring, recognize the many health benefits of today’s new breed of carpeting has to offer. From reduced allergens through inorganic fibers, to low VOC, noise reduction, insulation qualities, and it’s a safe non-slip surface. You can feel confident about installing new, health-conscious carpeting.