Chemical Dangers Hiding In Your Carpet

There are toxins all around us. Did you know that we are exposed to more than 2,100,000 chemicals every 24 hours? These chemicals are present in literally everything and we expose our body to these chemicals daily. Smart consumers have now started trying to cut down their exposure to these chemicals by using organic, chemical-free products.

What About Materials You Already Have In Your Home?

Your carpets, curtains, bed sheets, cushion covers, pillow covers, and other soft furnishings have been colored and treated with a range of synthetic chemicals. Changing these materials completely is not financially viable. Soft furnishings like bedding can be washed regularly and it does reduce the chemical content of these furnishings. Unfortunately, carpets and upholstery can be washed with soap and water. In this case, you should be aware of what chemicals are present in soft furnishings and how you can minimize their impact on your health.

• Tetrachloroethylene is commonly used as a carpet cleaner but it is also used as a paint stripper and to remove spots. It is also considered extremely carcinogenic.
• Perchloroethylene is also a dry cleaning solvent used to clean carpets, fix colors in carpets, and ensure color stability. Short term and long term exposure to the chemical is thought to cause neurological problems, immune system problems and hematological diseases.
• Perfluro-octane Sulfonate (POS) is used as a stain repellent in carpets, as an impregnation agent, and to fix colors, varnishes, and stains in carpets. The compound is thought to compromise immune systems and predispose to cancer.
• Hydrofluoric acid and 2-Butoxyethanol are also used to process carpets and fix colors into the carpeting. Both of these chemicals are known to irritate the respiratory system and aggravate allergies. These chemicals in carpet are also considered carcinogenic and can convert to gaseous form when heated.

Try to clean your carpets as much as possible but avoid professional carpet cleaning services as they use these same chemicals to clean carpets.

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