TrafficMaster Willow Kirkdale Beige Residential 18 x 18 in. Peel and Stick Carpet Tile Square vs Max Advanced Deep Carpet Cleaner: which is safer?
Rug Doctor Max Advanced Deep Carpet Cleaner is the clear pick. TrafficMaster Willow Kirkdale Beige Residential 18 x 18 in. Peel and Stick Carpet Tile Square carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Daltile
TrafficMaster Willow Kirkdale Beige Residential 18 x 18 in. Peel and Stick Carpet Tile Square
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyFlame retardant chemicals (likely brominated or chlorinated)
ReportedVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from adhesive and fibers
PossibleAdhesive degradation and leachables over time
Our pick
Rug Doctor
Max Advanced Deep Carpet Cleaner
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleSurfactant skin and eye irritation
PossibleResidue buildup on carpet fibers
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Flame retardant chemicals (likely brominated or chlorinated), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from adhesive and fibers, Adhesive degradation and leachables over time and Formaldehyde resins in synthetic backing or sizing on the Daltile and not on the Rug Doctor.
- We flag Surfactant skin and eye irritation and Residue buildup on carpet fibers on the Rug Doctor and not on the Daltile.
- The Daltile is Synthetic carpet tile with adhesive backing where the Rug Doctor is Aqueous cleaning solution, surfactants, water, 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 Rug Doctor is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Daltile grade, at 35% 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 carpets & rugs: see the full ranking