Are Carpet Cleaning Agents Safe for Children And Pets?
Some things in life are inevitable, like the fact that over time, all carpets will need cleaning solutions to get soil or dirt out. Carpets take plenty of abuse from rambunctious kids and pets, people who fail to wipe their feet, guests who spill dinner – the list is pretty long, but that makes the solutions to clean them that much more important.
Unless you are using a green cleaning service, and demand only non-toxic and Green Certified cleaning solutions, the vast majority of professional cleaning agents may have toxic or harmful ingredients that are unsafe for pets and children, and can lead to poor indoor air quality.
Carpet cleaning agents that are often used by professional carpet cleaners (in particular spot removers) are quite dangerous, as they are rich in chemical solvents that are similar to those used by dry cleaning companies. These injurious chemicals are good at dissolving dirt without water and soap, but emit strong and unpleasant odors, which can be harmful for both pets and kids.
There are other potentially dangerous ingredients in cleaning agents, which include compounds that generate fumes (like formaldehyde), pesticides, acids, disinfectants, artificial fragrances and lye (sodium hydroxide).
A few carpet and fabric stain repellents contain plastic and other harmful substances. For example, one of the vital ingredients in the popular brand Scotchgard™, perfluoro-octane sulfonate, was previously depicted as an inert chemical, but the latest research reveals that the substance is a potent and persistent organic pollutant. This substance disrupts hormones, by accumulating in the tissues of both humans and animals as well as in the environment at large.
During both the application and drying process, numerous chemical ingredients in carpet cleaners evaporate and may get concentrated in the air, which leads to indoor air pollution. This is often true in the case when the room lacks proper ventilation, is damp, or when the weather is hot and humid. This air pollution caused by chemical agents in carpet cleaning products can lead to headaches, eye irritation, asthma attacks, sneezing, congestion, coughing, nausea and similar symptoms.
There has been some speculation regarding the link between Kawasaki Disease and carpet cleaners, but the evidence to support this is scanty at best. However, long-term exposure can magnify the risk for several chronic diseases, like cancer and heart diseases, but this depends on the nature of chemicals used.
A few carpet shampoos contain ingredients that often leave sticky residues on carpet fibers. It is difficult to feel or see the residue, but it usually makes the carpets rougher and you can often smell them. This residue does not only end up attracting and latching onto dirt, but kids, who often play and crawl on carpets, can inhale them and get it stuck to their hands. Moreover, through their hands the residue can make its way into their mouths.
Dry shampoos, foams and powders can also leave residue that persists and lingers on carpet fibers. Carpet cleaning agents usually contain detergents and solvents that require application for a brief time period, and then need to be vacuumed to get rid of the cleaning agent. The residue left in the form of dust or powder can be easily inhaled and may cause asthma attacks or irritate airways.
