No Proof Carpet Removal Aids Allergy, Asthma Symptoms

No Proof Carpet Removal Aids Allergy, Asthma Symptoms, Doctor Says

An article in the Columbus, Ohio Dispatch echoes a point I have repeatedly heard doctors make when I talk to them at the allergy and asthma meetings I attend on behalf of the Carpet and Rug Institute. Although some doctors I have spoken with admit they recommend patients remove their carpet, they also note that there is no proof that doing so will make their allergy or asthma symptoms any better. As one allergist from Manhattan remarked to me, “Very few of my patients sleep on their floors.”

The article, titled, “Many products claim to reduce allergens”, lists the most effective ways of avoiding allergens in the home and identifies which ones of the many anti-allergy products available - air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and allergy-resistant bedding, for example – are worth the money. Here’s an excerpt from the article.

“’There are a lot of companies making a lot of money on our paranoia," said Dr. Don McNeil, an allergist and immunologist at Midwest Allergy & Asthma Clinic. "What I tell patients is, generally speaking, the more money you spend, the less benefit you get from it."

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Americans spend $10 billion a year on products such as special floor coverings, washing machines, bedding and toys.

To help consumers, the foundation tests products to determine whether they can be certified by the group as "asthma- and allergy-friendly."

Physicians warn their patients not to be swayed by claims that products will improve air quality and remove allergens.

McNeil said people can do a lot on their own, such as keeping basements dry to get rid of mold, getting rid of cats or dogs if they're the problem, and removing carpet from bedrooms. Doctors say hardwood floors are better than carpet in limiting dust.

‘But there's nothing to suggest that, if you rip your carpet out ... that that's worth the investment,’ said Dr. Princess Ogbogu, an allergist and immunologist at Ohio State University Medical Center.

She recommends vacuuming once a week to keep the dust down and leaving the room for 30 minutes afterward to let everything settle.”

In the article, doctors also said the products most worth the money for allergy sufferers are anti-allergy covers for pillows, mattresses, box springs and bedding to help combat dust mites.

For asthma sufferers, doctors said the most important thing to stay away from is cigarette smoke. "The single worst thing for children with asthma is to be in a home with smoking."

You can find a list of the most effective vacuums at removing soil and protecting the air inside your home on the CRI website, under the section for Seal of Approval vacuums.

There are also links to CRI-certified Service Providers – carpet cleaning professionals who use the best equipment, products and methods to deep clean your carpet. Just enter your zip code to find the ones in your neighborhood. 

~Bethany