Noticed these dark grey bands forming along the edges of the carpet in every room near the baseboards. We don’t wear shoes inside, but the perimeter keeps turning black no matter how much I vacuum. Is

trapped in the carpet fibers. Over time, these particles accumulate, resulting in the noticeable black lines.
Filtration soiling is more common around the perimeter of rooms, under doors, and along staircases where airflow is restricted. The particles are usually very small, often less than 0.1 microns, which is much smaller than what a standard vacuum cleaner can capture, making these lines particularly difficult to clean.
2. How Filtration Soiling Forms Along Baseboards and Doorways
Filtration soiling occurs when air is forced through gaps or seams in a building’s structure, such as those around doors and baseboards. As air moves through these gaps, it carries with it tiny particles that are deposited onto carpet fibers.
The process is similar to how a furnace filter works, trapping dust and dirt in the fibers of the carpet. Over time, as more air circulates and deposits more particles, the stains become darker and