St. Louis, MO, October 14, 2005--The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), citing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. It also noted that allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States.
The association said that in most cases, allergies can be controlled by avoiding the triggers that cause them.
The NWFA said that environmental triggers can be controlled only to a degree, but one of the areas that has the most impact on allergens is the family home. Eliminating dust, mold and animal dander can have a huge impact on the home environment. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to replace your old, worn out flooring with hardwood floors.
According to an EPA study, the NWFA said that wood floors do not harbor allergens, microorganisms or harmful pesticides that can be tracked in from outdoors. In addition, dust, mold and animal dander contamination is minimal in homes with wood floors. Based on these EPA findings, wood floors promote a healthier living, and work, environment.
Wood is easy to maintain as well. Simply sweep the floor regularly with a soft-bristle broom or dust mop to remove surface dirt and debris. If your floor contains beveled edges, use a vacuum with a soft bristle brush attachment to remove dirt and debris from between the floorboards. That's all there is to it, according to the NWFA.
To find out more about the benefits of wood flooring, visit the Why Wood Floors section of the NWFA's consumer web site, www.woodfloors.org .
The National Wood Flooring Association is a non-profit trade organization of more than 3,500 wood flooring professionals working worldwide to educate consumers, architects, designers, and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. The NWFA can be contacted at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63005, or at 800-422-4556 (USA) or 800-848-8824 (Canada).
