These days, carpet cleaning product manufacturers are becoming more transparent with their solution ingredients. Here at Rug Doctor, we care about you and your safety with our cleaning products. And while you may know what’s in your cleaning products, you probably don’t know why those particular ingredients are included in the formula.

As Cleaning Experts, we consider it our duty to help you understand exactly what you’re cleaning with in your home. Here’s a quick breakdown of some common ingredients you might see on the back of a Rug Doctor cleaning product label:

Ethoxylated Alcohol:  This surfactant is often listed as an ingredient in many types of household cleaning products like all-purpose cleaners and detergents. We use ethoxylated alcohols in Rug Doctor products to enhance soil removal by surrounding soil particles and loosening them from fiber, so they can be easily extracted. Additionally, they help emulsify – or bind – our formulas. We add emulsifiers to our products where needed to ensure they provide the same performance use after use. Alcohol ethoxylates at the concentration found in Rug Doctor products are considered to have low to moderate toxicity if ingested and low toxicity for exposure to the skin.

Benzisothiazolone:  This preservative plays an important role in carpet cleaning solutions and is necessary to maintain product quality. Without benzisothiazolone, many household products wouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks before becoming contaminated by mold and yeast. Rug Doctor products only contain preservatives if necessary, and in the lowest effective quantity necessary to ensure quality over time. In 2005, benzisothiazolone underwent a review process by the Environment Protection Agency. After considering the overall information on its toxicity, uses, and environmental effects, the EPA concluded that it posed no harm to the population, though they noted that it can act as an irritant to the skin and eyes.

PPG-2 Methyl Ether:  This is a solvent commonly used in water-based cleaners. We use PPG-2 methyl ether to tackle oily, greasy stains that do not dissolve in water. This solvent breaks up the stain, dissolves oily particles, and helps prevent residue from attaching to surfaces. PPG-2 methyl ethers are also commonly used in cosmetics are considered to be safe for use.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:  Another surfactant often listed as an ingredient in many types of household cleaning, we use sodium lauryl sulfate in some Rug Doctor products to enhance soil removal by surrounding soil particles and loosening them from fiber, so they can be easily extracted. Though sodium lauryl sulfate has shown potential to have a toxic effect on aquatic organisms, it has an excellent safety record and delivers great results.

All Rug Doctor floor cleaning solutions are designed for homes with kids and pets. No matter your needs, we have a solution best suited to tackle your situation. Rug Doctor experts have developed concentrates for soft surface deep cleaning that eliminate odors and stains to deliver a professional level clean. Our wide variety of spot cleaning solutions are designed to tackle unique cleaning needs, whether that’s pets, food and drink, mud, or oil. Our powerful formulas eliminate all your spots and stains.

Recently, we released our brand new Carpet Defense to protect your carpet from accidents and spills between deep cleanings. You’ll also love our hard floor cleaning solutions that polish and shine, including a fantastic Tile & Grout Cleaner! Rug Doctor is proud to offer a complete line up of hard and soft floor cleaning products. Visit Rugdoctor.com to see all our cleaning solutions available for purchase.