Indoor air can be 100 times more polluted than outdoor air, with household cleaners and emissions from upholstery and carpets contribute significantly to unhealthy indoor air quality. Carpet cleaning products remove dirt, dust and tracked-in lawn and garden chemicals from your carpets, but most commercial carpet cleaners also add harsh synthetic chemicals to the home environment. Organic carpet cleaning products on the other hand, clean the carpet but don't add more toxins to indoor air.
Green Seal Household Cleaners
A number of household carpet cleaning products have been granted certification approval by Green Seal, a non-profit organization founded in 1989 to provide credible, transparent, science based environmental product certifications. The only two organic carpet cleaners approved by Green Seal are Nexgen Chemistries' Responsibly Clean Rug and Carpet Cleaner and Roundy's Supermarkets Green Rug and Carpet Cleaner. Other general-purpose cleaners receiving the Green Seal approval which can be used for carpet spot cleaning include Sunshine Makers Inc.'s Simple Green Naturals Dilutable Concentrated Cleaner, Office Depot's Green All Purpose Cleaner and Ace Hardware's Ace Peroxide Cleaner.
Green Seal Industrial Cleaners
Industrial cleaners receive a different category of certification from Green Seal, which follows the guidelines of the International Organization for Standardization Numbers 14020 and 14024 for environmentally-related labeling. Over 2 dozen carpet cleaning products have received Green Seal approval for industrial cleaning. Of these, the University of New Hampshire's sustainable housekeeping program has chosen to utilize MD Stetson's #120 Peroxide Multi-Surface Cleaner for carpets as well as tile and hard floors. Student Housing Services at the University of Hawaii have chosen all Green Seal certified products for cleaning in their Frear Residence Hall as part of their attempt to pursue LEED---Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification---a Green Building Rating System recognition from the United States Green Building Council. For carpet cleaning, the University of Hawaii has selected Spartan Chemical's Green Solutions Carpet Cleaner.
Alternative Products
Cleaning products made from common household ingredients can also clean your house without adding toxic ingredients, advises Eco-Cycle, a national non-profit recycling company. Sprinkle corn meal, baking soda or cornstarch on your dry carpet---using organic products for a completely toxin-free alternative---then vacuum thoroughly with a clean filter in the vacuum. For an organic foaming cleaner, mix together a quarter cup of all-natural, vegetable-oil based liquid soap with 3 tablespoons of water, whip together with an eggbeater until foamy, then rub into dirty carpet areas, recommends Eco-Cycle. Rinse with water and allow to dry before vacuuming. For stubborn carpet stains, mix equal parts of white vinegar and water, spray on the spot with a spray bottle, let sit for several minutes then wash with warm soapy water, suggests Eartheasy, a green products information and retail web business founded by environmental advocate Greg Seaman.
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