For folks who have sensitivities to pollen, dust, and dirt particles floating in the air, sometimes encountering a carpet can bring up a whole host of problems. While it’s never clear whether carpets cause allergies to begin with, they can certainly end up aggravating symptoms that are already there, especially during spring and fall. If you’ve ever encountered a carpet that exacerbated your allergies, you could be reacting to a number of different things, including the type of carpet cleaner used. If you’re sensitive and trying to protect yourself against a fit of allergies, here are some things to take note of.

Natural Fiber Carpets are Better

If you’re sensitive and can’t seem to step outside without launching into a sneezing fit, you’ll want to do everything in your power to make sure your home is free from pollen, dirt, dust, and anything else that could exacerbate your allergies. One of the best ways to do this involves getting a natural fiber, as opposed to a synthetic fiber, selection. Because natural fibers like wool and silk come in long, rich strands, they’re actually able to act as a filter by pulling the free agents in the air down to their level and trapping them in the surface. This can be a great way to clear the air in your own home without having to deal with fancier air filtering systems. However, natural fiber rugs can come with their own set of issues. Because you’ll be dealing with a lot of trapped dust and dirt, you’ll need to keep on top of cleaning to make sure you don’t end up exposing yourself to a ton of allergens over time.

You May Need to Clean Your Carpet Professionally

If you can’t stop sneezing when you’re in the vicinity of your carpet, it may be due for a cleaning. Whether you have a natural or synthetic fiber rug, it’s probably been collecting a bit of dirt or dust for a while and is gradually polluting the air with these trapped particles. Luckily, this is nothing that a good professional cleaning can’t fix. In between cleanings, be sure to vacuum with your machine in the right setting. Failing to do this could make the problem even worse by spreading dirt and dust around rather than vacuuming it up.

Avoid Placing Carpets in Humid Climates

One of the big issues you have to be aware of, both in terms of carpet placement and cleaning, is making sure you’re storing your carpet in a clean, dry climate. Not only is too much moisture and humidity bad for the life of your carpet, it could end up kicking your allergies into high gear. When rugs aren’t cleaned thoroughly and there’s too much moisture in the air, it’s common for mold or mildew to form beneath your rug’s surface. While you might not even be aware of this at first, it’s certain to have an effect on your allergies. If you find yourself wheezing more often and wondering why the air quality seems to have become poorer, you may want to take your rug in for a professional cleaning just to make sure you’re not dealing with any harmful mold growth.