What are the kind of bacteria in carpet? If homeowners got the slightest idea of what nasties live in their carpet, they would start cleaning it right now. Your carpet is host to much more than you can imagine.
While being visually appealing, it contains dust mites, grease, dead skin flakes, and a variety of bacteria. We invite you to see what bacteria live in your carpet and guide you through some carpet maintenance tips.
Table of Contents
1. Salmonella
Salmonella is a nasty bacteria that lurks in your carpet, waiting to infect your family and guests. But how did it end up there? Well, the carpet acquires Salmonella from pet feces and contaminated food. A common host for this bacteria is meat.
It’s worth to mention though that Salmonella dies when you cook the meat. So if a piece of chicken falls on the carpet, there is nothing that can contaminate the fabric.
However, many things can happen when you prep the meal in the kitchen. The bacteria can pass from the raw meat onto your hands and then from your hands to other food. Uncooked contaminated food is the one that brings Salmonella on your carpet.
Pet feces can also be a carrier of Salmonella to your carpet. Try to visit the vet for regular check-ups to ensure your pet isn’t infected with this harmful bacteria. In case of a Salmonella infection, you will experience the following symptoms: stomach cramps, nausea, fever, and diarrhea.
2. Campylobacter
This little culprit thrives in moisture-rich environments. So if you let your carpet excessively wet after a deep cleaning, the risk of Campylobacter growth is high. You are good to avoid heavily soaking the carpet with water when cleaning it.
This will make drying take too long, giving time to bacteria to grow. Also, always make sure there is significant ventilation in the room when you leave the carpet to dry. If the rug is too wet, consider using a blow dryer to drive moisture out of the fabric faster.
Wall leaks and high humidity levels may also encourage Campylobacter to multiply. An infection with this bacteria causes diarrhea and dysentery syndrome. So to avoid it, keep your carpet dry, fix leaks, and bring humidity to decent standards.
3. E. Coli
E. Coli is the most dangerous bacteria that can end up on your carpet. Similar to Salmonella, it gets on the fabric via shoe tracks and contaminated food. However, its symptoms are more serious, including abdominal pain, nausea, and bloody diarrhea.
In the worst-case scenario, kidney failure will happen. You never want this offender to come to life on your carpet. That’s why you have to clean your rug regularly. Even if the food that ended up on it wasn’t contaminated, cleaning has never been the wrong choice.
After all, if the food sits much in your carpet, it will start to rot and grow other bacteria. Not to mention the nasty odor that occurs with rotting. So being sure that the food is not contaminated is not a reason to avoid removing it from the carpet.
How to kill carpet bacteria?
To rid your carpet of these dangerous culprits, you have to carry out its disinfection. Home sanitizers, like soap, will not be able to kill Salmonella and E. Coli entirely. You have to go with heat treatment and professional disinfectants.
It would be great if you have a steam cleaner on hand. It heats up the water to temperatures high enough to disrupt the vital processes of bacteria.
Also, don’t forget about preventive measures. Wash your hands and utensils after working with any type of food. When preparing raw meat, always clean the cutting board and hands with hot water and some soap.
Make a point of forbidding walking on the carpet with the shoes on. This will significantly reduce the chance of nasty bacteria ending up on it.
What Are The Kind of Bacteria in Carpet? – Conclusion
E.Coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter are the most frequent visitors of your carpet. While the first two come on the carpet via shoe tracks and infected food, the last one thrives in wet environments.
To prevent these bacteria from growing and spreading, disinfect your carpeting with disinfectants or heat. Also, don’t forget about preventive measures to ensure that these nasties don’t end up on your carpet next time.
