carpet allergies

[DangerouslyMoody]

Weird question, but I just got new carpet put in my house in May (just bought the place) and my guy friend starts getting stopped up everytime he comes over...could it be the new carpet and how do i fix it??

[afrikaner07]

could be mold?

[gardener]

Best option is to let it air out as much as possible with the windows open for several days. It's usually the volatile chemicals that are involved in the manufacture of carpet and pad that are to blame although, much depends on the materials used in the carpet as some folks have allegies based on the material, ie: various types of petroleum based fibers, wool, etc.

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by gardener

Best option is to let it air out as much as possible with the windows open for several days.

That's my suggestion also...The solvents used in the manufacturing process have to evaporate and air and time are the only things that allow that to happen...Many people don't know it, but that "new car smell" we all love goes away when the solvents in the upholstery and the plastics finally evaporate...Ben

[DangerouslyMoody]

So even though I have lived there with new carpet for 3 months, it will air out the chemicals once i leave my windows open for awhile??

[Howard Barlow]

Sounds like you need either new carpeting, or a new boyfriend.

[DangerouslyMoody]

It is new carpeting...got it when I moved in and he is new too...got him when I moved in also..haha...

do you think shampooing it would help

[sandy_ruotolo]

Are you sure it's the carpet that your new friend is allergic to? Yes, I would try airing out the carpet for a couple of days, I would ask the company that installed it what it was treated with, and find ways to combat the chemicals.

[Jenny Z]

Shampooing it and airing it out are probably your best options....

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by DangerouslyMoody

It is new carpeting...got it when I moved in and he is new too...got him when I moved in also..haha...

do you think shampooing it would help

It might be easier and cheaper to just get a new boyfriend...Are you hot?......Ben

[rockin-photos]

New Carpet is loaded with "bad chemicals". Take a look at these links.
Carpet Sensitivity
Eviroblog
Looks like airing the room(s) out is your best bet now that it's already installed.

[toverman]

My in-laws got new wall-to-wall carpeting (in every room except kitchen and bathrooms) a couple of years ago, and even months after we visited we had similar problems. Although that could be just because I'm somewhat allergic to Oklahoma (or my in-laws).

New carpet has got the chemicals. Old carpet has stuff I don't want to talk about. We ripped out most of ours, replaced it with carpet in our small living room and then installed laminate flooring everywhere else. Our allergies have dramatically gotten better. That's not an option with your place now, but might be something to consider next time (even without the same dude). It's just easier to clean a hard surface.

[DangerouslyMoody]

I thought about getting an air purifier to see if this helps. I have been airing it out as much as possible but with the recent hurricane, my house was closed up for over a week...airing out seemed to help a little though

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Jenny Z

Shampooing it and airing it out are probably your best options....

Absolutely positively wrong.

Shampooing carpet is about the worst thing you can do to it short of cutting it up.

Nearly all shampoos are oil-based. Carpet (all that isn't wool) is made out of plastic, which is made out of oil. So the oils in the shampoos will bond to your carpet fibers, and you will now have these really great receptors for dirt. The oils will be stuck to your carpet, and those oils catch dirt, hair, pet dander, and everything else that you dont want stuck to your carpet and makes it stick there, which is what makes your carpet get dirty spots.

Things like resolve permanently kill your carpet and even though it looks like the carpet was clean, it really will keep getting dirty in that same place for the life of your carpet.

I was a carpet sales rep for two years, and used the money I made there to acquire my photography equipment.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by toverman

My in-laws got new wall-to-wall carpeting (in every room except kitchen and bathrooms) a couple of years ago, and even months after we visited we had similar problems. Although that could be just because I'm somewhat allergic to Oklahoma (or my in-laws).

New carpet has got the chemicals. Old carpet has stuff I don't want to talk about. We ripped out most of ours, replaced it with carpet in our small living room and then installed laminate flooring everywhere else. Our allergies have dramatically gotten better. That's not an option with your place now, but might be something to consider next time (even without the same dude). It's just easier to clean a hard surface.

Kinda depends what your allergies are.

If you vacuum carpet regularly with a good vacuum, it is better for allergies than hard surfaces. Carpet acts like a filter and keeps dust and stuff out of the air, because it settles in the carpet. But you have to vacuum it all up and prevent it from accumulating. Hard surfaces dont hold the dust, so stuff gets on the floor and everytime you walk, you stir it all back up into the air.

So carpet can be much better for your allergies, but you have to take care of it, or else it will be MUCH worse. My dad has horrible allergies, to the point he was going to rip up the carpet in their bedroom and put in hardwood floors (thousands of dollars.) I bought a really good Roomba, and worked with them on getting everything picked up, wires off the floor, etc. That Roomba ran twice a day and the allergies got better. Just clean the bag often.