Carpet | Fatal Conveniences™

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

It sure feels nice to swing your legs out of bed in the morning and rest your bare feet on a soft squishy carpet. But have you ever thought about the kind of things your sensitive skin is absorbing when you do that? Or what might be lurking between those synthetic fibers? The truth is we may be sacrificing our health for the comfort of rugs and carpeting.

Welcome to Fatal Conveniences™

Carpets account for 70% of the flooring in the United States.

Even if you have tile or hardwood flooring in your home, you probably have at least a small rug or patch of carpeting somewhere. I had a throw rug on my yurt floor until I did the research for this segment. Now it’s gone, because I was disgusted at the danger lurking in these plush, fluffy things we use for comfort in our homes. 

Nearly all the carpets in the US are made from synthetic fibers. These fibers are full of toxins that off-gas into our homes and fill the air with irritants and chemicals. These toxins are doing damage to our bodies. Not only that, rugs can be a breeding ground for bacteria, allergens and mold that our pets and kids are crawling around in and breathing in.

In this segment, I go through the different toxins and VOCs that are hiding in your carpet. We go through the history of carpeting in the United States and why so many families choose it over any other flooring. And don’t worry, I also give you some options to wean yourself off of this fatal convenience. And I give you some alternative options to choose from. I know, carpet is soft and warm to walk on, and it looks nice. But like I always say, it’s about making small changes in your home, and your life, so that you get used to better, safer ways of living. And I think hardwood floors look classier anyway.