Our floors are not only an area of our homes that takes a significant beating but are also the first area that is noticed when someone walks through the door. In most cases, try as we might, we can never get our floors to look as clean and pristine as we would like. Read More
Carpet Cleaning Can Make All the Difference: A Guide to Less Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny microorganisms that exist virtually everywhere on Earth. The only places devoid of bacteria are the ones that have been manually sterilized by humans. While you cannot see bacteria with the naked eye, they are visible under a microscope. Carpets are one part of the home that’s particularly likely to harbor potentially harmful bacteria, but careful cleaning can help reduce bacteria levels in your carpets and other areas.
What Are Bacteria?
Bacteria are single-cell organisms. Bacteria fall into three different categories according to their shape: round, cylindrical, and spiral. Most types of bacteria multiply via binary fission, replicating their DNA to create new cells. A few types of bacteria reproduce by a process called “budding.” As bacteria reproduce, they usually vary their genetic material for future survival and to enable them to adapt to their surrounding environment.
- Bacteria
- Bacteria and Viruses
- Properties of Microbes
- Six Surprisingly Germy Places
- Bacteria and Germs
- Understanding Germs
- Let the Germs Begin
The Dangers of Bacteria
Some types of bacteria are beneficial, while others are harmful. The human digestive system is home to specific types of beneficial bacteria that help with digestion and help to keep the immune system strong. Other bacteria can be detrimental to human health, causing illnesses and infections. Escherichia coli and streptococcus are among the most common harmful bacteria. Once a bacterium enters a host, it will try to multiply quickly. Sometimes, a person may have immunity to a specific type of bacteria, either naturally or from a vaccine. When immunity is present, the body will eliminate the bacteria without illness occurring, but if it is not, the person will fall ill: The bacteria will multiply quickly, and symptoms of infection will occur. Antibiotics may be necessary to help the body eradicate the bacteria.
- How Infection Works
- The Immune System and Foreign Invaders
- Normal Flora
- Fungi and Bacteria as Human Pathogens
- Bacteria: Good, Bad, and Ugly
- 12 Bacteria That Pose the Greatest Threat to Human Health
Why Carpets Hold Bacteria
Carpets can trap and hold dirt that people track into the house on their shoes, and outdoor pets may also bring in germs on their feet. Bacteria can hide in the carpet fibers, and it may also settle down into the padding and backing of the carpet. Carpets hold much more dust and dirt than hard flooring because they are much more porous. The norovirus is a particularly common carpet-dwelling germ, and it is often responsible for causing gastrointestinal problems for humans. It can remain alive in carpet fibers for up to six weeks, and when people walk over the carpet, the bacteria can become airborne. Salmonella could also be lurking in carpet fibers, tracked in on shoes. If carpets become damp, campylobacter bacteria may fester in the carpet fibers. This type of bacteria is often found in moist environments where mold and mildew are thriving. For this reason, experts usually recommend that anytime carpet, padding, and backing become fully saturated, replacement is necessary.
- Your Carpet: The Unexpected Culprit (PDF)
- Making Choices About Salvaging Wet or Flood-Damaged Carpet (PDF)
- Carpets and Healthy Homes (PDF)
- What’s Lurking in Your Carpet?
How to Properly Clean a Carpet
Regular vacuuming is crucial for keeping carpets clean. For best results, vacuum carpets one or two times per week with a vacuum cleaner that has a high-efficiency particulate air filter to capture as many particles as possible. At least one cleaning per week should involve four minutes of vacuuming over every square meter of carpeting. Steam cleaning is effective for removing bacteria from carpeting, and this method is preferred because it does not introduce excessive moisture during the cleaning process, which could lead to mold issues. So-called “dry steam cleaning” is another option for carpets, and this method is beneficial because it saturates the carpet less so that the backing does not get wet. It’s possible to rent steam cleaning equipment, or you could hire a professional to perform the work. Steam cleaning carpets twice each year is the general recommendation to keep flooring clean. Anyone with pets or small children and those with environmental allergies may wish to steam clean their carpets more frequently to reduce the number of allergens and bacteria in the fibers.
Improving Your Green Footprint with Home and Garden Waste Recycling
Nearly all Canadians have a residential recycling program available to them. Statistics Canada reports that nearly 98% of residents utilize this type of service. However, far too many are not following best practices resulting in millions spent and massive amounts of recyclables ending up in our landfills. Life transitions like moves and remodels generate huge amounts of waste and not everyone knows how best to dispose of it. This can be improved by following some guidelines and making recycling a normal part of your household cleaning.
Learn the Recycling Rules in Your Area
Curbside recycling makes it very convenient to recycle household waste but it’s important that you follow the guidelines in your area. Some cities take only basics such as paper, cardboard, glass, and cans. Some allow plastic shopping bags while many others do not. A quick visit to your city’s waste disposal website will detail what you can and cannot put in your bins. Organic and artificial garden waste can often be recycled, too. For bulk recycling following a move or remodel there are often depots available throughout the city where items can be dropped off.
Make it Part of Your Routine
In order to have the biggest impact you have to make reducing and recycling a part of your routine. Have designated bins for recycling alongside all the garbage bins in your house. Choose cleaning products that are less toxic and have recyclable packaging. Use microfibre cloths and cloth napkins instead of paper goods. Whether cooking, cleaning, working, or playing recycling can be present in every part of your routine.
Recycle the Right Way
Once those plastics have been reused to the point of no return it’s time to send them to be recycled. If you want those items to actually get recycled, it is paramount that you recycle the right way. Your bin, along with all the others in your city, go to a sorting facility. If your items are in a trash bag inside your bin, they will get tossed out and head to the landfill. If you do not properly clean your items before putting them in the bin, they could cause that item and much more to head to the dump. Why? Contamination. CBC reported that one spoonful of peanut butter left in a jar could contaminate an entire tonne of paper and send the whole lot to the landfill. Recycling the right way matters or you may not be recycling at all.
Canadians have the best intentions when it comes to recycling, as evidenced by nearly all of us utilizing local recycling services. It’s time to up our game and become more responsible for our waste to ensure our items actually get recycled and we reduce the amount of waste we send out of our homes for processing.
Credits: Jennifer Veidman, Calgary Alberta