Of all the family members who are affected by dust mites, children are the group most susceptible to the negative effects of dust mites and trapped animal dander in carpeting. This is because children like to play on the floor (and thus on the carpet), crawl, walk, run, pat the family pet, and do other things that puts them at a closer level to inhalation of any allergens trapped in the carpet.
Because their immune systems are developing, having your child sneeze or cough due to lack of carpet cleaning is a sign that dust and other allergens have reached a critical point in your home. Carpet owners without children are also at risk for dust allergies. Adults usually take longer to develop the symptoms associated with dust and dander related allergies yet the solution for all households with carpet is the same. Regular cleaning and dust removal helps maintain a low level of dirt brought from the outside.
The best solution is of course, to have your carpet professionally cleaned. This is typically done every six months, and assumes you are doing regular weekly vacuuming in between. Think of it as a deep, intensive cleaning of your carpet. Since professional machines are used, the cleaning happens at a much more thorough level to remove dust and other allergy-causing substances—something that most household vacuum cleaners are not equipped to handle.
Whether you have your carpet professionally cleaned or not, it’s important to take note of high-traffic spots in your house. These areas are prime spots for dust or allergen accumulation. Hallways, doorways to the outside, places where children play, favorite spots for your pet to lie on, and areas where people change shoes are locations you want to vacuum with more passes than low-traffic areas in your home.
