Carpets are a familiar aesthetic and functional feature in most California properties. Despite being a convenient choice of flooring, its maintenance is no easy task. There are many things to consider in keeping your carpets clean and well maintained. One of these things that significantly affect your carpets is humidity.
What is Humidity?
Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor or moisture in the atmosphere. The average daily humidity for Los Angeles and Orange County is 71 percent and could go as high as 78.1 percent. This amount of water vapor may be invisible to the eye, but can actually be harmful to your carpets.
High humidity in California also comes with hot weather. High temperatures can also bring about harmful effects. Temperatures higher than 80 degrees F can damage your carpets, which is why the overall ventilation in your property is crucial.
What are the Effects of Humidity to Your Carpets?
We may not immediately realize the harmful effects of humidity to carpets. These changes do not happen overnight. When we notice it, it may be too late, and your carpets may be already damaged. Here are some of the things to watch out for, especially in our area where humidity can get relatively high:
-
Carpet molds will begin to form
Carpet molds are the greatest enemy brought about by humidity. Molds are not only damaging to carpets but are also unsightly and can cause health hazards to your clients and employees. The presence of moisture and dirt can speed up the process of mold growth. Clean carpets cannot be really considered clean if it is exposed to a lot of moisture.
-
More humidity means more dirt
Dirt can travel with the moisture in the air. This is why no matter how much you clean your carpet; it will still end up dirty if the humidity or moisture in the air is not optimum. The reasons are that, both mold spores and moisture are present in the dirt.
-
The air moisture can bring bacteria and pests
Carpets can be a nice addition to your room, but it can also house different bacteria and pests. These may cause health hazards especially to those who are prone to allergies. It can also make carpet cleaning a lot more difficult.
-
The form of your carpet may be damaged
High humidity plus temperature, may eventually lead to ripples in your carpet as the materials condense during dry weather, or swell up when there is excessive moisture. This can take away the aesthetic function of your carpets when it fails to remain flat and stretched on the floor surface.
-
Organic carpets are more prone to damage
Organic carpets may feel more comfortable and luxurious, but these are also harder to maintain. Man-made materials such as nylon and olefin are more resistant to moisture. Wool and other organic materials are very prone to mold growth, so better maintenance and care are necessary.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Carpet?
There are different ways to prevent humidity from damaging your carpet. Here are some things you can do to protect your carpet in the long run.
-
Keep humidity levels at optimum
The ideal level of humidity is between 40 to 50 percent. Keeping your humidity levels at 65 percent or lower is perfect to keep your carpet away from molds.
-
Watch out for areas in your property where humidity may be higher
Areas such as the basement may seem dry at first but can actually be a damp area. Extra care and maintenance for carpets here must be taken. On the other hand, higher floors with open windows have better air circulation.
-
Use an air humidifier if needed
An air humidifier can help you control the levels of humidity in your property. A low percentage can be too dry for the environment, while high humidity can risk your carpets for molds, dirt, and other harmful effects. Other tools which can be helpful are the use of fans and air conditioning to keep the air dry and flowing.
-
Schedule your carpet cleaning
It’s best to keep your carpets cleaned periodically by the experts. If you wish to have your carpets cleaned, we strongly advise you to follow these procedures.
Generally, we ask you to keep your property at the desired humidity level before we come and steam clean it. For more optimal results, have us clean your carpets on cooler or wetter weather. Let your air conditioning unit run for about four hours before we arrive so that the room’s humidity will reduce to an ideal level. Letting it run for at least eight hours will keep molds and bacteria from reoccurring. Moreover, keeping the windows shut will keep the humidity level low. If you have ceiling fans, turning them on is a great way to keep the air circulating.
Hire Prestige Property Services for Your Carpet Cleaning Needs
As experts in all-around property cleaning, we at Prestige Property Services know how to handle damaged carpets because of high humidity, among other professional cleaning services that you might need. Contact us now to get sound advice from cleaning experts.
