The hidden carpet germs that could be harming your health

Research from Proscenic revealed that our home’s flooring is host to a wide range of germs and bacteria, some of which can be harmful to our pets, children, and ourselves. Studies show that carpets hold around 200,000 bacteria in each sq. inch – that’s 4,000 times more than the amount in your toilet!

This statistic is even more shocking as Proscenic’s latest survey revealed that 16.4 per cent of people never clean their floors. According to their most recent research, some of the most disgusting and harmful bacteria found in flooring include:

• E Coli – This can be tracked into the home from the soles of shoes – the chances of E Coli being on your floor is even higher if you have pets as it is found in pet and human faecal. The symptoms of E Coli infection are very unpleasant and include diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, and mild to severe stomach cramps. 
  
  
• Salmonella – This bacteria thrive in carpets and is brought in from shoes and pets. Similarly to E Coli, a common way to become infected is by eating food that has fallen on the floor. Most people will develop diarrhoea, fever, and stomach cramps within 72 hours – if the infection spread beyond the intestines, it can cause life-threatening problems. 
  
  
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – This bacteria can be brought into the home via shoes, gym bags and equipment. This is a more problematic bacteria to treat and is often called ‘the superbug’ – it can become more serious if it gets deeper into your body and causes symptoms such as redness, swelling, and warmth on the skin, as well as high temperature, chills, and dizziness. MRSA can get into your bloodstream which can cause endocarditis and even sepsis – these situations are difficult to treat and if they aren’t, can cause death. 
  
  
• Campylobacter – this bacteria tends to live in carpets during the winter months and in damp carpets and is especially dangerous to those with weakened immune systems, children and the elderly. Campylobacter bacteria is one of the leading causes of diarrhoeal disease according to the World Health Organisation and can cause Campylobacterosis, symptoms of this include diarrhoea, cramping, abdominal pain, fever and potentially nausea and vomiting. If left untreated, it can cause gallbladder infection, as well as some rare side effects such as IBS and Kidney Disease.

You can find out more about the hidden germs living in your flooring, how these can affect your health, and how to get rid of them here.