Living with dust and pollen allergies or asthma can be a nightmare, especially in a home where allergens can accumulate. Most homeowners with allergies and asthma know from experience how suffocating carpets can be. Whether because of carpet in their own home, or they spend time in places that do have carpet, it tends to cause problems.
Hardwood floors are a great option for people prone to allergies or asthma. In fact, doctors recommend hardwood floors as a way of counteracting allergies, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) agrees. What makes hardwood floors so effective against allergies and asthma? Let’s have a look:
No Allergen Accumulation
Carpet is notorious because allergens such as dust mites, dander, and pollen tend to accumulate inside it. Indoor allergens such as dust mites feed off of it, and outdoor allergens such as pollen are tracked indoors, getting in through the windows and accumulating in the carpet. With hardwood, there’s no place for allergens to accumulate.
Easy Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning, hardwood floors are much easier to keep allergen-free. The way you clean them will depend on the specifications of the hardwood species and its finish. Damp mopping with a wood-safe cleaner will make your allergens easier to manage, as you’ll be removing those that find their way inside. Everything that falls on the floor is easily visible, and you don’t need a steam cleaner to get rid of it.
Nothing Gets Trapped
A lot of things can get trapped inside a carpet—not just standard indoor allergens like dust mites. Smoke and pet fur can get into a carpet, as well as many types of bacteria. Not only can this harm people suffering from allergies and asthma, but it also poses a danger for children who crawl along the floor, as well as those who walk barefooted.
On the other hand, nothing gets stuck on a hardwood floor, which makes it a much more sanitary and allergen-friendly option than carpet.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
A primary factor in fighting allergies and asthma is improving the quality of indoor air. Once you make sure that no allergens are flying around and rising from the floor and furniture whenever you pass, you’ll feel much better. You’ll still have to keep the allergens in check with cleaning, but hardwood floors will help you minimize the effects of allergens coming into your home.
It’s essential to make your home as comfortable as possible and to ensure it doesn’t have a negative impact on your health. Hardwood floors are a great option for families with someone who has an allergy or asthma, as it helps keep allergens to a minimum.
