Choosing a Non-Toxic Carpet
Written by:
Maia James
Recently, I’ve had a few private consulting clients ask about non-toxic carpeting. As a result, I’ve spent some time more deeply looking into this. I hope this post helps answer the big question: Is there such thing as truly safe, non-toxic carpeting?
What Makes Carpeting Toxic?
As my dad wrote in the flooring post about our non-toxic renovation undertaking, Project One-Eleven, carpeting is problematic for a variety of reasons, including:
- The chemicals and materials used to make the carpets and pads beneath them, including plastics, wool that’s laden with fungicides, synthetic rubber that may contain endocrine-disrupting phthalates, toxic dyes, and chemicals that are meant to repel flame, water, and stains.
- The materials used in the carpet installation process, including glues and other adhesives that contain formaldehyde and a range of VOCs that off-gas into the home environment.
- Carpet’s tendency that to accumulate dust mites, dirt, pesticides, and other toxins brought into our homes on our feet (and our pets’ feet!).
So Are All Carpet Bad News?
The older the carpets, the more likely they are to contain bad chemicals and pounds of accumulated junk. So I’d say that yes, old carpets are categorically bad news. But because we have some really safe options available these days, newer carpets can be a good choice for your home.
This is important:
In addition to choosing safe carpets, you should clean them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This usually involves frequent vacuuming (make sure you use a HEPA-sealed vacuum that’s RoHS certified, like the ones from Miele) and occasional steam cleaning. You also might consider investing in a robust electronic air filter.
Non-toxic Carpeting Brands
We’ve done the research on natural, non-toxic carpeting, and we found three safe brands to recommend:
Best Stuff
Earth Weave
Earth Weave is the gold standard among non-toxic carpeting. They simply make the very best stuff.
Earth Weave’s natural, non-toxic carpeting is made in the United States from carefully selected European wool, hemp, cotton, natural latex, and jute.
Earth Weave uses only safe dying methods for some of their colors; the other colors are natural wool hues. Even better, they don’t treat their carpets with any worrisome chemicals.
We used Earth Weave on the staircases and landings in our home in Lancaster, PA, and I’m someone who has never had a carpet (I’ve never much cared for it). I have to say that our Earth Weave carpet is beautiful, cozy, and great for my peace of mind when little kids are running up and down stairs! I’m considering carpeting the bedrooms next.
If you’d like to order Earth Weave through Gimme the Good Stuff, email suzanne@gimmethegoodstuff.org or click here. (We also offer our customers Earth Weave area rugs.)
Nature’s Carpet
Nature’s Carpet’s Everest carpet from their “Dark Green” collections is made from a blend of European and New Zealand wool. It’s chemical-free with a cotton and jute backing as well as a natural rubber latex adhesive. The Aberdeen and Element carpets, also from the Dark Green collection, are made with 98% natural materials. These ones have a woven polypropylene backing. (I consider polypropylene to be an non-toxic plastic). All three carpet styles in the Dark Green category from Nature’s Carpet use un-dyed wool and do not contain any moth-proofing or flame-retardant chemicals.
Unique Carpet
Nature’s Carpet’s Everest carpet from their “Dark Green” collections is made from a blend of European and New Zealand wool. It’s chemical-free with a cotton and jute backing as well as a natural rubber latex adhesive. The Aberdeen and Element carpets, also from the Dark Green collection, are made with 98% natural materials. These ones have a woven polypropylene backing. (I consider polypropylene to be an non-toxic plastic). All three carpet styles in the Dark Green category from Nature’s Carpet use un-dyed wool and do not contain any moth-proofing or flame-retardant chemicals.
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Do you have experience with any of these–or other–carpet brands, or have other questions about non-toxic carpeting? Please post below!
Stay sane,
Maia, Founder & CEO
P.S. Here’s our post on choosing a non-toxic area rug.
Note: This article contains affiliate links or sponsored content, which means that if you make a purchase, we may earn a commission. We only recommend products that meet our strict standards for non-toxicity and that we use (or want to use!) ourselves. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make Good Stuff!
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Thank you for all this great information about non toxic carpets! I really like your point about how many carpets that aren’t non toxic include chemical and materials that could hurt my family, even if they are meant to provide safety from fire. My husband and I have never thought of being concerned about the health or side effects of choosing the right carpet. We’ll keep this in mind since we hope to buy new carpet by the end of the month.
What about the fact that most wool is treated with very dangerous pesticides? Sheep are “dipped” usually twice a year- sometimes in organophosphate pesticides. Shepherds have been completely debilitated by exposure to the chemicals. Doesn’t this render most wool toxic unless it’s organic?
Hi there,
Would Lorena Canals rugs be considered safe? They claim:
“Our eco-friendly, machine washable and non-toxic rugs are all handmade by artisans using 100% natural cotton and natural dyes with non-toxic chemicals. All of our rugs have the AITEX Certificate (Technologic and Textile Institute), which safely authenticates the compliance for products intended for children. By following a socially conscious manufacturing process, which entails boiling the dyed water to a specific temperature per color so no harmful chemicals are used in the dying process, each rug comes out slightly different.”Your advice would be greatly appreciated!
Definitely Good Stuff and you can get them here;)
https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/brand/lorena-canals-rugs-gimme-the-good-stuff/
Hi, my interest is in area rugs. I bought an Under the Nile carpet for baby to play on. I know some you listed above have area rugs or custom cut, but as wondering if there are other safe brands. Maybe wool, but it’s difficult to tell what’s safe with the dye and tufting, etc. Thank you.
I just came across this company recently. Hope this website helps….
https://hookandloom.com/product/deerfield-eco-cotton-rug-denim-taupe/
You did your homework, Maia, A+ 😉 thank you so much for doing this article. Many people consistently believe if their conventional carpets are “aired out”, then they are safe. Not true. Carpets off gas for years. They contain carcinogens and neurotoxic chemicals that can damage the central nervous system. Some of these chemicals are benzene, perch, acetaldehyde, toluene, xylene, and formaldehyde. Buying conventional carpets is a health hazard which threatens indoor air quality from toxic VOC’s. They should be a law against selling poison to unsuspecting families. The pads are another “soup” of toxic chemicals. Just say, “No”, to conventional carpets.
Hi! I’ve often aired out my rugs before placing them in my home as I suspected gross ingredients – not sure if that helps at all, but worth a try. Can you name the exact materials we should look out for? I know there are a few different things rugs are made out of, but it would be good to know what is safer and what to avoid totally.
Thanks so much for all the work you do!
Hello,
Do you have any non-wool-based suggestions? We have a vegan home.
Thank you 🙂
If sheep are sheered responsibly and humanely, they are getting a hair cut. In summer, they are surely appreciative.
Wool makes me itch. Any non-toxic carpets without wool?
Yes we have cotton rugs too. Usually wool bothers people when it’s worn next to their skin. Here are our cotton rugs.https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/store/brand/lorena-canals-rugs-gimme-the-good-stuff/
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