HOW LONG CAN CORONAVIRUS SURVIVE ON CARPET?

As news spreads about COVID-19 and people are advised to stay home and stay safe, many questions are cropping up — and for good reason. One popular question homeowners have been asking is how long coronavirus can survive on carpet. In this article, we’ll address this inquiry as well as offer tips for keeping your carpet clean and safe for your family. 

COVID-19: The Infectious Lifespan of Viruses

The coronavirus and similar viruses can be distributed through sneezing, coughing, talking and physical contact. The infectious lifespan of these illnesses, including the coronavirus, depends on humidity, temperature and the porosity of the surface hosting the virus. 

In general, dry, cold environments extend the lifespan of viruses. Viruses such as COVID-19 can also remain infectious for about twice as long on non-porous surfaces than porous surfaces. Because carpets and upholstery are considered porous surfaces — just like clothing, wood and similar materials — they’re less hospitable to COVID-19 than non-porous ones. 

Although it’s not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 can remain active on surfaces, studies suggest that the coronavirus can survive on a surface for anywhere from 2 hours to a few days. 

Tips for Keeping Your Carpet Clean 

When there’s a virus or other illness going around, the best way to keep your carpets clean is to practice good hygiene for the whole home:

• Wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. Discard gloves immediately after treating any surface in your home. 
• Use products with the EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims that are expected to be effective against COVID-19 and will thoroughly cleanse porous surfaces. 
• Wash your hands often. Wet your hands with clean running water before slathering them with soap. For 20 seconds each, scrub between your fingers, under your nails and on the backs of your hands. Rinse and dry. If you find yourself in a pinch and can’t get to a sink, use a hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol at minimum. 
• Utilize alcohol-based wipes instead of baby wipes to clean surfaces. 
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces in your home, like doorknobs, light switches, floors, walls and countertops.
• Use a HEPA filter in your vacuum so that small particles are trapped inside instead of being recirculated.
• Keep shoes clean by using a doormat, then leave them by the door and treat them with disinfectant.
• Schedule a professional cleaning service for your rugs, carpets and upholstery. While natural home fixes may spot-treat stains, substances like vinegar won’t kill coronavirus, so it’s best to call for a professional clean to make sure your carpet is as safe as possible. 

Schedule an In-Home Appointment With 50 Floor Today

In times like these, when you may be worried about picking up germs, it’s best to stay indoors. The good news is that this doesn’t mean you have to put your floor plans on hold. At 50 Floor, we’re committed to providing you with exceptional customer service so that you can shop for flooring in the comfort of your own home. Our team is still providing our customers with in-home flooring estimates so they can stay safe and avoid crowds and public spaces. 

Other benefits of taking advantage of in-home flooring estimates include envisioning your flooring with greater precision, experiencing the convenience of in-home shopping and enjoying incredible pricing accuracy.

Enjoy a more convenient experience shopping for flooring and contact 50 Floor to schedule your in-hom

CARPETS, UPHOLSTERY, AND THE NEW STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS

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Most people know by now, with all the media attention given to a new strain of coronavirus, that coronavirus and similar viruses are distributed through coughing, sneezing, talking, and physical contact. Our clients want to know whether they should be concerned about coronavirus on carpets and upholstery. It’s not as if you can douse your furniture and carpets with hand sanitizer or disinfectant like countertops, doorknobs, and other hard surfaces. This article offers some answers, as well as some valuable information on how to sanitize your home against any cold or flu virus.

HOW LONG CAN CORONAVIRUS SURVIVE ON CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY?

The infectious lifespan of viruses in general depends on temperature, humidity, and the porosity of the surface where the virus is found. We have flu “season,” because cold, dry environments allow viruses to remain infectious longer.

In a 2011 study called Survival of Influenza A(H1N1) on Materials Found in Households: Implications for Infection Control by Dr. Jane Greatorex at Public Health England, findings showed the virus remained infectious about twice as long on non-porous surfaces, such as plastic and metal, as porous surfaces, like clothing, wood, and the like. Your carpet and upholstery is porous, which means it is less hospitable to viruses than non-porous surfaces. However, your carpet and upholstery is still cool and dry.

According to a study recently published in The Journal of Hospital Infections entitled Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents, the new strain of coronavirus, like similar viruses, such as SARS and MERS, can survive for anywhere from 2 hours to 9 days on a surface. Although there are proven methods for preventing the spread of known coronaviruses, these methods have never been tested against this specific virus. So, until more information is available, our recommendations for dealing with the new strain of coronavirus on carpet and upholstery can only be based on what coronaviruses in general, and we cannot offer any guarantees that professional carpet cleaning will eliminate the new strain of coronaviruses.

KEEPING SURFACES CLEAN

It is always a good idea to protect your family by keeping all of your surfaces clean, especially during flu season.

• Wash your hands often with sanitizing liquid soap and warm water.
• Disinfect surfaces that see a lot of hand-traffic, such as doorknobs, and light switches, as well as countertops, walls, and floors.
• Use a HEPA filter in your vacuum so that small particles are trapped instead of being blown back into the air. Vacuum often.
• Schedule professional cleaning services for your carpets, rugs, and upholstery.

WHY PROFESSIONAL UPHOLSTERY AND CARPET CLEANING MATTERS

As you step up your normal cleaning routine and sanitize your home, don’t forget about your fine surfaces, such as upholstery, carpet, and rugs. These surfaces are often overlooked. The couch is a cozy, comforting place to rest when one has a virus. Although we cannot claim to completely eliminate the possibility of preventing the spread of the new strain of coronavirus, or any virus for that matter, we can tell you that the conditions created by professional carpet cleaning are not hospitable to the infectious lifespan of viruses. Proper professional carpet and upholstery cleaning involves both heat and moisture, so having your carpets and upholstery cleaned can help ease your mind. If the new strain of coronavirus proves to be like those already tested in the past, professional cleaning will decrease the chances of coronavirus surviving on your interior textiles.e appointment today.