Green Carpet Tips

Are you planning on installing new flooring in your home? If so, you may be considering installing carpeting. After all, with approximately 70% of floors in the United States covered in carpet, it is the most common form of flooring in the country. Still, there are some drawbacks to using carpeting in your home, particularly if you are environmentally friendly. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to help you select greener carpeting options.

Exploring the Harmful Components of Carpeting

Although carpeting can certainly look attractive in the home, there are some drawbacks to installing it. One problem with carpeting is the fact that many types of carpeting are made with a variety of different petroleum products that can be harmful to your health. Some of these include:

- Acrylic
- Polyester
- Nylon
- Polyurethane
- SB Latex
- Polypropylene
- Polyvinyl Chloride

In addition to the petroleum products used to make synthetic carpets, they often contain other chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled. These include chemicals such as:

- Antistatic Treatments
- Fire Retardants
- Fungicides
- Stainproofing Additives

Not only are these chemicals and petroleum products unhealthy for you to inhale, they are also harmful to the environment.

Another downside to installing carpeting is that it takes more effort to maintain than other types of flooring. In order to keep the carpeting looking clean and attractive, it needs to be vacuumed on a regular basis. In addition, in order to avoid the development of mildew and mold, carpeting must be shampooed a few times per year. Not only does the process of maintaining a carpet require using a great deal of energy, your indoor air quality can also be compromised by the toxins that are collected in the carpeting.

If you want to install carpeting, but you are looking for a greener way to do it, you should search for carpeting that bears the Green Label Plus label. If you can't find a Green Label Plus carpet that suits your style and budget, however, there are a few other things you should keep in mind when shopping for carpeting. These include:

Avoid carpeting that uses adhesive or that has been treated with many different chemicals Choose carpeting made from renewable fibers, such as corn leaves, wool, sea grass, sisal, cotton, hemp, coir, or jute Use carpet tiles rather than wall to wall carpeting so you can replace just one square if it becomes damaged or stained Use tacks when installing carpeting rather than glue

By following these simple tips, you can still enjoy the beauty of carpet if that is what you choose to have in your home, but you can reduce your carbon footprint while also keeping you and your family healthier.