As a parent, your main concern is your child’s health and safety. It is why you never leave them out of your sight when in public and why you carefully plan their meals to ensure their intake of vitamins and minerals is satisfactory.
However, sometimes, parents are too focused on the impact of the outside world that they forget there are numerous things in their home that can endanger their children’s health. Rugs and carpets are probably the first things that come to your mind. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common health-related issues these can cause and also tell you how to prevent them from happening.
Weak immune system
Children’s immune system is every parent’s biggest concern. Yes, they need to build it over time, but the thing you have to think about is how they do this. The obvious answer is by being exposed to germs and bacteria, which is why professionals advise parents to let the kids play outside and explore their surroundings. This is correct, but there is another thing you have to consider. How long are they exposed to these? When you take them to the park, it is usually for an hour or so. They are only exposed to a certain bacteria for a specific period of time. Then you take them home, bath and clean them, and they are in a safe environment again. Their body has enough time to recover and learn how to fight off the germs.
However, this is not the case when they are constantly exposed to these, and it is when dirty rugs and carpets come in. It doesn’t matter if you have a toddler who crawls all around the house or a child who spends most of the time playing on the floor. The effect is the same. They will touch the carpet, put their hands in their mouth, and ingest germs. Since this process will repeat over and over again, their immune system won’t have a chance to develop due to constant exposure, but instead, it will weaken and deteriorate.
Allergies and respiratory infections
You probably know that these two conditions can be caused by mold in walls. However, did you know that your rugs can also be moldy? This can be even more significant if your child has asthma because their condition can quickly and easily worsen.
Also, carpets are filled with dust mites, pet hair (if you have any), dead skin cells, and so on. Yes, your kid inhales all of these, and after some time, they can cause respiratory infections and allergies. Some of the most common signs of these are runny nose, sore throat, red eyes, and other cold-like symptoms. If you notice your kid is suffering from these frequently, you should definitely think about the carpet as the culprit.
Skin irritation
Skin redness is a telltale sign that we have touched something we are allergic to or something dirty that can cause any number of skin conditions. When it comes to adults, these symptoms usually last for a few days, and in most cases, it is not necessary to treat them with ointments. Plus, sometimes, we may not even experience these.
Nevertheless, the children’s skin is so much more sensitive, meaning that even the slightest exposure can cause significant problems. Their skin will become not only red but also itchy, which can be quite uncomfortable. Do you know what the worst part is? These symptoms can last for weeks even if you treat them with medicine and remove the allergen from the equation. Therefore, you need to act as soon as you notice any of these problems.
How to protect your child?
Now that we have given you a list of the most common conditions that can be caused by dirty rugs and carpets, here are some tips on how to prevent them.
Get a non-toxic rug
Finding this type of rug can be quite challenging. Firstly, you should look for a company that sells GOTS certificate products. Unfortunately, there are not many of them, and if you manage to find one, the chances are that the price will be very high. If this is not an option for you, always go with a rug made from cotton or wool, and make sure to avoid synthetic ones. This is a golden rule regardless of the kids’ products we are talking about, from window drapes to bedsheets. You should always choose natural materials, and if you are looking for linen accessories, visit this site.
Vacuum it regularly
The best way and some might argue, the only way to maintain the carpet is to maintain it and clean it regularly. Generally speaking, you should do it every other day, that is, three to four times a week. However, there is another thing you have to make sure. Using a regular vacuum may not be good enough, especially if your child is prone to allergies and infections. Instead, you should invest in one that features the HEPA filter.
This filter traps up to 99.97% of small particles that your regular vacuum cannot.
Deep clean it
You need to deep clean the rug with water and an appropriate cleaning solution every few months. Yes, you can do this on your own in your backyard, but you need to be very careful when choosing the cleaning product. Keep in mind that it will probably leave some residue, so you need to ensure that it is not toxic. It is of utmost importance to check the ingredient list if you want to use a commercial solution. On the other hand, you can always hire a professional service to deep clean it for you. This is even a better option in most cases since they use top-notch equipment, which makes their work more effective. Nevertheless, do not forget to ask them about the cleaning solutions they use, and emphasize that it is the rug from the kids’ room and that you need them to use the non-toxic one.
