I Tried Folex Carpet Spot Remover, and My Carpet’s Never Been Cleaner

Updated: Apr. 12, 2024

The best-selling Folex Carpet Spot Remover transformed my stained rugs in SECONDS.

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Folex Carpet Spot Remover with the Reader's Digest editor tested badgecourtesy Bryce Gruber

The internet’s cleaning addicts are going wild for Folex Carpet Spot Remover right now. It’s one of the best pet stain removers that can actually get dog pee out of carpet, and you’re going to be just as obsessed with how well it lifts stains almost instantly. It’s so effective that TikTok cleaning experts and over 71,000 Amazon shoppers are swearing by it as a “miracle in a bottle,” and one of the best carpet cleaners in existence.

We gave it a try on our own high-traffic rugs to see if it can really remove cat pee stains, mushy kid messes, and even marker stains. Here’s what you need to know about the much-hyped Folex cleaner before you add a bottle to your cart.

What is Folex Carpet Spot Remover?

For starters, Folex Carpet Spot Remover isn’t just for carpets (although it works marvelously on them). Social media users have made this 32-ounce bottle one of Amazon’s best-selling items thanks to how easy it lifts old and set-in stains from carpet, upholstery, curtains, clothes, and car interiors.

It’s a child-and-pet-safe cleaner that removes even hopeless-looking stains. It can also get rid of pet odor with just a few quick sprays and some elbow grease, or the assistance of a stain-removing vacuum like the Bissell Little Green Machine. Folex carpet cleaner even beats the popularity of The Pink Stuff now, with a 4.5-star average and a whopping 71,000 ratings. It’s clearly the best Amazon product for cleaning stubborn carpet stains. And a full-size bottle is less than $16, making it an excellent value and way cheaper than replacing stained rugs and carpets.

If you’re searching for how to clean your carpet without harmful solvents and stripping chemicals that can ruin your rug’s dyes and fibers, Folex’s water-based cleaning solution is entirely solvent-free. That means it’s safe for both delicate materials and treasured upholstery. It works on any colorfast carpet or upholstery and requires little more than a few spritzes directly onto the stain itself. Then you just gently massage with a cleaning rag or a microfiber cloth, and voila! The surfactants go to work lifting old and greasy stains before your eyes.

How we tested it

using Folex Carpet Spot Remover to remove marker on rugcourtesy Bryce Gruber

For my first big test of Folex Carpet Spot Remover, I put the bottle to work on the nearly 15-inch wide swath of playroom rug that my kindergartener had managed to write his name on in deep blue marker. I was a bit stressed because this particular rug is made up of mostly muted tan, beige, and blue tones that are light enough to easily show stains—especially permanent ones.

I spritzed the affected area five to 10 times, let it soak in for a few moments, and then gave the stain several passes with my Bissell Pet Stain Eraser. It lifted easily and quickly. In under a minute, every bit of marker was gone, and I was breathing major sighs of relief.

I wanted to see if a bit of Folex cleaner would work just as much magic without the help of a fancy carpet cleaning machine, so my next test was on my husband’s truck upholstery. He had spilled some coffee on it days before and “forgot” to clean it properly, so I figured this was as good of an opportunity as any to see if some Folex carpet cleaner and elbow grease would be enough to get the job done.

I made sure to sop up all the extra fluid first, then generously sprayed the coffee stain with Folex and allowed it to penetrate for a few seconds. I gently worked on the stain with a microfiber cloth, then scrubbed at it a bit more vigorously. It came out easily and didn’t discolor or damage the car’s interior at all. In fact, my husband didn’t even notice that I cleaned his seats at all—that’s how little smell or discoloration Folex left behind.

Folex Carpet Spot Remover product features

Folex Carpet Spot Remover is brimming with gentle surfactants that break up tough stains on carpet and upholstery without the use of harmful solvents and stripping chemicals. It’s safe for colorfast delicates and can be used to pre-treat or directly treat most types of stains, including every pet owner’s worst fear—dog poop stains. That’s because those stains are made up of powerful proteins that tend to bind to fabric fibers extra aggressively, but they’re still no match for a few sprays of Folex cleaner.

Pros

What we liked about Folex Carpet Spot Remover:

  • Easy-to-use spray bottle
  • No-rinse formula
  • Can be used with a number of mediums including sponges, paper towels, and wet vacuums
  • Modest price point
  • Over 71,000 Amazon ratings
  • Ideal for use on carpets, area rugs, upholstery, auto interiors, and more
  • Works on pet excrement, blood, and food stains
  • Even works on old and caked-in stains

Cons

What to consider about Folex Carpet Spot Remover:

  • Folex works on old stains, but you may want to soak them generously with Folex and allow the stain remover to penetrate for several minutes before working on the stain to get the best results.
  • Some users find that Folex lifts the color on some items, so be sure and test on an area that’s not clearly visible before cleaning.

FAQ

Why does Folex work so well?

Folex Carpet Spot Remover uses gentle, pet-safe and kid-safe surfactants that break up tough stains without added solvents or harsh chemicals. Surfactants work to break up stains, proteins, and fats and gently lift them to the surface for you to remove with a cloth or vacuum.

Does Folex work on old stains?

Yes! Folex cleaner works well on old stains, although you may want to pre-treat affected areas to allow the product to soak in and break up old debris and proteins.

How do you use Folex spot remover?

It’s as simple as spraying Folex cleaner directly onto affected areas and then working the product through with a cloth, sponge, or stain-removing vacuum. Make sure you remove or absorb the excess fluid, and then you’re done! No rinsing necessary.

Does Folex work well on pee?

Folex works so well on pee and pet excrement that it gives our beloved Angry Orange Pet Odor Eliminator a run for its money. In fact, we ran a UV flashlight over a dog pee stain we treated with Folex just days earlier and couldn’t detect ANY pet urine remains.

What other reviewers had to say

Verified Amazon purchaser Malm writes, “Wow! A must-have for any home. My carpet had some mystery stains that other stain remover products could not budge. I had resigned myself to never having them any better until I found this product. It was very easy. Spray it on, then put a paper towel on top, and it disappears. Seriously!”

“My car is over ten years old and my cloth gray seats are a bit grimy,” shares another verified Amazon purchaser. “The driver’s seat and armrest are pretty dirty. This product was easy to use. Just spray very generously (when you spray and it looks like the stain disappears after spraying, you know you sprayed enough). I rubbed it in with my fingers, a scrub brush, and a microfiber towel. I found that a dry microfiber towel worked best. Then let it dry!”

Product comparison

We compared the Folex Carpet Spot Remover to our other favorite stain removers including Angry Orange and Carbona Pro Care Laundry Scrubber and found that Folex was by far the easiest to use on area rugs and upholstery. Carbona still wins on clothing and bed linens by a narrow margin, and Angry Orange is still the best for removing odors such as dog smell and cat pee odors on hardwood and ceramic tile floors. But Folex manages to get even the most disgusting stains out of rugs and carpeting with such ease that it’s an absolute must-have for any home. Folex is also especially user-friendly because it can be used with or without additional cleaning gear, and is simple enough for even the most novice cleaners.

Final verdict

a stain free rug after using Folex Carpet Spot Removercourtesy Bryce Gruber

I loved Folex Carpet Spot Remover and think anyone with carpet, area rugs, pets, kids, or car upholstery should keep a bottle on hand. It works just as well on stinky pet stains as it does old coffee, red wine, and ketchup stains, and it’s an affordable addition to your cleaning arsenal. Plus, a full 32-ounce bottle is enough to treat dozens of stains and should last even the busiest households several months.

Where to buy Folex Carpet Spot Remover

The best place to purchase Folex Carpet Spot Remover is Amazon, where a full-size bottle retails for $16 and comes with 32-ounces of stain-fighting power. With over 71,000 ratings and a nearly-perfect 4.5-star average, though, it’s selling quickly. You’ll want to hurry up to have your pick of size and quantity options ahead of seasonal sell-outs and supply chain interruptions.

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