Rugs play an important role in the home and they can add warmth, comfort, and decorative flair to the most mundane rooms. No other décor can give a homey feel to a space quite like rugs do and the coziness that comes from placing your toes on a warm rug in the morning is pretty much irreplaceable!
That being said, rugs are also germ magnets that attract a lot of bacteria, dead skin, pollen, and dust. If left to their own devices, rugs can end up being pretty gross and a completely different colour than they were meant to be. Here’s the dirty truth about what’s lurking in your rug and what you can do about it!
Why Rugs Get So Dirty
The thickness, density, and pile of rugs make them prone to collecting a lot of dust and dirt. The material that rugs are composed of also make film much more difficult to see. Here are all the things that lurk in your rug when you don’t clean it properly:
- Soil and dirt: Most rugs endure a lot of foot traffic, which means soil and dirt can easily be tracked in from the outside to your rug.
- Bugs: Rugs are the perfect place for little insects like fleas, dust mites, and bed bugs to hide out and call home. Yuck!
- Skin Flakes: On average, a person sheds a whopping 1.5 million skin flakes per day. All that skin has to go somewhere, and a lot of it ends up falling in crevices in your rug!
- Odours: Even though odours are not visible to the naked eye, they are still very much present in unkept rugs. If you let them linger long enough, all the pet urine and cigarette smoke will definitely start to become apparent.
- Food and Drinks: Spilled food and drinks don’t just leave stains on your rug, they are also a great source of food for organisms to feast on. That means there might eventually be a colony of critters living in your rug!
- Bacteria: Pathogens like E.coli and staphylococcus can make their way into the fibres of your rug and cause a lot more problems than just a dirty floor covering.
The Dangers Of Dirt
All of the dirt, dust, mildew, mould, and bacteria that rugs hold on to can compromise the health of anyone living in the vicinity of one that is not well-maintained. If you’re someone that already has environmental allergies as is, a dirty rug can become a serious health risk. Here are four major issues that dirty rugs can cause:
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A Weakened Immune System
Your immune system is always working to fight off bacteria and toxins. When your rug is filled to the brim with germs, your body has to work overtime to fight them off and stay healthy. If you live in an unclean environment for an extended period of time, your body will eventually tire itself out and your immune system will be compromised!
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Skin Irritation
Believe it or not, your skin issues could actually be a result of your dirty rug. Rashes, athlete’s foot, itchy skin, and eczema can all be set off by the dust mites present in rugs.
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Respiratory Issues
The moulds, skin flakes, dust, and dirt trapped in your rug get spread into the air any time you vacuum the area or make any sudden movements. They are then inhaled by homeowners, which can lead to coughing and/or difficulty with breathing. Moulds can even cause flu-like symptoms when inhaled so do your best to stay far away from them!
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Allergies
If you have allergies, your dirty rug will probably be more of a nuisance to you than the average person. Dust mites and mould can cause inflamed lungs as well as other symptoms of an allergic reaction, like a runny nose and red eyes.
What To Do About Your Dirty Rug
To effectively keep your rug clean, try to not walk over it with your outdoor shoes on and make an effort to vacuum regularly. If you really want to eliminate all the dirt that is deep down in your rug, it’s absolutely necessary to get it professionally cleaned and there’s no better place to go than Love Your Rug.
At Love Your Rug, we are an accredited and award-winning rug cleaner that can get all the stubborn stains and deep-seated dirt out of your rug. Contact us today to get a free quote!
If bed bugs and other little pests are still present in your home after getting your rug professionally cleaned, take advantage of our Toronto Bed Bug Exterminators or Toronto Pest Control services!
