Consider installing solid surface flooring such as tile or solid hardwood flooring with area rugs instead of a fully carpeted floor.
Carpet cleaner fumes toxic.
If possible have carpet installed while the space is unoccupied.
The popular new carpet smell is familiar to anyone that has had new standard carpet installed.
Some of the commonly used products contain perchloroethylene a popular dry cleaning chemical known to cause nausea dizziness and fatigue.
That new carpet smell comes from 4 pc associated with eye nose and upper respiratory problems.
The vocs responsible for new carpet smell are 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch and to a lesser extent styrene.
Invest in the best vacuum cleaners you can afford the more powerful the vacuum cleaner the more toxic particles and dust mites will be removed.
Steam cleaning and enzyme cleaners on stains are the safest methods.
Doing it yourself with a basic steam cleaner is a good start but having a professional carpet cleaning is better.
Hepa vacuum cleaners are preferred.
I know of about eight carpet layers in my area that were laying carpet when i started out who have all died of lung cancer.
Request the use of glues or adhesives that are non toxic and low voc.
Request that the carpet is unrolled and aired out in a well ventilated area a clean dry warehouse for example for 72 hours before installation.
First check out carpet cleaning products on resources like the environmental working group s database to rule out any toxic bad guys by weeding out some of the worst ingredients and picking a safer carpet cleaner.
Cleaning your new carpet.
Carpet cleaning solutions can include pfcs.
Toxic fumes principally naphthalene a carcinogen are especially dangerous to children who play on carpets after they re cleaned.
Most carpet cleaners use a toxic soup that leaves behind dangerous fumes and residue that can seriously affect the health of your family.
The smell can be stuck in memory for decades to come and the health effects may stick around as well.
New carpets can be toxic from formaldehyde fumes and flame retardant bromide compounds that can harm the thyroid gland.
4 pc is used in the latex backing of 95 of us carpets.
As a new carpet gradually releases or off gasses chemical residue the chemicals enter the air where we can smell them.
Then allow 72 hours of ventilation before inhabiting the space.
Centers for disease control and prevention cdc.
Within a few days to a few weeks these fumes dissipate and the carpet no longer smells.