The 5 Second Rule: Is it True?

We’ve all abided by it at some point: the “five-second rule.” This rule purports that if a food item touched the ground even for a few moments that it’s still clean and safe to eat. Well, this so-called rule that’s widely taken as the gospel has been proven to be false. In fact, a Rutgers University study debunked the five-second rule, whereby researchers found germ transmission could occur in less than one second.

So throw those bite-sized castoffs into the trash can and then take a moment to consider how dirty your tile and carpet floors are.

Dirty Carpets Can be a Danger to Your Health

While carpets bring many benefits to a home, such as a cozy atmosphere and cushioned play areas, carpets are essentially dirty places. In fact, carpet fibers are the perfect hiding places for:

  • Dirt
  • Dust
  • Pet hair and dander
  • Insect droppings
  • Human hair and dead skin cells
  • Airborne pollutants
  • Food debris
  • Residual cigarette smoke and ash
  • Pollen

They are also a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, allowing mold and mildew to not only grow but to spread.

While regular vacuuming can get rid of some of the surface debris, your typical household cleaning tools are simply not powerful enough to ensure a thorough cleaning. Plus, vacuum cleaners cannot get through to the padding, and they can’t kill mildew, mold, germs, and other irritants. In fact, when you run a heavy vacuum cleaner over your carpets, you’re actually pushing debris further into the pile.

Could Your Carpet Be Making You Sick?

It’s very possible. Dirty carpets have been known to contribute to and exacerbate health issues, especially in people who have asthma and allergies. Because mold, mildew, and bacteria love hiding out in old, damp carpets, you could be breathing in those trapped pollutants every day.

Also, chemicals used in the carpet manufacturing process can be released over time as carpet fibers break down.

Just think about how much time you spend on your carpets, especially if you have small children and spend a lot of time playing on the floor. 

In the end, carpets aren’t necessarily unsafe when it comes to your health. You just have to be vigilant in cleaning them properly. For many homeowners, that involves hiring a professional carpet cleaning company to provide periodic thorough cleanings. The high heat and powerful extraction techniques used by the pros can kill bacteria and effectively remove stains and ground-in dirt.

Call 1st Class Carpet Cleaning and Restoration Services at (248) 491-3088

Worried about what may be lurking in your carpets? Forget about the five-second rule and take the safe route: call our professional carpet cleaners in Detroit for the safest and most effective results possible. Give us a call at (248) 491-3088.

I could not be happier with our cleaning service from 1st Class! From my first call, Ginny worked with me to optimize the timing of our cleaning with other work being done, and all communication from there was clear and thorough. Claude and Ginny are genuinely nice people and were a pleasure to work with during the cleaning. They clearly know their stuff and stand behind their work. Results were my formerly bedraggled 9 year old carpets looking brand new and a company I will definitely use again and recommend to others.
Sarah C.
1690119577
This Company did a fantastic job on our 30+ year old carpet that just won't wear out! While we were moving furniture back afterward, I noticed a strip in a traffic area that didn't look quite right. When I contacted them, they were back out within a few hours and promptly took care of the issue!
Sue G.
1689009954
Awesome company, my furniture looks amazing. They were clean and professional. Also, on time and went right to work!
michele G.
1686777573
I saw their google reviews and called them for carpet cleaning. Very professional and the best carpet cleaners I have ever had and very reasonable prices. 😊😊😊
Sneha P.
1683569131
Very professional, polite, the carpets looked and smelled wonderful!
Christine L.
1680714897
I called him on Saturday to clean my couch and my chair and they came out on Sunday and did an awesome job. I will be using this company again
Tina S.
1670174552
This company is amazing! I highly recommend them! They were on time and super friendly and did an amazing job! Great experience!
Grace S.
1669998431
Team just left moments ago after carpet cleaning. House looks much better already. They got out stuck on stains. Highly recommend them. After using others, they are now our go to carpet cleaning crew.
J. A.
1669062636
Are use this company for air duct and dryer vent cleaning services. The team was extremely professional and courteous and informed me of any concerns with my events. I was very happy with the quality of the service and the duration.
Heather S.
1665590843
1st Class is exceptional. Extremely responsive, courteous, thorough and on time. Definitely recommend! THANK YOU!
Lindsay G.
1648652425
Wow 1st class is their name for a reason. I had the vent cleaning, carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning services done today. They did such a thorough job in 2.5 hours for a 2500 sqft house, very nice owners (husband/wife) team that show up and WORK. Very satisfied.
Caitlin S.
1641858200
Hung up the phone and they were at our front door in minutes. Toilet leaking all over wet carpet.
Chris J.
1640989535
My 2 dogs got skunked last night. We cleaned up everything we could ourselves but our main rug i couldnt get the smell out. I called 1st class and HANDS DOWN the FASTEST SERVICE IVE EVER GOTTEN. Lucky for me they live down the road and were here at my house 15 mins later. Totally professional, got rid of the smell and so understanding and helpful.Im passing there information on to all my neighbors and friends because you dont get service like they provide anywhere else!!!Thanks again for everything!!!!
Kyle O.
1623725676
Would recommend this company. On time and courteous. Excellent job on my carpet which was extremely dirty looks great now.
Dorothy M.
1596575255
They were fabulous! They were early and got some nasty stuff out. Thank you so much.
Laura Y.
1596123532
We have a carpet that was the best quality at the time, but is 30 years old. It had so many stains, I was sure they were permanent. The owners showed up with state of the art equipment and 'steam' cleaned, not hot water clean, and got almost every stain and mark out of this old carpet. It honestly looks like new. The only stain remaining was because it was actual wood stain and you have to replace the carpet with that much damage. The steam allows you to walk on the carpet in 6 hours instead of the usual 24. We are selling this house and the carpet was the only sore spot, but not anymore. I will recommend this company to family and friends with a clear conscience.
Tom T.
1592497106
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