Debunking common myths about carpeting

Carpeting has long been a reliable flooring option to keep rooms looking good and feeling comfortable underfoot. There's something to be said about having a plush, warm cushion on the floors of a home. Carpeting can help buffer sounds and minimize injuries from falls. Walking around on a padded surface may minimize back and joint pain as well as feel more comfortable when going barefoot. Despite all of the advantages to carpeting, some people continue to avoid it for a variety of reasons, many of which are rooted in myth. The following are a few of the more common myths associated with carpeting.

Myth: Carpeting contributes to allergens constantly circulating throughout the home.

Fact: Carpeting is actually better at trapping allergens and dust in its fibers than smooth-surface floors. That means that with carpeting there are fewer particles airborne and circulating. Regular vacuuming can remove trapped allergens.

Myth: Carpets pose significant health risks.

Fact: Extensive toxicological assessments of the components of carpet have been studied through the years. There has been no conclusive evidence that carpets present any health risk, particularly of a carcinogenic nature.

Myth: Carpet is a source of indoor air quality problems.

Fact: Regular cleaning and vacuuming of carpet reduces the number of allergens contained within, which makes carpet no more likely to contribute to air quality issues than any other type of flooring.

Myth: Carpet has formaldehyde in it.

Fact: Formaldehyde was removed from the carpet-manufacturing process in 1978. It is unlikely anyone still has original carpeting from 35 years ago, and even if that is the case, the formaldehyde would have dissipated by now.

Myth: Carpeting is made from a host of chemical products.

Fact: Carpeting is made largely from nylon, wool, polypropylene and polyester. These are the same materials used in clothing, which spends hours resting up against the skin. Polypropylene is one of the safer plastics that does not contain BPA and is even used in some baby bottles.

Myth: Mold grows regularly on carpeting.

Fact: Unless you have a flood or a leak that is keeping carpeting saturated, mold will not grow during regular use. Elevated humidity levels in a home also may contribute to mold growth. Mold is typically a result of a moisture issue. Remove the moisture and you remove the mold.

Myth: Thicker carpeting will wear longer and better.

Fact: It is not the thickness or plushness of the carpeting but the density of the fibers that will be a telling clue of durability. This means a relatively thin carpet that is woven densely will likely last quite a while.

Myth: Carpeting can never be truly clean.

Fact: No surface can be 100 percent free from dirt. But with proper cleaning, carpeting can be just as clean as other flooring materials.

Many people would like to have carpeting in their homes but are deterred by a handful of enduring myths. Knowing the facts can help homeowners make more informed decisions regarding flooring materials.