Clean carpets are essential to living in a healthy environment in your home. There are many things hiding in your carpets that can make you and your family sick if not taken care of. When you get your carpets cleaned, it’s exciting to come back home to a soft, clean, and healthy carpet. You don’t want to have to worry about whether the chemicals are harmful to your carpets or your family. From household carpet cleaners to commercial carpet cleaners, there are regulations set on everything, but there are still chemicals to watch out for.

Regulations

Cleaning products are not famous for being transparent about all the chemicals they contain. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that only 7% of around 3,000 common chemicals in the US have basic information about its toxicity, according to a report from Today. That doesn’t bode well for knowing which carpet cleaners could be harmful for young kids or pets that spend time close to the carpet. Household cleaners, including carpet and spot cleaners, have a database where you can see which chemicals are used to make the cleaner. While some are labeled as a chemical of concern, many are not in the cleaners at large enough levels to cause harm. However, it helps you see which cleaners will be best for your home. For commercial carpet cleaning, there are more specific chemicals that you’ll want to watch out for.

Solvents

Solvents are used to dissolve the cleaner quickly to dry faster. However, there are three solvents that are dangerous, especially if they come in contact with a person’s or pet’s eyes or mouth. Butoxyethanol is one of those solvents and can be breathed in. It affects your nervous system, kidneys, and liver, and it can cause damage after long exposure. Naphthalene helps dissolve dirt and kill pests, but it can also act similar to a poison in people. The symptoms of long exposure are nausea, dizziness, and can damage the nervous system. Perchloroethylene is the most common in dry cleaning. Long exposure can lead to fatigue and dizziness with a chance for kidney and liver damage. 

pH Levels

The pH levels of the cleaning solution will tell you if there are any acids with corrosive properties. The target pH level that you will want is 7 to 8. Levels below 7 means that it is acidic and could be dangerous to your family’s health. Some of these acids include hydrofluoric acid and nitrilotriacetic acid, which cause burns when undiluted. In carpet cleaners, it is diluted, but it still is not great for your carpets. Be aware of acids when you buy cleaners and when you hire a professional carpet cleaning company. 

At Lucas Family Carpet Cleaning, we use our own formula that is safe for your family and effective at cleaning your carpets. Check out our process to learn more about how we clean your home or business.