Carpet is Evil

There I said it, and the sooner you can realize and accept the ills that carpet brings to our built environment, the sooner you can reiterate this sentiment to others.  Proselytize, my brethren!

Now many of you may be saying, "wait one second, I thought carpet was an amazing, functional, inexpensive interior floor finish that is desirable for anyone with young children or the elderly?"  I am going to explain to you why carpet isn't all it's cracked up to be, and in fact, you would be better served to rip it all out and start over. 

The case against carpet goes like this:

If someone walked up to you on a street and exclaimed, "hey! I have this fantastic coat I think you should buy.  It is soft against your skin and will protect you if you bump into things on the street or if you fall down.  Plus it has some insulating qualities so it feels warmer in the winter time.  It is much cheaper than Gortex or those other long lasting, high durability coats, and it comes in any color or pattern you desire!  Now, the only thing is if you have pets, or you smoke, or you encounter any moisture anywhere in the entire world, you will have to be diligent about dry cleaning it and keeping it exposed to fresh air.  You can never put it in a closet because then mold will grow all over it.  Oh, and I should mention that when you clean it, it will most likely spew all of the dirt, mold spores, and pet dander back into the air so you may want to be sure to be in a well ventilated space...and I should mention that when it wears out (and it will wear out) it will be significantly heavier due to all of the moisture and debris it has absorbed over its lifetime.  So, can I put you down for this coat, maybe one for each season?!"

Lynn Hauldren: Friendly carpet salesman? or viscious enabler?

That is the problem with carpet, for a long time the focus has been on the positive with relatively little emphasis on the negative.  However, recently with the sustainable movement, the perils of plush have made their way into the parlance of our times.  Specifically, many green rating organizations (Green Communities, MN Green Star, LEED, Green Globes, etc.) have virtually outlawed the stuff.  This has not been well received by manufacturers of carpet.  So their response is to discredit these claims to ensure carpet remains a healthy flooring alternative.  I am here to set the record straight. 

Facts: 

• Carpet was originally (and still is) a petroleum based product, meaning it required oil to make it.  Without digressing into the oil debate, we can agree that was not the best course of action.  So recently more "green" manufacturers have used other products including corn and recycled synthetics to create their carpets, which is a step forward unless the farmers are using chemicals or pesticides in their fields. 
• New carpet emits noxious chemicals from the fibers themselves and from the adhesives used to install them.  If you gots to have it, make sure you specify low VOC and formaldehyde emission adhesives and Green Label Plus (Carpet and Rug Institute) carpets and pads.
• Carpet is by nature absorptive.  They can absorb the following: new paint on your walls, pet dander, dust mites, fleas, dirt, pollen, smoke, mold spores, soot and ash, and odors.  "BUT WAIT!," the carpet purveyors exclaim. "All you have to do is regularly vacuum."  This sounds like a solution, but what is a vacuum? 
• The vacuum principle is simple, brushes and air currents kick up dust and debris from the carpet so that it can be sucked into the machine.  As with any suction, their needs to be a release or exhaust, which means that all of the air you are sucking into the vacuum has to come back out.  The vacuum attempts to let the clean air go through the filter or bag while the debris is collected.  The problem is that to maintain a solid vacuum, you need to have the filter and bag porous enough to not choke off the air movements.  As a result, particulates that you are removing from the carpet are redistributed via a high powered fan back into the air.  This is also referred to as 'robbing Peter to pay Paul.'
• Basements are the absolute worst location for carpet.  Basements are by definition below grade, which means they are surrounded by soil and ground moisture.  Concrete is a porous material and therefore with temperature and pressure differences will perfuse water over time.  Carpet is also porous...except when it gets clogged with dust, dirt, and debris.  When this happens, then moisture moving from below basement slabs is trapped above the concrete and below the carpet creating a fantastic atmosphere for mold and mildew growth. 

Personally, I will take a cold ceramic tile basement that may mean I need to wear slippers versus choking on the myriad hazards supported by that evil carpet.  And now you know as well.  (and as they say, knowing is half the battle)