Learn how to perform a professional cleaning of your carpets and sofas at home to prevent allergic problems for your children.

Children have developing respiratory systems and are more sensitive to irritants present in the air. Exposure to pollutants such as dust, mold, pet dander, cigarette smoke, and chemicals can lead to the onset or worsening of respiratory problems. Therefore, it is important to keep the home clean and well-ventilated for a better quality of life for the entire family, especially children.

Certain spaces within our homes require more thorough cleaning due to higher levels of dirt and allergen concentration. Rooms like the living room and bedrooms, where we often have sofas and carpets and spend a significant amount of time, have a higher concentration of dust mites. This is due to their ability to feed on human skin particles. Carpets and sofas are also the favorite places for our children, where many of their activities take place, resulting in a buildup of dirt from daily use.

In this article, we will explain the importance of properly cleaning carpets and sofas to prevent the onset or worsening of respiratory diseases in children.

Dust Mite Presence in Carpets and Sofas: Primary Allergic Symptoms in Children

The immune system of a child is still developing, meaning it is in the process of learning to recognize and combat threats. This includes learning to effectively respond to bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. For this reason, when there is an excess of pollutants in items like sofas and carpets, it is common for a child’s immune system to react differently than that of adults, making them more prone to allergic symptoms upon contact with these substances.

Additionally, if a child already has a predisposition to allergies, the symptoms are more easily identifiable and recurrent. In general, symptoms of exposure to allergenic agents tend to be:

• Sneezing
• Dry cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath and wheezing
• Itchy nose and eyes
• Runny nose
• Watery and red eyes
• Skin rash

Carpet and Sofa Cleaning: Primary Causes of Allergies in Children

The cause of these types of symptoms can be multifaceted, especially during seasons with a higher prevalence of viruses when children are more prone to getting colds. However, typically, such recurrent symptoms are indicative of children predisposed to developing dust mite allergies, and who have:

• Atopic Dermatitis – Manifests through intense itching, redness, and inflammation of the skin. Especially in children, the affected skin becomes inflamed and appears irritated. These symptoms occur due to the immune system’s response to allergens in children.
• Allergic Rhinitis – Results from an exaggerated reaction to harmless substances such as pollen, dust, pet dander, dust mites, and mold.
• Asthma – This condition is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the airways and leads to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Typically, symptoms can vary in intensity and occur due to the immune system’s excessive response to certain allergens, respiratory viruses, tobacco smoke, physical activity, and temperature changes.

If a child is already predisposed to have these types of problems, their contact with surfaces or objects that have a higher concentration of dust mites or other allergens serves as the trigger for allergic reactions. Hence, the thorough cleaning of the entire home is crucial, with special attention to furniture and objects where the accumulation of dirt is higher, such as sofas and carpets.

Carpet and Sofa Cleaning: Preventive Measures for Allergic Episodes in Children

Regular home cleaning is essential for maintaining a healthy environment. It’s crucial to clean and ventilate spaces to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses, especially when there are children at home.

In addition to thorough cleaning, moisture and mold control, some additional precautions are also advisable. These include avoiding plush toys in children’s rooms, as they can accumulate dust and dust mites, refraining from smoking indoors, taking extra care in cleaning pets and their spaces (in the case of having pets), and regularly cleaning sofas and carpets. (See also How to clean pet hair from sofas and carpets)

Allergic Episodes in Children: Homemade Tips to Reduce Dirt on Carpets and Sofas

As expected, there are also some precautions you can take to reduce dirt on carpets and sofas, which you can and should incorporate into your family’s daily habits, including for children:

• Not eating or drinking on carpets and sofas, as this increases the risk of leaving crumbs, spilling liquids, or dropping food that may stain the fabric.
• Avoid walking with outdoor shoes on carpets and sofas to reduce the amount of dust and stains.
• When hands come into contact with dirt and grease, avoid touching sofas before washing hands.
• Use protective covers for sofas or blankets to shield against some dirt.

These are some tips you can consider in your daily life and that of your children to prevent the accumulation of dirt on the sofas and carpets in your home.

Allergic Episodes in Children: Professional Cleaning Services for Carpets and Sofas

All the daily care you provide for your family does not replace the need for periodic cleaning of carpets and sofas. For effective cleaning without staining or damaging fabrics, the use of professional cleaning services specialized in upholstery, carpets, and rugs is a recommendation to consider, particularly to reduce allergic symptoms in children at home.

At Biomex, as experts, we recommend professional sofa and carpet cleaning at least twice a year to keep them properly sanitized and undamaged. Additionally, we offer an anti-dust mite treatment service for sofas, mattresses, upholstery, and carpets. This treatment includes an exceptional formula registered and approved by the E.P.A., featuring bactericidal, fungicidal, and deodorizing properties. It is applied after a general cleaning performed by us.

This treatment remains effective for 4 to 6 months, eliminating dust mites and their larvae. It’s an excellent option to ward off key pathogens that trigger allergies in children. (See also Allergies: The importance of anti-dust mite treatment for mattresses, upholstery, and carpets.)

Professional Cleaning of Carpets and Sofas – Main Benefits

In addition to the health benefits already described, especially for the well-being of children, professional cleaning of carpets and sofas extends the lifespan of the pieces, keeping them looking new for much longer. In general, opting for professional carpet and sofa cleaning allows:

• Remove deep dirt and stains: Professionals have the knowledge and experience to eliminate tough dirt, stains, and odors that cannot be removed with just surface cleaning.
• Preserve and extend the life of fabrics: Accumulated dirt on carpets and sofas can damage fibers and accelerate wear and tear. Professional cleaning removes this dirt, prevents damage, extends the life of fabrics, and keeps furniture in good condition for a longer period.
• Enhance the appearance and hygiene of the pieces: As explained earlier, deep cleaning not only removes visible dirt but also eliminates dust mites, allergens, and bacteria that accumulate in the fabrics.

In addition to these benefits, opting for professional cleaning services has the advantage of being quick and convenient. Carpets and sofas are cleaned and ready for reuse in a short amount of time. See also: Sofa Cleaning: Prices, Extras, and Advantages. Learn everything!

At Biomex, we offer a wide range of cleaning, waterproofing, treatment, and odor removal services available for individuals and businesses.

Contact us for more information and to schedule a professional carpet and sofa cleaning service. Whether through email (info@biomex.pt), phone (+351 219 616 534), or by filling out the contact form, Biomex has a team of experienced professionals ready to assist you and answer all your questions. Don’t hesitate!

Get in touch with us and schedule your service today!