How to Make New Carpet Less Toxic for Newborns

Purchase new carpet. Old carpet harbors mold, and older carpets often contain chemicals that have been recently banned. Older carpets also have years of accumulated bacteria and dust mites that are brought in on feet and shoes. After you complete a home improvement project, such as painting, those chemicals stay in the carpet, too, long after the project is through. A carpet with a Green Label Plus Certification will have fewer chemicals. You can also search for a carpet that is made of natural materials, such as wool and hemp.

Air out new carpet in the sun for a few days before installing. Off-gassing refers to the evaporation of toxic chemicals in non-metallic objects, such as carpets or mattresses. Your carpet will off-gas chemicals for years after it is installed. To prevent this, air the new carpet out in direct sunlight. The direct heat will help speed up off-gassing and get rid of more toxins before you bring the carpet inside.

Apply a carpet sealing product. These liquids are usually water based and claim to seal in chemicals so that they cannot off-gas. After steaming the carpets, apply the carpet seal.

Clean carpets weekly with a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Typical vacuum cleaners do not have appropriate seals, so they can leak toxins back into the environment. A HEPA filter will help kill bacteria and remove dust mites.

Use an air filter for continued protection. If you can, have it run it for several months before the baby is born, and make sure you use it in the baby’s room.