IAQ Quick Facts
- Carpet supports indoor air quality by keeping particles out of the breathing zone by trapping them in the fibers. These particles can easily be removed through cleaning.
- Numerous studies and research show that carpet is beneficial for indoor air quality.
- The recently released 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, do not contain any recommendations regarding carpet removal.
Carpet continues to offer many benefits, but improved indoor air quality is among the most important. Carpet improves air quality by trapping particles, dirt, and debris in carpet which keeps them out of the air you breathe.
People are now spending 90 percent of our time indoors, which means the quality of the air we breathe continues to grow in importance. Carpet helps create a high indoor air quality environment in homes, offices, and other inside spaces.
A recent systematic review of scientific literature revealed there is no scientific evidence that states removing carpet from homes as an effective way to reduce indoor allergens. Numerous research studies actually support the concept of carpet having a positive impact on air quality too.
How to Maintain Indoor Air Quality
- Regularly cleaning carpet is the best way to maintain indoor air quality in homes and commercial spaces.
- Consistent vacuuming is one of the easiest ways to remove dirt that can recirculate and eliminates 90-95% of dry soil. Use CRI Seal of Approval-certified vacuums to maintain carpet warranties.
- Regular deep cleaning removes the most dug-in soil from carpet. CRI recommends a professional cleaning every 12-18 months by a CRI Seal of Approval-certified service provider.
Green Label Plus
Another important consideration for indoor air quality is the carpet products you buy. The Green Label Plus (GLP) program was founded to identify carpet products (i.e. carpet, carpet cushion, and adhesive) that are low emitters of volatile organic compounds. GLP uses government-created testing standards for indoor air quality for carpet products in residential and commercial spaces.
As we spend more time indoors, air quality becomes a more important consideration for the indoor environments we inhabit. The GLP program sets a higher standard for indoor air quality and ensures that customers are purchasing the very lowest emitting products that are available today.
You can learn more about the Green Label Plus program and find GLP-certified products at www.carpet-rug.org/GLP.
Indoor Air Quality Studies on Carpet
Indoor environmental risk factors and seasonal variation of childhood asthma.
Results of a home-based environmental intervention among urban children with asthma.
Residential hazards, high asthma prevalence and multimorbidity among children in Saginaw, Michigan.
Quantification on the impact of cleaning on surfaces and airborne allergen associated with carpet.
