What Is the Active Ingredient in Carpet Cleaners?
No one likes a messy house, but it is almost impossible to avoid spills, stains and other spots from accumulating on your carpet. Carpet cleaners are used almost daily around the world and depending on the brand and type you are using, the active ingredients are different. Some are being criticized for releasing toxic fumes while others are touting that they are eco-friendly. So what really is in your carpet cleaner? Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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The most common and big name carpet cleaners contain a kind of bleach that works to get rid of the stains on your carpets. The bleach causes the stain to oxidize and break apart, and then the other ingredients in the cleaning agent will take effect. The other ingredients are generally sodium bicarbonate in an amount of 40 percent to 50 percent of the carpet cleaner, sodium citrate or sodium phosphate in an amount of 10 percent to 30 percent of the cleaner, sodium silicate in an amount of 5 percent to 15 percent, anionic surfactant in 1 percent to 5 percent, non ionic surfactant in 0.1-1% percent and then a tiny amount of fragrance in 0.1 percent to -0.5 percent of the total make-up.
Significance
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The most toxic chemicals that can be added to carpet cleaners are hydroxyacetic acid and butoxyethanol. These both release fumes into the air and irritate exposed skin. These chemicals are being blamed for a portion of the large amounts of carbon emissions released each year into the environment. In addition, research has shown that these ingredients are also responsible for polluting the air in our homes if they are not allowed proper ventilation.
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Considerations
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Eco-friendly carpet cleaners are rather new to the market, but are keeping with the growing green trend. These products are said to work off hydrogen peroxide as their active ingredients, and they arenon-toxic and biodegradable. The hydrogen peroxide replaces the bleach used in standard carpet cleaners.
Potential
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Woolite too boasts an Earth-friendly approach to its many different carpet cleaning products. It is one of the leading brands on the market, and relies on peroxide as its active ingredient. Outside of the peroxide, its only other ingredients are water, surfactants, and a small amount of fragrance. Another one of its products is a steam carpet shampoo, which works off a heat-activated oxidation process, a bit different from other cleansers and is supposed to work on a deeper level.
Warning
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Many carpet cleaning products can have misleading labels. There are not strict rules of regulations these companies need to abide to when labeling and promoting their products. Just because a product may state that it is "eco-friendly" or "all natural" does not mean that is does not contain potentially harsh chemicals. To really be sure of what is in your carpet cleaner you need to carefully read over the list of ingredients.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of chad magiera
