We debunk the myth - it's not true that carpeting is harmful to allergy sufferers!
Unfortunately, there has been a perception in the minds of consumers for years that carpeting harbours the growth of dust mites, bacteria, fungi and a concentration of all manner of allergens and dirt. As a result, with the idea that it is a safer and healthier choice, most allergy sufferers (but not only) opt for a hard flooring solution in the form of stoneware or wooden panels. But does hard flooring always mean safe and ideal for allergy sufferers?
A simple example:
Imagine a room with laminate or porcelain stoneware flooring. In a home, let alone an office environment, it is difficult to maintain sterile cleanliness. There will always be dust, dead skin (a breeding ground for dust mites) and dirt on the floor surface. Admittedly, this is not visible to the naked eye, but on simple logic it becomes obvious - with every pass we make, all this 'dirt' rises to form a cloud invisible to our eyes, which ultimately ends up in our airways.
How about letting all those nasties stay down there, while mites, fungi and bacteria have no conditions to thrive? Go ahead! This is exactly the solution offered by carpet manufacturers.
Here are a few examples and a brief description of carpets that feature these properties.
- Flotex from Forbo Flooring Systems - the flocked fibres of flotex carpets capture allergens and dust mites from the air, which are only released during dry or wet cleaning. Thus, pollen on the surface of the carpet does not become airborne when walking. In addition, a Sanitized treatment is used, which protects the carpet against dust mite proliferation and also makes it resistant to mould and odour.
- Airmaster from Desso - carpets in this range, like flotex, are excellent at capturing dust particles from the air. According to studies, the concentration of fine dust particles in the air is eight times lower than that of hard floors and four times lower than that of standard carpet.
- Vorwerk carpets - all carpets from this manufacturer are recommended for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. In 1996, Vorwerk carpets were the first to receive the TÜV Nord (North German certification organisation) seal of approval - "Suitable for allergy sufferers". In addition, Vorwerk carpets are certified by the DAAB (German Allergy and Asthma Association), which provides allergy sufferers and health-conscious customers with more confidence in the quality and properties of the product. Vorwerk carpets effectively reduce the amount of fine dust in the air.
