If you were ever around when old wall-to-wall carpets were ripped up, you probably felt rather queasy. The amount of dust, dirt and perhaps even mold—depending upon the age and state of the carpets—likely made you rethink the whole carpeting situation.
Today’s homes are the epitome of taste and class since most use flooring materials such as hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile and other natural elements such as cork, bamboo and slate.
If you’ve been thinking about replacing carpets, these few reasons why that might be a good idea may be enough to sway your decision:
The dirt factor. No matter how many times you vacuum carpets, they always seem to show some dirt. They never entirely appear to be clean. Dirt also gathers under the weave and padding. You may not see it, but it’s always there, and it will begin to smell like it’s there too, especially if you have pets.
Chemicals. Carpets are manufactured using synthetic materials, so they usually contain toxic chemicals that release gas. If you’ve ever wandered through a carpet store, you’ll get that unique smell right away. It comes from the fiber, dye, stain proofing and fire retardants.
Allergies. There’s no getting around the fact that carpets create dust, and the more they’re walked on, the more dust goes into the atmosphere. Not to mention, they make lovely homes for dust mites (or little creepy crawlies).
Wear areas. Those areas on a carpet that are most used in terms of traffic will show more wear and tear. Even if your family and friends don’t wear their shoes on the carpets, areas like hallways will eventually show signs of being favourite spots for your family to roam.
Staining. No matter how meticulously careful you are in trying to keep your carpets looking stellar by regular vacuuming and shampooing, all carpets show signs of accidents. Even if your carpets have been treated with stain guard, there are some things that you just won’t be able to get out entirely, such as red-based stains.
Matting. As the years go by, you’ll see various areas on carpets that look matted or squished. Long gone are the days when your carpets looked fluffy and new.
Durability. The life of a carpet isn’t nearly as long as that of other flooring types like hardwood. The best carpets usually last between 10 – 15 years, while thinner types of hardwood flooring last 20 – 30 years, and thicker ones last 40 – 80 years.
