Rethinking Carpet

While carpets can provide resilient padding beneath tumbling toddlers, and a warm, cozy surface for children playing on the floor, they can also release dust and fumes that cause sniffles, headaches and other health problems.

In winter, when we open windows less, pollutants can build up in indoor air–and collect in carpets–making symptoms worse.

“Wall-to-wall carpets are a sink for dirt, dust mites, molds and pesticide residues. I much prefer smaller washable carpets of natural fiber,” says Philip Landrigan, M.D., director of the center for children’s environmental health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Washing in hot water kills dust mites, microscopic creatures whose plentiful droppings are a top asthma and allergy trigger, Dr. Landrigan explains. Another benefit: you can also regularly clean the floor underneath, defeating dust buildup. Just be sure to put a non-slip pad under area rugs.

Wall-to-wall carpeting, which is secured to the floor, cannot be picked up for washing, but that’s only part of the problem. It’s important to keep in mind that wall-to-wall carpet is really a carpeting system, which includes the backing, underlay and various glues. Many synthetic carpeting systems, such as those using nylon or polyester fiber, contain toxic chemicals derived from petroleum.

These “volatile organic chemicals,” or VOCs, can evaporate, or “offgas” out of carpets into the air we breathe, says John Bower, author of “The Healthy House Book (Healthy House Institute, 2001). Often, the glues, backing or carpet pads can be more problematic than the carpet itself. VOCs (also emitted by many cleaners, pesticides, paints, sealants, and pressed woods) are heavier than air. Therefore, along with tracked or blown-in-dust and soot, they settle on the floor — and into carpets. Because children play on the floor, if there’s anything troublesome in the carpet, they get the brunt of it.

Where allergies run in families, some parents are rejecting rugs altogether. “We had this 12-year-old carpet on our lower level, and when my son lay on it to play he got itchy eyes, nasal congestion and sneezing,” says Terri Isidro-Cloudas, a web site producer who lives in Connecticut. “He was developing a lot of respiratory infections. I have asthma, and I didn’t want my son to get it,” she adds.

Terri was right to be concerned: Children can inherit a tendency to asthma, and exposures to allergens, such as dust mites, can trigger the disease. And when it comes to VOCs, Dr. Landrigan and others say, children are more vulnerable to these chemicals than adults are, because their young bodies are so rapidly growing and developing.

Terri didn’t want to just toss out her carpet, adding to the billion square yards of carpet that’s discarded every year, according to “Environmental Building News.” She tried steam cleaning, only to learn that her carpet had mold and mildew — which is incurable, according to the editors of “Environmental Building News.” John Bower confirms this, adding, “Actually, any damp cleaning or shampooing results in wet wall-to-wall carpet, which allows mildew and dust mites to proliferate,” Terri finally felt justified in removing the rug — and decided to stay carpet-free. She had concrete poured over the old vinyl tiles beneath. Radiant heat cables were installed, and covered with a hardwood floor. The result: a warm, cozy, cleanable floor “and energy savings, too,” Terri says.

While Terri proved that there is life, and a good one, after carpet, the other good news is that, if you’re in the market for a new one, there are many healthier choices available now.

This article was reprinted from “The Green Guide” newsletter, a publication of The Green Guide Institute. Since 1994, “The Green Guide” has been a premier consumer source for practical everyday actions benefiting environmental and personal health. Want more practical solutions that benefit the environment and personal health? Subscribe online to The Green Guide.

Read more: Home, Green Home Decor, Health & Safety

Reprinted by permission of The Green Guide Institute.
By Mindy Pennybacker, The Green Guide #86 (The Green Guide Institute).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Kenneth C.

2:32PM PST on Jan 17, 2012

Studies suggest that indoor air quality is often 10 to 100 times worse than outdoor air quality! Studies also show that there are many health benefits of carpet cleaning.

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send a green star

Sean M.

7:10PM PDT on May 6, 2011

This information is basically incorrect. Carpet traps the allergens, pollutants, etc. and stores them. Allergens, fungus, etc is only a problem if they become airborne. If you clean your carpets, as recommended by the manufacturer, then all the stored pollutants get removed and you home will be healthier. Every time you walk across hard wood you kick up the dust and dirt on the floor and breathe it over and over. Since nothing is trapped by the hardwood there is always dust bunnies in the corners and underneath furniture. Homes are designed to be very airtight and basically hold their breath when the doors are closed. When the doors and windows open the home breathes and pulls in dirty air. No matter what you do there is always a thin layer of air traveling around your home. This thin layer of air carriers pollutants throughout the home.
I am a professional multi-certification holding carpet cleaner, but don't believe me check out Dr. Micheal Berry's advice about carpet http://www.healthyfacilitiesinstitute.com/a_39-Carpet_and_Health

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John D.

2:25PM PDT on Sep 12, 2010

I have seriously thought about having my ten year old carpet taken out as I have hard wood floors underneath. I've heard a lot about how carpet is adding to health problems.

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Chealse B.

1:14AM PDT on Jul 22, 2010

Thanks! I was thinking of replacing my carpets with laminate. I don't have enough time to clean carpet

Danielle H.

9:46AM PDT on Apr 8, 2010

What solution should I use with a steam cleaner to remove the dirt, pet odors? Vinegar and Hot Water? I still have carpet in the bedrooms. Hope to soon one day be rid of it.

Rick H.

10:59AM PDT on Aug 15, 2009

I wonder if there are companies that sell carpet that have been created and then stored just long enough to allow all of the dangerous chemicals to breathe out before it is purchased. It seems like this woule be a great idea for families with infants, elderly, asthmatics and sufferers of emphysema.

Michael T.

9:32AM PST on Feb 10, 2009

There is a new option in wall to wall carpeting - residential carpet tile! I have some Simply Green residential carpet tile installed in my house. It has all the benefits of a rug (i.e. I can pull up tiles and wash them off) but it is wall to wall and it is literally seamless. I used the Beach House collection in color Sand Castle.

http://www.simplygreencarpet.com/index_files/Page413.htm

Carol E.

9:22PM PDT on Jul 8, 2008

I'm a senior & rent my apt.(I love it) but after 8 year with four rooms of carpeting (I hate it). Landlord enforces carpeting but refuses to let me put in wood flooring at my own expense. HELP

Melissa M.

7:22PM PDT on Jul 7, 2008

This isn't new information to me, but I was hoping to learn about the best solutions to carpeting, such as which had the least impact on the environment, or which had the least amount of off-gasing, since pergo-type floors will have some as well. Oh, well. Maybe there will be a follow-up article coming soon...

Adam K.

6:36PM PDT on Jul 7, 2008

I never knew how bad carpet could actually be.