- In addition to formaldehyde and lye, popular chemical carpet cleaning formulas may contain disinfectants, fragrances, dyes, even pesticides. When carpet-cleaning solvents are used, the chemicals and additives they contain will be released into the air and, if rinsed away, into the sewer and eventually back into the water table.
- Get carpet clean the natural way
Choosing cleansers based on ingredients or organic certification helps give you control over the chemicals and substances to which you and your family are exposed and that find their way back into the environment at large. You can also take satisfaction in knowing that your money will not be spent to support industries or corporations that make and sell products you wouldn't want to be used in your own home. By choosing natural cleansers, you make a statement about the products you approve of, by voting with your pocketbook.
Other benefits are more apparent right away. For example, using natural carpet cleansers can help prevent mold growth. Many commercial or homemade organic carpet cleaners are dry formulas, so they don't promote mold growth as wet formulas can.
Depending on the cleanser you select, cost-savings can also be apparent right away. If you choose to clean your carpets with baking soda, you'll definitely see savings when comparing the expense of the specialty carpet cleaners readily available at the supermarket. - Baking soda is one of the best natural carpet cleaners
One of the most natural, cheapest and easiest-to-use organic carpet cleansers is baking soda. Available in bulk for nominal prices (though the aluminum-free kind you'll find in many health food stores might cost a bit more), baking soda can simply be sprinkled across the carpet surface and left for up to 30 minutes before vacuuming. Baking soda has many other household uses--as a general surface cleanser, as a natural toothpaste and in cooking--making it an ideal choice to buy in bulk.
A number of organic and "natural" carpet cleaning products are available on the market, with a wide variety of selections online, though there are several factors to keep in mind when selecting a cleanser. Check the list of ingredients to be sure they meet your standards. You might want to familiarize yourself with a list of typical organic or natural cleanser ingredients, as well as substances you prefer to avoid. When reading labels, you can then easily identify products you find acceptable or unacceptable. In the United States, certified organic cleaning products will often carry a stamp from the National Organic Program or another organic accrediting agency. Keep in mind that salt and water as ingredients cannot be certified organic, which is another reason you might prefer dry carpet cleaners.
Several choices are available for treating spots and spills on carpet when the need arises. Hydrogen peroxide, non-chlorine bleach and mild natural detergent mixtures can all be used to treat stains.
