Harmful Chemicals in Carpet Cleaners

It’s a fact that all carpets will get dirty over time. Carpets and rugs take a lot of abuse from children and pets, spills, dirt tracked in on people’s feet and countless other ways. It is inevitable that carpets have to be cleaned. Like other cleaners, carpet cleaners may contain toxic ingredients, some of which are not listed on labels. Spot cleaners seem to have the most harmful chemicals of all the carpet cleaners. When using carpet cleaners and other chemicals always wear gloves, goggles and other safety equipment. Open a window or provide whatever ventilation you can. And always keep your children and pets away from the area until well after it has dried.

In many cases carpet cleaners have been linked to some illnesses and even pet fatalities. Small pets like rabbits, little dogs, cats and other pets that are near the ground are the most at risk because they will have the most exposure to fumes and residues on the carpet. Some diseases have been linked to carpet cleaning. One in particular is Kawasaki disease which affects mostly children under five. There has also been links between carpet cleaning and asthma. Though many of these potential health risks are theories, they still raise enough of a concern that I will not use many of these products on the carpets where my kids play and my pets roam.

There are many eco-friendly and non-toxic solutions to keep your carpets clean. Vacuum your carpets often to avoid dirt from getting mashed into the carpet fibers. Clean wet spills immediately. Try using your steam cleaner with just water, or with a vinegar and water solution of 4:1 water to vinegar. Club soda will remove red wine if it is used immediately. There are also many green eco friendly carpet cleaning products on the market for spot cleaning and for use with a steam cleaner. Dirty carpets are also a health risk because they trap dust, mould, hair and other allergens and irritants. My personal favorite solution for dealing with carpet related health risks is to not to have carpets at all.

The most common way for dangerous chemicals in carpet cleaners to enter your body is through inhalation, but they can be absorbed through the skin, splashed in the eyes, swallowed or even burn you on contact. Always use appropriate personal protective equipment when using cleaners and chemicals, or better yet don’t use chemical products at all.

Here is a list of some of the nastiest chemicals found in many carpet cleaners:

Butoxyethanol and other glycol ethers
Tetrachloroethylene
Perchloroethylene
Hydroxyacetic acid
Hydrofluoric acid
Nitrilotriacetic acid
Sodium hydroxide
Sodium carbonate
Tributyl tin
Formaldehyde
Phenol
Butane, propane and isobutanes
Dibutyl phthalate
Nonylphenol ethoxylate
Octylphenol ethoxylate