Carpet cleaners are among the most toxic cleaning chemicals you can have in a home. It is essential to read the product labels to see if they contain recommended disposal instructions. When entrusting your cleaning to a reputable and established carpet cleaning company, the chemicals used are generally safe. However, some carpet cleaners may sacrifice safety to save a few dollars, and not all cleaning products are eco-friendly and non-toxic.
It is important to ask your carpet cleaner what you are using on your carpet. OSHA requires chemical manufacturers to produce a safety data sheet for each cleaning product they manufacture, and an accredited cleaner will have an SDS for every cleaning product they have. This safety data sheet will indicate what the chemical is made of, the hazards it represents, and how to administer first aid, if necessary. Perchloroethylene (Perc) is included in the US list of Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen.
According to the World Health Organization, exposure to Perc increases the risk of contracting leukemia, breast cancer and skin cancer. Phthalates are often the fragrant chemical component of carpet cleaners, but their use is not entirely safe as they can cause allergic reactions in young children and are also considered carcinogenic. Optical brighteners, such as fluorescent brightening agents (FBA), are used in carpet cleaning to give carpets a lustrous shine. They are weak when used as stain and stain removers, but are ideal for giving carpets a shiny look.
Studies show that optical highlighters are less aggressive than ammonia, but are likely to cause rashes and itching. Ammonia irritates eyes and mucous membranes and human exposure to high levels of ammonia causes wheezing, broncholiary edema, chest pain, and lung damage. A Norwegian study showed that among the 5000 women surveyed, professional cleaners who earned their living cleaning and were frequently exposed to harsh chemicals had faster lung deterioration (17%) than the average person. Therefore, one of the most common reasons behind the dangerous concentration of chemicals in carpets is the application of toxic carpet cleaners. Greenpeace research laboratories explained in a research study that carpets contain different chemical additives which can be deliberately applied during the manufacturing phase or introduced externally through topical treatments necessary for the maintenance of carpets. If you're considering having your carpets professionally cleaned, you may be wondering about the chemicals used in the process and their potential risks.
Many people have had bad experiences with moldy smelling carpets after cleaning them with harsh chemicals. Carpet cleaning chemicals and floor cleaners should be used correctly by professionals for safe results. Carpet cleaning can make you sick if the chemicals used to clean the carpet come into contact with your skin or enter your mouth and thus enter your bloodstream. If your carpet takes a day or two to dry after cleaning it, you risk being left with musty smelling carpets. To better understand why chemicals are used in the carpet cleaning process, it is useful to know the process of cleaning carpets by extracting hot water (steam cleaning).
In general, carpet cleaners that use steam cleaning tend to have longer drying times compared to carpet cleaners that clean with carbonation. Carpet cleaners with harsh chemicals can sometimes create a “toxic soup”, leaving hazardous residues that seep into the fibers of the carpet. Some carpet cleaners use cleaning solutions that leave a sticky film that attracts dirt and dust, so carpets don't stay clean for long. In conclusion, it is essential to be aware of what kind of chemicals are being used when having your carpets cleaned professionally. It is important to ask your carpet cleaner what kind of products they use on your carpets and read safety data sheets for each product they use. Carpet cleaners should be used correctly as they can make you sick if not handled properly.
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