Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We are not affiliated with the Environmental Working Group.
Finding a reliable non toxic carpet cleaner is harder than it sounds. The carpet care aisle mixes wet spray cleaners, concentrated shampoo formulas, and powder deodorizers under vague “natural” or “green” labels — with no standardized meaning behind those words. If you have young children who spend time on the floor, or pets, or a household with sensitivities to fragrances and harsh chemicals, you need something more than marketing copy. That’s where EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning is useful: it evaluates cleaning products based on ingredient hazard and disclosure, and grades them A through F. This guide covers two EWG Grade A-rated wet carpet cleaners for stain removal plus a clearly labeled between-cleans carpet refresher — all confirmed in stock at publication.
Also relevant: Best Non-Toxic Cleaning Products Rated by EWG — our full hub for EWG-rated household cleaners across every category.
How EWG Rates Carpet Care Products
EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades household cleaning products on a scale of A through F. A Grade A product has lower-hazard ingredients and a higher level of ingredient disclosure than what U.S. law requires. Grade A is meaningful: it means EWG found no significant concerns with the formulation based on available ingredient data.
Important distinctions:
- EWG Grade A (what the products below carry) is a Guide to Healthy Cleaning rating. It reflects ingredient evaluation and disclosure — it is not a safety guarantee and we do not represent it as one.
- EWG VERIFIED® is a separate, stricter program requiring full ingredient disclosure directly to EWG plus compliance with their Unacceptable list. None of the carpet products in this guide currently carry the EWG VERIFIED® mark. We use only the accurate designation for each product.
We also want to be upfront about the difference between two types of carpet care products in this guide:
- Wet cleaners (spray or concentrate): designed to remove stains and soil from carpet fibers. These are the products someone searching “non toxic carpet cleaner” is almost certainly looking for.
- Powder deodorizers / carpet refreshers: designed to absorb and neutralize odors between cleanings. They are not stain removers and should not be used in place of a wet cleaner when actual cleaning is needed.
Both types appear in this guide. They are clearly labeled so you always know which is which.
Non-Toxic Carpet Cleaners for Stain Removal: EWG Grade A Picks
1. naturally it’s clean Carpet Stains & Odors Cleaner — Editor’s Pick
The naturally it’s clean Carpet Stains & Odors Cleaner is a ready-to-use spray — no measuring or diluting needed. The 24oz 2-Pack gives you two bottles, making it practical to keep one upstairs and one down, or to rotate stock so you never run out mid-cleanup. The formula targets both stains and embedded odors, which matters for households with pets or active kids.
EWG status: EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning Grade A
Format: Ready-to-use spray | 24 oz × 2 bottles | ~$17.90
Best for: Households that want a grab-and-go spray for immediate stain response; pet households; parents who clean up after kids on carpeted floors
What it is: A wet spray cleaner for active stain and odor removal. This is a carpet cleaner, not a deodorizer.
naturally it’s clean Carpet Stains & Odors Cleaner, 24 oz 2-Pack — Buy on Amazon ↗
2. Puracy Carpet Cleaner Solution 4X Concentrated
Puracy’s 4X concentrated formula is designed for use with carpet cleaning machines (shampooers and extractors), though it can also be diluted for spot treatment by hand. One 25 oz bottle is equivalent to four standard-size bottles when diluted to the recommended ratio. If you have a carpet cleaning machine or rent one seasonally, this is the more economical EWG Grade A option — the concentrate stretches further than a ready-to-use spray across larger carpet areas.
EWG status: EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning Grade A
Format: 4X concentrate | 25 oz (dilutes to ~100 oz equivalent) | ~$20.99
Best for: Whole-room carpet cleaning with a machine; seasonal deep-clean sessions; cost-efficient choice for larger carpet areas
What it is: A wet carpet cleaner for stain removal and soil extraction. Requires dilution per label instructions before use.
Puracy Carpet Cleaner Solution 4X Concentrated, 25 oz — Buy on Amazon ↗
Between-Cleans Carpet Care: Deodorizer and Refresher
What follows is a powder deodorizer — not a carpet cleaner. If you are looking to remove a stain or clean soil from carpet fibers, use one of the wet cleaners above. The product below is for neutralizing odors between cleaning sessions — it does not remove stains or replace wet cleaning.
3. Aunt Fannie’s Carpet Refresher Deodorizer Powder, Lavender — Between-Cleans Deodorizer
Aunt Fannie’s Carpet Refresher is a baking-soda-based powder that you sprinkle on dry carpet, leave for a few minutes, and then vacuum up. It neutralizes odors that build up in carpet fibers between shampooing sessions — pet smells, mustiness, everyday foot traffic odors. The lavender scent comes from plant-based fragrance rather than synthetic perfume. At $12.99 for 16 oz, it fills a specific role: odor management between cleans, not stain removal or soil extraction.
EWG status: EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning Grade A
Format: Powder deodorizer | 16 oz | ~$12.99 | Sprinkle, wait, vacuum
What it is — and what it is not: This is a carpet deodorizer and refresher. It absorbs and neutralizes odors between wet cleanings. It is not a carpet cleaner, does not remove stains, and should not be used in place of a wet cleaner when stains or soil are present. Think of it as the product you reach for when the carpet smells stale but doesn’t need a full cleaning session yet.
Best for: Between-cleans odor maintenance; pet households; households that shampoo seasonally and want fresher carpets in between
Aunt Fannie’s Carpet Refresher Deodorizer Powder, Lavender, 16 oz — Buy on Amazon ↗
Using These Products Together: A Carpet Care Routine
These three products work best when you understand which job each one does:
- Stain or fresh spill? Reach for the naturally it’s clean spray. Blot (don’t rub) the stain, apply the spray, and follow label directions. The ready-to-use spray is the fastest response for spot treatment.
- Seasonal deep clean or whole-room cleaning? Use the Puracy concentrate in your carpet cleaning machine per the dilution instructions on the label. This covers more square footage more cost-effectively than a ready-to-use spray.
- Carpet smells stale between cleanings? Sprinkle the Aunt Fannie’s powder, wait the time indicated on the label, then vacuum thoroughly. This is the between-cleans refresh — not a substitute for wet cleaning when actual stains or soil are present.
Note: always test any new carpet care product on a small, inconspicuous area first to check for colorfastness. This applies to all carpet products, including EWG Grade A-rated ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does “EWG Grade A” mean for a carpet cleaner?
EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning grades products A through F based on ingredient hazard levels and the degree of ingredient disclosure. A Grade A product has lower-hazard ingredients and better disclosure than what U.S. law requires. It’s a meaningful independent evaluation, not a safety guarantee — we don’t represent it as one. None of the products in this guide carry the EWG VERIFIED® designation, which is a separate and stricter program. We use the accurate status for each product.
Q: Can I use the Puracy concentrate as a spot cleaner?
Yes — Puracy’s concentrate can be diluted for spot treatment as well as machine use. Follow the dilution instructions on the label for your specific application. The concentrate ratio for spot treatment may differ from the ratio for a cleaning machine, so check the packaging before mixing.
Q: Is the Aunt Fannie’s powder safe to vacuum after use?
It’s a baking-soda-based powder designed to be vacuumed up after it has done its deodorizing work — that’s the intended use. Make sure your vacuum has a good filter if you use powder deodorizers regularly, as fine powders can accumulate in vacuum motors over time. Check your vacuum manufacturer’s guidance.
Q: Why are there only two wet cleaners in this guide?
We verify every product’s EWG rating and Amazon in-stock status before including it. At publication, two EWG Grade A carpet cleaners we had identified for possible inclusion — biokleen Carpet & Rug Shampoo (B001197PV6) and Fit Organic Carpet Stain Remover (B01LZQ9A91) — were not available on Amazon. We will not link to out-of-stock products. If those products restock, this guide may be updated. For now, the two wet cleaners above are the in-stock EWG-rated picks we can stand behind.
Q: Do these carpet cleaners work on pet stains?
The naturally it’s clean spray is formulated for both stains and odors, including pet-related messes. For set-in pet stains, results depend on fiber type, how long the stain has sat, and how thoroughly the product is applied and blotted per label instructions. No carpet cleaner — regardless of ingredient rating — guarantees 100% stain removal on all carpet types. EWG Grade A refers to ingredient evaluation, not cleaning efficacy.
Carpets are one of the highest-contact surfaces in a home with young children — kids sit, crawl, and play on them for years. Choosing carpet care products with EWG Grade A ratings is a reasonable step toward reducing your household’s exposure to the harsher ingredients common in conventional carpet cleaners. The two wet cleaners above address stains and soil; the powder refresher handles the between-cleans odor management. That’s the complete picture of what EWG-rated carpet care looks like today.
Related: Non-Toxic Stain Removers Rated by EWG — broader stain-removal options across fabric types. Also see Non-Toxic Floor Cleaners Rated by EWG for hard floor care.
