Putting wall-to-wall carpet in the washroom is not advisable for various reasons. It is advised by experts not to use carpet tiles or any other variations of carpet in bathrooms.
Carpet attracts moisture and its by-products:
Water is the main reason not to put carpet in the bathroom, but there are many more. The carpet laid in the bathroom creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew growth. The absorption of water by carpet that streams down your leg after a long shower will eventually lead to mold growth.
Cladosporium and Trichoderma are two types of prevalent carpet mold that can cause disease or exacerbate allergies and respiratory disorders like asthma. The Centers for Disease Control advise against using carpets in bathrooms because of this. Mold growth can eventually destroy the subfloor, necessitating complete floor replacement even if it has no adverse effects on your health.
Wall-to-wall carpet in the washroom is a disaster if there is a water leak or flood:
Non-carpeted bathrooms with wet patches are bad enough because they could indicate a plumbing leak or flooding. However, with plush flooring, identifying and repairing the cause can be challenging, and if soaked with polluted water or wet for more than 48 hours, the entire carpet must be scraped and thrown.
Carpet can lead to bacteria growth:
Think of all the millions of bacteria that could be hiding within your carpet pile, in addition to mold. We use bathrooms for personal hygiene and to relieve ourselves. Carpeting around the bottom of a toilet bowl absorbs splashes and leaks, including when people are sick. Deep cleaning is the only solution to get it spotless, but doing it too regularly will harm the carpet.
Carpet can make the space smelly by using wall-to-wall carpet in the washroom:
Foul smells are unavoidable when bacteria and mold are present. Nobody desires a nasty or musty odor emanating from their clean bathroom. And the moldy odor is caused by something. The foul smell is due to the release of volatile organic compounds emitted by molds. MVOCs (Microbial Volatile Organic compounds) are the names given by scientists to these unique compounds. You don’t want something like that circulating in your bathroom’s air!
Carpet is difficult to avoid stains:
Trying to prevent stains is another issue you face when you have a bathroom with carpeting. Toothpaste, hand soap, urine, and anything else that gets on the carpet might leave a stain. It tarnishes the usually spotless appearance of your bathroom. The only way to get rid of these stains is to scrub them with carpet stain remover, which can damage your carpet.
With appropriate maintenance of the carpet, you can minimize the problems:
Carpets in a bathroom should be something you can live with while saving for a replacement, despite not being ideal in the long run. It is particularly true if the pile is shorter, as plusher carpeting has a longer absorption time and dries more quickly. The following tips can help you manage the issues with bathroom carpet:
- To prevent water vapor in the air from falling into the carpet while showers or tubs are in use, invest in the best bathroom fan and keep it on.
- Protect the carpet from moisture and mold growth by laying mats near the bathtub, sink, and toilet.
- Pick up pools of liquids on the tub or sink surfaces with a sponge or wet vacuum that may otherwise spill into the carpet.
- As soon as you suspect a bathroom leak, locate and fix it.
- Weekly dry vacuuming will remove dust and other small particles from the carpet’s fibers.
It is better to choose a simple bath mat that is inexpensive, less maintenance, and easy to replace. After each use, hang it up to completely dry to keep the carpet clean and molds free. Keep your bath mat clean and smelling fresh by washing it once a week.
Also Read: The Best Bathroom Wall Tiles