Health Risks That Come With Dirty Sofas
Over the course of its life, the sofa absorbs sweat and body oils, dirt and animal fur, food particles, dust that pile up on the material, all through to the hordes of microorganisms that are calling the cosy cushions their home.
- Loads of dust
When you decide to turn the cushions, you will likely see a cloud of dust rise into the air, especially when you pat the cushions. That dust is a conglomeration of loads of materials, from pet fur and dander, bits of soiling from people’s clothing, broken fibres from the upholstery, insect waste – especially from the critters that had come to feed on the organic matter within the unit, all through to pollen grains and skin flakes. When inhaled, the dust can cause different kinds of reactions. From nasal congestion, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing – these all interfere with your comfort when resting on the sofa.
- The infamous dust mite
The dust mites that are crawling around the sofa become a health risk. The mites feed on dead skin cells– and given that the sofa is the most frequently used set of furniture in the household, there are bound to be copious amounts of dead skin on the upholstery and cushions. For moisture, they absorb it right out of the atmosphere, and the warmth provided by the sofa rounds up the requirements they need to lead full healthy lives in the furniture. Eggs are laid, and the dust mites multiply, and within a short time that elegant sofa becomes a fully-sufficient ecosystem of its own. As they gorge themselves on the mounds of dead skin, the dust mites produce faecal pellets, which is a particularly problematic allergen. The pellets come containing protein elements that trigger reactions when inhaled, or when rubbed onto the skin of sensitive individuals. This contributes to the coughs and sneezing, and dust mite waste is even recorded as one of the leading causes of allergic rhinitis.
- Pathogens galore
With all that decaying organic matter, there will be bacteria thriving on the furniture. Add this to the germs that are brought about by the faecal waste deposited by the insects and rodents coming to feed on the food crumbs spread all over the sofa. Then there are those cases where a household member is ill, like during flu season. Where do they spend their time resting with a hot beverage? The cosy sofa. In the middle of all that coughing and sneezing, the runny nose and all, there will be viruses spread to the surrounding environment which includes the sofa. Even pets are affected, from Kitty getting feline flu, to Parvo that affects dogs. When one of your furry friends have come down with the condition, the pathogens will be spread through water droplets and saliva that have been strewn all over. These areas need to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent a recurrence of the disease.
- Mould and mildew growths
In case there are fungi that have developed in the material the danger to those using the sofa is heightened. This is usually caused by issues such as overwetting that is witnessed during DIY sofa cleaning, and those cases where spills are ignored and allowed to seep deeper into the padding, where they take long to dry. The fungi growing in the sofa produces spores, which contributes to the allergen concentration. Some species of the mould release mycotoxins into the indoor air space, opening the Pandora’s box of body ailments, since the mycotoxins go targeting different body organs, from the liver to the central nervous system.
Routine Sofa Cleaning To Protect Your Loved Ones
In order to protect your loved ones from the health risks that come with dirty sofas, regular cleaning is needed. While you can whip up some homemade solution for the occasional stains and also vacuum the sofa regularly, professional cleaning is recommended to ensure you the best results, and not put your furniture at risk. Carrying out the sofa cleaning without the appropriate tools leads to plenty of dirt being left behind, especially since it will be difficult to get to the soiling buried within the cushions, gaps, and crevices of the sofa. On the other hand, professional sofa cleaners come with industry grade machinery that will get the task done. They have been trained on the different processes that are required for the task, and with an experienced crew you will be in a better position to get the desired results. Here are more benefits that you get when you bring in the pros:
- Timely results
High capacity machinery, coupled with the skill level of the personnel involved, cuts down the amount of time taken up for the cleaning process. This is as opposed to the DIY route where the individual can end up taking an entire afternoon working on a single sofa, yet there are more sets in the household that need to be covered. Those free days from work, and the weekends, should be spent on activities that you actually enjoy, not labouring on arduous chores like the sofa cleaning. The professionals come in to alleviate you of this burden, while ensuring that you get quality results at the end of the task. This also reduces the inconvenience in your residence.
Mistakes made by DIYers or rookie sofa cleaners can be costly to resolve. The upholstery easily gets damaged when harsh cleaners are used. Even water itself is not always appropriate for the task, given that there are delicate fibres that will shrink when it is used on them. When you check out the label on the sofa, you may notice W, S, WS, or X written on the unit – which indicates the recommended mode of cleaning. The type of stains being worked on also factors in the selection of the cleaning chemical that will be appropriate, since you want a tough acting agent that will not ruin the sofa in the process. The pros have the training and expertise needed to determine the right mode of approach, that way the cleaning will be done effectively while protecting the underlying material from harm.
You would not believe how many things can hide deep inside your sofa!!!