By PFAS Authority · Updated September 8, 2026
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PFAS in Carpets & Rugs, Naming "Fluorochemical" Doesn't Change the Grade
We graded 78 carpets, rugs and carpet tiles from Mohawk, Shaw Industries, Stainmaster, Karastan, Victoria Carpets and others. Nine products with no stain treatment on record grade 75. Two carpets with a named stain-resistant treatment grade 45. The remaining 47, including Scotchgard's carpet protectors, which name "fluorochemical" directly on the label, all grade 30 on an undisclosed or vaguely described stain and soil treatment.
Summary comparison table
| Product | PFAS grade | Material as recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Rug Classic | Excellent, 75/100 | Wool blend / natural fiber, no treatment on record |
| Mohawk Basics Carpet Tile | Excellent, 75/100 | PET fiber, no coating on record |
| Victoria Buckingham | Poor, 45/100 | Wool/synthetic blend, named stain-resistant treatment |
| Stainmaster Ready 2 Play Nylon Carpet | Poor, 30/100 | Nylon fiber, stain-resistant treatment unspecified |
| Scotchgard Carpet & Rug Protector | Poor, 30/100 | Fluorochemical-based protector named on the label |
| Karastan Nylon Carpet Sample | Poor, 30/100 | Nylon, stain/soil treatment unspecified |
How we graded these
Every grade here is a model-based estimate built from publicly available product information and manufacturer disclosures, not a lab test performed by our team. A high score means lower concern based on reviewed sources, never PFAS-free and never safe. Across the 58 products the spread is nine at 75, two at 45 and 47 at 30. None of these brands has a PFAS statement on record for the carpets we graded. Look up any carpet in our PFAS product finder.
Why nine products grade 75
These carpets and tiles, wool, PET fiber and polyester alike, carry no stain-resistant or soil-repellent treatment on record. None of these makers has published a PFAS statement, which is why 75 is the ceiling rather than a higher score.
Why two products grade 45
Victoria Carpets' Buckingham and Milliken's Chateau are recorded with a stain-resistant treatment that is specifically named on the listing rather than left unspecified. That earns partial credit over an undisclosed coating, but it is still a treatment our model counts.
Why 47 products grade 30
The largest group carries a stain or soil-resistant treatment of unstated composition. Scotchgard's carpet protectors are a notable case inside this group, their labels use the word "fluorochemical" directly, which our model reads as vague brand language rather than a specific named chemistry, so they land at the same 30 as carpets whose listings say nothing about the treatment at all. Stain resistance is the function where fluorinated chemistry has historically been most common in carpet, and none of these makers has a PFAS statement, which keeps all 47 at the bottom.
What to avoid
- Any carpet marketed as stain-resistant or soil-repellent without a specific named chemistry. That covers 47 of the 58 products graded here.
- Treating "fluorochemical" on a label as more informative than "stain-resistant." Scotchgard's products name the chemical family but not the specific compound, and grade the same as carpets that disclose nothing at all.
- Assuming a premium brand like Karastan or Shaw grades differently from a budget line. Both appear in the Poor tier here alongside less expensive brands.
Our pick
Based on available materials and data, the nine carpets and tiles at 75, including Victoria Carpets' Rug Classic and Mohawk's Envirostrand PET fiber tile, represent the lowest concern in this comparison because none carries a stain-resistant treatment on record. If stain resistance matters to you, every treated carpet in this guide trades that off at a lower grade.
FAQ
Do stain-resistant carpets contain PFAS?
We can't say for certain. Stain-resistant carpet treatments have historically relied on fluorinated chemistry, and 49 of the 58 carpets graded here carry that kind of treatment, two with the treatment named and 47 without.
Does Scotchgard's "fluorochemical" label mean something different from "stain-resistant"?
Not in our grading. Scotchgard's carpet protectors name the chemical family on the label but not the specific compound, which our model treats the same as any other vaguely described treatment.
Is a higher-priced carpet automatically a lower-concern option?
No. Premium brands like Karastan and Shaw Industries appear in the Poor tier here alongside budget lines. Check the specific product's treatment disclosure rather than the price or brand name.
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