Original Protectant vs Oxi Magic Carpet Upholstery Cleaner 78260: which is safer?

Armor All Oxi Magic Carpet Upholstery Cleaner 78260 is the clear pick. Armor All Original Protectant carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Armor All Original Protectant

Armor All

Original Protectant

PFAS grade

Poor 45/100

Overall grade

Bad 19/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Proprietary blend (likely silicone, mineral oil, emulsifiers)

Confidence

45%

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fragrance and solvents

PossibleSkin irritation from emulsifiers or fragrance allergens

ReportedResidue buildup and dust attraction on hard surfaces

Our pick

Armor All Oxi Magic Carpet Upholstery Cleaner 78260

Armor All

Oxi Magic Carpet Upholstery Cleaner 78260

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 63/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

aqueous surfactant cleaner, no known coatings

Confidence

72%

PossibleRespiratory irritation from surfactants and propellants

PossibleSkin contact dermatitis

PossibleResidual chemical exposure if not fully rinsed

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from fragrance and solvents, Skin irritation from emulsifiers or fragrance allergens, Residue buildup and dust attraction on hard surfaces and Toxicity if ingested in large amounts on the Armor All and not on the Armor All.
  • We flag Respiratory irritation from surfactants and propellants, Skin contact dermatitis and Residual chemical exposure if not fully rinsed on the Armor All and not on the Armor All.
  • The Armor All is Proprietary blend (likely silicone, mineral oil, emulsifiers) where the Armor All is aqueous surfactant cleaner, no known coatings, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 30 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Armor All is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Armor All grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More outdoor furniture cushion protectants: see the full ranking