Answer:

Some carpet cleaners –especially spot removers– can be particularly dangerous, because they contain toxic chemical solvents. These products dissolve dirt without soap and water, but give off strong odors and can leave behind chemical residues. Other potentially problematic ingredients in carpet cleaners include compounds that produce lots of fumes (like formaldehyde ), acids, pesticides, disinfectants, lye (sodium hydroxide), fragrances and many others. There are ways to clean carpets without dangerous chemicals.

Visit the Marketplace section of our website for companies that specialize in eco-friendly cleaning products.

Answer:

Your sense of smell is alerting you to chemicals present in new carpeting. Carpeting, its backing material, adhesives and carpet padding can all contain volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which evaporate – causing the smell. And, unfortunately, some VOCs may indeed have health effects on your fetus as well as cause respiratory problems for your young son.

Do not try to clean the carpet with more harsh chemicals. The best course of action would be to thoroughly steam clean your carpets with plain water. Ventilation (opening windows, turning on fans) is also essential to keep VOCs from building up in indoor air. It will also help your carpet dry completely and quickly. The safest way to get rid of VOCs from carpeting is to remove it entirely. Since it was probably recently installed, this may not be a realistic solution. It’s important to continue to maintain a clean carpet as it can easily become a haven for dust mites and other toxins.

Also, visit the Marketplace section of our website for companies that specialize in eco-friendly cleaning products.

Answer:

The problem with carpeting is that it's a perfect home to microorganisms such as mold, mildew and dust mites. It is also a reservoir for everything you track indoors on your shoes soil, lawn chemicals, lead dust from chalking house paint, asbestos fibers from automotive brake linings, animal feces, and anything else found on the ground outdoors.

Wall-to wall carpeting is virtually impossible to clean thoroughly, so it is always going to be a source of allergens. Plus, cleaning can cause additional problems:

1. Routine vacuuming often stirs up dust making it airbourne.
2. Damp-cleaning processes can add enough moisture to cause the microogranisms living in the carpet to thrive.
3. And, most carpet shampoos contain fragrance, solvents, or other chemicals that can bother some people.

The active ingredient likely to be found in most rug, carpet and upholstery shampoos is percholroethylene, a solvent commonly used as a spot remover. It is a known human carcinogen. Rug, carpet, and upholstery cleaners may also contain naphthalene, which, according to the The Condensed Chemical Dictionary is "toxic by inhalation". Naphthalene is also suspected of causing cancer in humans. Ethanol, ammonia and detergents are other common ingredients in these products.

The safest carpet cleaners on the market are those with a baking-soda base. To deodorize your carpets with baking soda, sprinkle it liberally over the entire carpet (making sure the carpet is dry first). You will need several pounds for a nine-by-twelve-foot room. Wait 15 minutes or longer, and then vacuum. You can leave it on overnight.

Answer:

There are a number of ways to clean carpets without dangerous chemicals. Blotting is a good way to clean up stains quickly, Blot with white paper towels or clean fabric; stand on the absorbents so they penetrate more deeply into the stain, then remove. Don't rub the carpet with the paper towel or fabric; just repeat using clean absorbent material.

Scoop as much of the stain as possible onto a spoon or appropriate implement.

Nothing works better than baking soda to remove odors from a carpet; it literally neutralizes them on the spot. Sprinkle baking soda over the stains and leave it on overnight. You may need a box or two to really do the trick. To avoid clogging up your vacuum cleaner, sweep off as much baking soda as you can, then vacuum up the rest. For a urine neutralizer use borax or baking soda or spray of club soda (do not rinse; soak up moisture with a sponge if necessary).