Everything You Need to Know About Hypoallergenic Carpets

Carpet has a bad habit of collecting dust, dander and pollen. And just like the nerdy kid who won’t give up his stamp collection, it can be a serious challenge to remove all of these allergy-triggers from your floors.

The problem is so bad, serious allergy and asthma sufferers resort to installing hard flooring to keep their sanity – and their health.

But if you prefer carpeting, you do have options. Hypoallergenic carpets can keep allergens to a minimum, so you can breathe easy in your home. Here’s what you need to know about allergy-friendly carpeting.

Why Does Carpeting Aggravate Allergies and Asthma?

Carpet’s magical ability to hold onto common allergens, like dander, pollen and dust, is the primary reason why some people can’t live in a home with carpeting. If you have pets, the situation can get even worse.

In addition to this, most new carpets have VOCs (volatile organic chemicals) that can cause allergies.

You would think vacuuming would be the solution, but in many cases, they make the problem worse. Some vacuums only pick up the allergens, and then exhaust them right back into the air. A pet vacuum can generally help lessen this problem, but it doesn’t tackle the problem at its root.

What is Hypoallergenic Carpet?

Hypoallergenic carpeting is designed to significantly reduce the allergens in your home. They come in a wide range of materials, but the most popular ones include:

• Nylon: Resistant to moisture, dirt and mildew. Nylon carpets are highly durable.
• Polypropylene: Moisture- and mildew-resistant.
• Olefin: Moisture- and mildew-resistant.

You’ll also find some carpets made with natural fibers, which are produced without oils, high-emission chemicals or petroleum. These include:

• Sea grass
• Hemp
• Wool
• Sisal

Opt for tightly-woven carpeting if you’re choosing natural fibers. The nice thing about this type of carpeting is that it actually traps allergens, which can be vacuumed up. You just have to make sure that you have a good vacuum – one that actually traps and contains allergens.

Are There Allergy-Friendly Pads and Glues?

Allergies can also be triggered by the padding and glues underneath your carpeting. For some people, it’s not enough to just change out your conventional carpeting for natural fiber rugs. You’ll also want to choose allergy-friendly pads and glues.

Choose padding that’s antibacterial, moisture-resistant, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. When laying the carpeting, it’s important to ensure that the installers use low-VOC adhesives to keep the air in your home as clean as possible.

Do Hypoallergenic Carpets Remove all Allergens?

Unfortunately, hypoallergenic carpeting won’t keep allergens out of your home for good. But it will significantly reduce allergens, which means fewer attacks and a more comfortable home.

In many cases, this type of carpeting can stop attacks completely because there are so few allergens in the home.

Still, it’s important to invest in a good vacuum if you’re going to have carpet in your home – hypoallergenic or not. Choose a vacuum with a good air filter and a HEPA filter. Also, make it a point to vacuum often or daily if needed, and steam clean every six months to remove embedded allergens. Adopting these cleaning habits will help keep allergies at bay, so you can start loving your home.