Carpets are actually beneficial for people with asthma and allergies
It has long been an urban myth that asthma and allergy sufferers should avoid having carpet in their homes as carpet holds more dust and other irritating particles then floor coverings such as timber and tiles. But in 2005 a major study was completed by the German Allergy and Asthma Society which discovered that the critical issue for asthma and allergy sufferers is the amount of dust and allergens in the air, not on the floor. The study found that wall to wall carpet reduces the amount of dust in the air by about 50%, compared to hard flooring surfaces. They concluded that for asthma and allergy sufferers the selection of a flooring material that binds dust and does not emit it into the air to be inhaled is an essential preventative method.
There you have it, carpet is the best floor covering for asthma and allergy sufferers. Here at Tile Wizards we know how difficult life can be for asthma and allergy sufferers, so we’ve put together a list of the best carpet products for asthma and allergy sufferers.
Wool Carpets
Wool carpet is the best carpet for allergy, asthma and eczema sufferers. The carpet fibres are a coil-like shape which causes any moisture in the carpet to dissipate, which means it is hypoallergenic. Wool carpet also traps particles from smoke, cooking chemicals, deodorants, cleaning chemicals and gases, ensuring that they aren’t inhaled. Wool carpet is also resistant to bacteria, mould and mildew. In addition to all these wonderful features wool carpet is also non-synthetic, feels very luxurious underfoot and looks beautiful.
Nylon Carpets
Nylon carpet is another good carpet choice for allergy and asthma sufferers. Nylon carpet resists dirt, moisture and mildew, making it easy to clean and remove irritants from. In particular low pile, or short cut fibre nylon carpets are a great choice, as the shorter the carpet fibres, the easier it is to remove irritants when cleaning.
Measures to avoid irritation for asthma and allergy sufferers
When your carpet is being installed you need to be careful which underlay and adhesives are used beneath your carpet, as some of these will release VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) which will cause irritation for asthma and allergy sufferers. You can buy hypoallergenic carpet underlays which are a great way to minimise the amount of allergens that are released (See our article on choosing a carpet underlay).
You can also get hypoallergenic carpet underlay with moisture resistant properties to help make your carpet antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal.
It is very important to vacuum your carpet regularly if you have asthmatics or allergy sufferers in your home. Depending on the severity of the allergy this may mean vacuuming your carpets up to twice a week. Getting the carpet professionally cleaned periodically is also a good idea.
For more information about the best carpets for asthma and allergy sufferers, why not visit a Tile Wizards store showroom and chat with a friendly team member? Also, discover more carpet ranges while in-store.
Tile Wizards stores are located across Australia, in and around:
- Sunshine Coast QLD (Tile Wizards in Bokarina)
- Coffs Harbour NSW (Tile Wizards in Coffs Harbour)
- Adelaide SA (Tile Wizards in Lonsdale, Para Hills West, and Richmond)
- Brisbane QLD (Tile Wizards in Springwood)
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