Allergist doctors recommend regular cleaning of carpets at home and in offices. Dust mites and other allergens, invisible to humans, often hide inside the fur.

According to microbiology research, a carpet gathers about four thousand times more dirt than a toilet seat, with about 200,000 bacteria every 2.5 square centimeters.

Here are some of the most common bacteria that can live in dirty carpets:

• Staphylococcus aureus. This is a type of bacteria that can cause a variety of illnesses, including skin infections, food poisoning, and even pneumonia.

•Clostridium difficile. •Escherichia coli. •Pseudomonas aeruginosa.