| Ever have a carpet cleaning professional in and been | | | | few strategically placed rugs keep things a little |
| absolutely shocked at how much debris they are able | | | | warmer on the feet during winter and the beauty of |
| to pull from your clean carpets? | | | | rugs is that you can take them outside and give |
| Even professional cleaning cannot rid your carpet of a | | | | them a good beating occasionally. |
| variety of environmental toxins that build up in the | | | | If it's not your thing and you really want carpet, |
| pile. | | | | consider a natural fibre carpet such as a pure wool |
| Aside from dust mites, pesticides you spray around | | | | blend. While it's more expensive, it will outlast cheaper |
| the home settle and accumulate, not to mention the | | | | synthetic blends. |
| pesticides tramped in from outside on the soles of | | | | If you are stuck with synthetic carpet, the best thing |
| shoes. | | | | you can do is toa) Think before you spray - anything. |
| It's reported that 80% of human exposure to | | | | Bear in mind that whatever is sprayed into the air, |
| pesticides happens indoors. Added to pesticides, | | | | some of it will wind up embedded in your carpet.b) |
| there's carpet glue, room deodorizer residue, stain | | | | Remove shoes at the door - many toxins are |
| protectors - the list goes on and on. Anything you | | | | trampled in from outside.c) Invest in a HEPA grade |
| spray into the air, even normal dust itself which can | | | | vacuum cleaner.d) Have your carpets professionally |
| contain lead, all settles into your carpet and some of | | | | cleaned by a company that uses earth-friendly |
| it cannot be removed by a standard vacuum cleaner. | | | | practices and cleaning materials at least once a |
| Then there's the carpet itself. Most people have a | | | | year.e) Place and encourage the use of doormats. |
| nylon or nylon and wool blend which exposes them | | | | Carpets are environmentally unfriendly, unhealthy and |
| to benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene | | | | a pretty much a waste of money. Much of it we |
| and acetone - all extremely hazardous substances | | | | cover up with furniture and the rest of it is just a |
| that are persistent in the environment. | | | | trap for toxins. In the case of synthetic carpets, as |
| If you're building a new house, consider wood or | | | | they don't break down readily, they'll be with us for |
| slate flooring, but bear in mind there's dangers there | | | | generations to come; cluttering up landfill with their |
| too in varnishes and sealants. | | | | deadly payload. |
| Part of our house is slate and we absolutely love it. A | | | | |