Better Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners

Having fresh, stain-free carpeting, area rugs, and furniture enhances the aesthetics of the room, creating an inviting atmosphere. And although it seems like this would also promote a healthier living environment by reducing allergens and dust buildup, there are other factors to consider. Hazardous chemicals commonly lurk in carpet and upholstery cleaning products and do not readily rinse out, but there are some healthier and more natural alternatives.

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There are numerous hazardous chemicals to avoid to reduce toxins in the home.

Using safer carpet and upholstery cleaners helps safeguard your your family, pets, and home from harmful chemicals.

It can be challenging to identify safer cleaning products by reading the ingredient lists on product labels, but there are certain red flags to beware of. For example, avoid products listing fragrance, ammonia, and bleach.

Warning labels can provide helpful information. Avoid carpet and upholstery cleaners with labels stating “warning,” “danger,” or “poison.” Some bottles say to avoid contact with skin and wash hands immediately after use. However, if it says to avoid contact with skin, you probably don’t want the product on your sofa, armchairs, or rugs either.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) rates carpet cleaners and fabric/upholstery cleaners to help shoppers find more natural alternatives to toxic cleaning products.

Of the carpet cleaners it rated:

Of the fabric and upholstery cleaners it rated:

While numerous commercial cleaners on the market contain harmful ingredients, there are also a few safer, nontoxic alternatives.

The following cleaners scored between an A and C.

ECOLOGO-certified cleaning products are certified by UL Solutions for reduced environmental and health impact.

The following products received a score between A and C.

A simple way to find natural products to clean your upholstered furniture and rugs is to make your own products with nontoxic ingredients. Using homemade cleaning products can save you money and packaging waste while offering peace of mind. Some of the best DIY carpet and upholstery cleaners contain baking soda, distilled white vinegar, and essential oils, such as lemon or lavender.

This is a simple way to remove odors and naturally clean your carpeting and area rugs. The exact amount of ingredients depends on the size and number of rugs you are cleaning. You can add several drops of essential oil to the baking soda to add a scent or to help remove unpleasant odors or else make an unscented carpet cleaner.

Note: Before trying any cleaning method on your carpet, spot test in an inconspicuous area to ensure that the baking soda and vinegar do not cause discoloration or damage to the carpet fibers.

You can follow a routine similar to the directions above for carpets to clean sofas and other upholstered furniture. However, vacuum up the baking soda mixture before applying the vinegar spray. If you want to use a scented cleaner, add several drops of essential oils to the vinegar solution, not to the baking soda.

Vinegar and baking soda are also excellent for cleaning sofa, carpet, and rug stains. Spot cleaning is most effective immediately after a spill or stain occurs. The longer a stain sets, the harder it may be to remove. Also, consider if the stain is oily or not. If so, using dish soap can be helpful. Test the cleaning solution in an inconspicuous area of the sofa or rug first to ensure it doesn’t cause discoloration or damage to the fabric.

Note: For more DIY carpet and fabric cleaning solutions, see 4 Natural Ways To Tackle Carpet Stains and Planet-Friendly Stain Removal Tips.

Although there are numerous unsafe commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning products, there are also some natural and safe cleaning products that contain nontoxic ingredients. Look for third-party certified carpet and sofa cleaners, or make your own using baking soda, white vinegar, and possibly essential oils.