Allergiesoccur when your body mistakenly thinks a harmless substance—called an allergen—needs to be “fought off” to keep you healthy.
Learn more about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of carpet allergies in this article.
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Carpet Allergies: What Causes Them?
VOCs are chemicals frequently found in carpets (and other household products) that evaporate into the air.
Why Carpet?
Carpet can be a magnet for allergens and irritants, particularly if it’s in a high-traffic area of your home.
Carpet fibers collect dirt and other particles from the environment from the bottom of your shoes or feet. These particles can then be stirred up and breathed in when the carpet is walked on. Particles are more likely to collect in your carpet if it has long fibers.
Common environmental allergens and irritants include:
Symptoms of Carpet Allergies
Symptoms of carpet allergies can vary, depending on the cause. If you’re allergic to allergens in your carpet, symptoms can include:
Symptoms of VOC ExposureExposure to VOCs can cause:Eye, nose, and throat irritationNauseaVomitingBleeding from your noseShortness of breathHeadacheRashFatigueDizziness
Symptoms of VOC Exposure
Exposure to VOCs can cause:Eye, nose, and throat irritationNauseaVomitingBleeding from your noseShortness of breathHeadacheRashFatigueDizziness
Exposure to VOCs can cause:
How to Get Rid of Carpet Allergies
The best way to get rid of carpet allergies is to remove your carpets. However, before you go to extremes, you can try some other steps to reduce the amount of allergens and irritants in your carpet.
Keep Your Environment Clean
Proper cleaning can reduce the number of particles in your carpet:
The 7 Best Air Purifiers for Allergies
Reduce VOCs
Here are some ways to reduce VOCs that might be present in your carpet:
How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
Treating Carpet Allergies
Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid exposure to allergens and irritants, particularly if the offending carpet isn’t in your home. The good news is, there are medications that can help reduce your symptoms:
A Word From Verywell
If you’ve got allergies, talk to your doctor aboutallergy testingbefore you make drastic changes to your environment. Once you’ve identified your trigger, you can take steps toward minimizing your exposure and finding the most effective treatment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you have pollen, mold, animal dander, or dust mite allergies, having a carpet can increase your exposure to allergens and worsen your symptoms.If you have allergies, look for carpet that is labeled “hypoallergenic.” The materials in these carpets are resistant to allergens.The lifespan of your carpet depends on many factors, including traffic levels and the quality of the carpet fibers. Carpet that has tears, holes, stains, or a foul smell should be replaced.Moldy carpet can cause stains and foul odors. It might also feel wet to the touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have pollen, mold, animal dander, or dust mite allergies, having a carpet can increase your exposure to allergens and worsen your symptoms.
If you have allergies, look for carpet that is labeled “hypoallergenic.” The materials in these carpets are resistant to allergens.
The lifespan of your carpet depends on many factors, including traffic levels and the quality of the carpet fibers. Carpet that has tears, holes, stains, or a foul smell should be replaced.
Moldy carpet can cause stains and foul odors. It might also feel wet to the touch.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Environmental Protection Agency.What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?National Health Service.Allergies.Environmental Protection Agency.Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality.C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Controlling dust, dust mites, and other allergens in your home.Environmental Protection Agency.Controlling pollutants and sources: indoor air quality design tools for schools.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy treatments.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Environmental Protection Agency.What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?National Health Service.Allergies.Environmental Protection Agency.Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality.C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Controlling dust, dust mites, and other allergens in your home.Environmental Protection Agency.Controlling pollutants and sources: indoor air quality design tools for schools.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy treatments.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Environmental Protection Agency.What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?National Health Service.Allergies.Environmental Protection Agency.Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality.C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Controlling dust, dust mites, and other allergens in your home.Environmental Protection Agency.Controlling pollutants and sources: indoor air quality design tools for schools.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy treatments.
Environmental Protection Agency.What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
National Health Service.Allergies.
Environmental Protection Agency.Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality.
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.Controlling dust, dust mites, and other allergens in your home.
Environmental Protection Agency.Controlling pollutants and sources: indoor air quality design tools for schools.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy treatments.
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