We hear a lot about Indoor Air Quality. What does it have to do with carpet cleaning and your home or workplace?
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has an excellent FAQ on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and how to protect Indoor Air Quality in buildings.
Indoor Air Quality and Health
In short, the EPA explains in the article, Learn About Indoor Air Quality | US EPA: “Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.”
Why is this so important? The same article explains: “Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.”
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
The EPA explains in the article, Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality: “Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short-term and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.”
The same article explains: “Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.”
The vast majority of the cleaning chemicals used by carpet, rug & upholstery cleaners contain VOCs. Many of them pose significant health risks on many levels. VOCs is just one of them. The Safety Data Sheets (SDA) contain so many warnings, that you wonder why are these cleaning solutions are even used. It is difficult to source textile cleaning chemicals that have no VOCs. Often the available ones are ineffective cleaners. Carpet cleaners often work at low margins, where cleaning speed is essential to stay in business. Thus, the ‘sledgehammer’ or ‘go nuclear approach’ wins. In addition, the lack of awareness and the increased costs of safer cleaning chemicals makes it a niche market.
Now you can understand why at Tapestry Fine Carpet, Rug & Cleaning, we have gone to great lengths to source hypoallergenic carpet cleaning solutions that have no VOCs. Safe cleaning solutions are essential for cleaning and upholstery cleaning. Why? The pre-spray or pre-conditioner is atomized into a mist and becomes airborne. The post-cleaning residue is another consideration that we will talk about in a future article. The point is, carpet, area rug and upholstery cleaning has the potential to significantly and adversely affect the indoor air quality of your home or workplace.
Sustainable Ultra-Green Cleaning Technology
For over 15 years, we have pioneered sustainable, safe and healthier cleaning technology. We mentor specialty carpet cleaners all over North America who want to switch to using safe & natural carpet cleaning solutions. Our safe, ultra-green cleaning contains no VOCs. Not only is it safer and healthier, but it also is more effective and cleans better than traditional carpet cleaning chemistry.
Tapestry Fine Carpet Cleaning in Victoria, BC is an EnviroSeal® Certified Service Provider. If you are looking for Green Carpet Cleaning Victoria, BC, then we are here to help.
