• Carpet cleaning products are formulated to clean soil and stain deposits from carpets.carpet image by Ogis from Fotolia.com
  
  Carpet cleaning products, or carpet cleaners, fall in between household cleaners and regular laundry detergents. Carpet cleaners usually have detergent ingredients similar to those in laundry cleaners due to the similar stain removal nature of both products. However, since carpets cannot be immersed in a cleaning solution and rinsed, the cleaning process resembles household cleaning in execution. There are many types of carpet cleaning products, including spray extraction products, shampoos, high traffic cleaners and spotters, all formulated to clean even the harshest of carpet stains.
  
  

Surfactants

• Surfactants, short for "surface-active agents," are among the most common detergent ingredients used in carpet cleaning products. Surfactants, also called wetting agents, are water-soluble chemicals that lower the surface tension of liquid (typically water), therefore decreasing the strength of the chemical bonds between individual atoms and allowing them to interact with grease and oil. Water molecules "capture" all unwanted dirt, which is then removed by rinsing. Surfactants are categorized into anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and ampholytic surfactants. The most common surfactants used in detergents include sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), lauryldimethylamine-oxide (LDAO), sodium deoxycholate (DOC) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate sodium salt.
  
  

Oxidants

• Carpet cleaning products contain oxidants, also called oxidizers, that break down organic products, disinfect and bleach. Oxidizers chemically react with organic substances and stains, such as tea, chocolate syrup, tomato sauce, yellow mustard and red wine, and change their composition by donating oxygen molecules. Surfactants and oxidants work in cohesion: surfactants work to eliminate stains while oxidants function to bleach discoloration. Common oxidants used in carpet cleaning products include peroxide and sodium percarbonate, a mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide (in a 50:50 ratio).
  
  

Odor Neutralizers

• Odor neutralizers are products that remove noxious smells in stained and dirty carpets. They are commonly recommended and highly effective against foul-smelling stains, such as rotten food, vomit, feces or urine. These foul smelling substances are primarily made up of organic materials that have strong initial odors which worsen as they decompose. These decomposing organic spots are a breeding ground for fungal and bacterial growth, which further increases stain and odor. Odor neutralizers are essentially chemicals that work on organic molecules and convert them into odor-free substances. According to Don Aslett in the book "Pet Clean-up Made Easy: Tackle Any Pet Mess, Any Time, in a Snap;" odor neutralizers are usually derived from plant extracts. Common odor neutralizers include bacteria/enzyme digester and p-cyclodextrin odor neutralizer.