Karastan Peaceful Quality Carpet Sample by DesignShop in Pristine, Nylon, Size: 7 in x 6 in
Skip until Karastan discloses PFAS treatment details.
Karastan nylon carpet likely treated for stain and water resistance, common vectors for PFAS application. Brand provides no public disclosure on PFAS chemistry or testing.
The better-graded swap
Tarkett
Tarkett Home Intrigue Tempt by Factory Direct Floor Store
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon with stain/soil treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Karastan Peaceful Quality Carpet Sample is made of, ingredients and materials
This sample is nylon fiber, a synthetic polyamide polymer commonly used in carpets for durability and stain resistance. The stain and soil treatment applied to Karastan nylons typically includes water-based repellents and finish resins, which may contain formaldehyde releasers or other volatile compounds. Nylon itself is chemically stable when intact, but the treatments and dyes used in production are the primary concern for off-gassing and leaching into indoor air.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Karastan's stain and soil treatments likely include formaldehyde-releasing resins or urea-formaldehyde binders, a standard industry practice. No testing data is publicly available for this specific product, so the risk cannot be quantified, but new carpet typically emits low levels of formaldehyde during and after installation.
Source, ATSDR ↗Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from dyes and treatments
Nylon carpet production involves synthetic dyes and chemical treatment application that off-gas during manufacturing and for weeks after installation. Karastan's lack of low-VOC certification means these compounds are not controlled, and sensitive individuals may experience headaches or respiratory irritation.
Flame retardants
While Karastan does not advertise flame retardant treatment on this sample, some residential carpet lines do receive such treatment. The specific chemical class (brominated, phosphorus-based, or other) is unknown due to Karastan's non-disclosure, so legacy halogenated compounds cannot be ruled out.
Source, EPA ↗Nylon backing adhesive degradation
Nylon-backed carpets can degrade over 7-10 years, particularly in humid conditions or with water exposure, releasing adhesive compounds and latex particles. This is a material-class issue, not specific to Karastan, but highlights the importance of replacement timing.
PFAS
Karastan's poor PFAS grade and silent stance on treatment details suggests potential use of PFOA, PFOS, or other per-fluorinated compounds in the stain repellent finish, though this is assessed in the PFAS section.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Karastan, owned by Mohawk Industries, does not publicly disclose specific chemical treatments, flame retardant formulations, or PFAS content in their carpet lines, which earned the product a poor PFAS safety grade of 30/100. The company has not pursued third-party certifications such as Cradle to Cradle or GreenGuard that would verify low-VOC or PFAS-free production. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to assess whether the stain treatment contains legacy PFAS compounds or newer alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Karastan occupies the mid-to-premium price tier for residential carpet; most competitors in this segment (such as Mohawk's own certified lines, Interface, or Tarkett) now offer PFAS-free or certified low-chemical options. Nylon itself is not inherently more hazardous than polyester or polypropylene, but the finish treatments vary widely by brand. Karastan's refusal to disclose details puts it below brands that provide testing certificates or third-party verification.
If you buy it
Ensure the room is well-ventilated for the first 48-72 hours after installation to reduce off-gassing of volatile compounds from dyes and finishes. Vacuum regularly with a HEPA-filter vacuum to minimize dust and particulate buildup, and use water-only or certified low-VOC cleaners to avoid reactivating residual chemicals. Plan to replace the carpet within 7-10 years, as nylon backing can degrade and release adhesive compounds over time. Avoid this product if household members have chemical sensitivities or respiratory conditions.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Karastan has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More carpets & rugs grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.