Athletes foot
We all love to have a clean home and more importantly a clean carpet. Cleaning your carpets regularly has become a necessity in every modern home. It is considered healthy to have a clean dust-free carpet. It is recommended to deep clean your carpet after every 12 or 18 months.
By doing this, you can be sure that your carpet will always be safe and healthy. A dirty carpet can be a serious risk to human health. There are several health complications associated with a dirty carpet. One among them is the athletes foot. This is an infection that mainly affects the skin between the toes and soles of the feet. This guide will answer the most frequently asked questions when it comes to carpet cleaning. Let’s get started.
Can you get athlete’s foot from carpet?
Athletes foot is a skin infection caused by fungus. These fungi mainly live in warm places like floors, rugs, bathroom floor, socks, shoes, and near bath tabs and heated baths. However, skin contact with these fungi may not always cause the infection.
It is possible to get athletes foot from carpet. This is only possible if a person who has the disease steps on your carpet barefoot. The probability of the fungus being left in your carper is high. This is because these fungi thrive in warm places and carpets are not an exception.
It is advisable to deep clean your carpet after a person with athletes foot steps on your carpet. This will help to kill all the spores thus minimizing the risk and rate of infection.
Should I wear socks to bed with athlete’s foot?
If you have athletes foot it is wise to wear socks not only when going to bed but also around the house to avoid spreading the disease. When going to bed you are supposed to wear cotton socks but not covering your feet. This will help your feet to breathe and avoid the spread of the disease to your partner.
Most importantly, change your socks daily or after they get damp or wet to avoid the fungus from thriving. It is worth noting that infected socks can easily spread athletes foot. This is why you should handle these socks with care.
Make sure you keep the infected socks and other infected clothes separately until they are washed. You can choose to put them in a plastic basket or a mesh bag. Ensure you wipe these surfaces with chlorine bleach diluted in water.
How do you get rid of athlete’s foot fast?
Athletes foot can sometimes be embarrassing because it is itchy and in severe conditions, it is smelly. This is why getting rid of the skin infection fast can be a huge relief. Below are several ways how you can get rid of athletes foot fast
- Pour hydrogen peroxide in the infected areas. It is normal for hydrogen peroxide to bubble especially if you have open wounds. Do this thrice a day until the infection relents.
- Apply neem oil in the affected area and massage it with neem leaves. Both neem oil and leaves can easily fight fungal infections. Apply the oil three times a day.
- Smash five or more garlic cloves and apply them on the affected area. Do this thrice a day for seven days.
- Soak your feet in a mixture of warm water and salt. Let your feet soak for twenty minutes and wipe them dry with a clean towel.
- Use over the counter medicine to get rid of the infection. The drugs may be in form of spray, powder, lotions, and ointments. Apply them in the infected area as directed by the physician.
- Apply tea tree oil in the infected areas twice or thrice a day. This oil is believed to have antifungal properties that help in treating athletes foot.
How long does an athlete’s foot fungus live on surfaces
The athletes fungus can remain active and alive on a surface for 10 or 20 months. This is why it is important to deep clean your carpet to get rid of these spores. Other than the carpet, the fungus can also thrive on bathroom floors and clothes. This among other reasons is why we should keep the entire house clean.
Athletes foot is a disease that is easily spread from one person to another. It is also easy to prevent the disease by following simple instructions. If you have the infection it wise to seek medical attention or treat the infection yourself at home.