The best-selling Folex carpet spot remover transformed my stained rugs in seconds.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
I Tried Folex Carpet Spot Remover, and My Carpet’s Never Been Cleaner
The internet’s cleaning addicts are going wild for Folex carpet spot remover right now. That includes Jennifer Rodriguez, Chief Hygiene Officer at Pro Housekeepers, who says it “tackles stains quickly without leaving residues or odors.”
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 100,000 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 pet accidents, 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.
VIA MERCHANT
Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
This didn't become Amazon's number-one best-selling carpet cleaner by chance—it happened because it works wonders. It can quickly and easily remove pet messes and stains.
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 (in fact, it’s the number-one best-selling spot cleaning spray on the platform) thanks to how easily 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 tough 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. A full-size bottle (32 ounces) is under $10, 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.
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.
How we tested it
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.
Pros
- 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
- 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
- “[It] may not be as effective on set-in or old, tough stains,” says Rodriguez. Folex can work on old stains, but to get the best results, you may want to soak them generously with Folex and allow the stain remover to penetrate for several minutes before working on the stain. Still, there’s no guarantee.
- Some users find that Folex lifts the color on some items, so test on an area that’s not clearly visible before cleaning.
Why you should trust us
I am a shopping and e-commerce expert whose work has appeared across various women’s lifestyle and parenting outlets and on TV shows. In addition to my professional experience working on home care content, I am a mother of five and a pet owner, so I know a thing or two about cleaning a home. I used Folex personally in the production of this review.
In addition to the firsthand testing I did for this piece, I also consulted with Jennifer Rodriguez, the Chief Hygiene Officer at Pro Housekeepers. With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, she has been instrumental in shaping the company’s rigorous cleaning standards and ensuring exceptional service quality—including using Folex specifically in her duties.
Sean Tirman, Content Updates Editor at Reader’s Digest, updated and contributed research to this piece. Sean has written shopping guides since 2016 and is a former associate editor at Gear Patrol and HiConsumption.
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, where they can be removed 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. Rodriguez adds that it “works best on fresh stains, but can be effective on older stains with repeated applications.”
How do you use Folex spot remover?
“Apply directly to the stain, gently rub it in, and then blot with a clean cloth,” says Rodriguez. 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. Ensure you remove or absorb the excess fluid, and then you’re done! No rinsing is necessary.
Does Folex work well on pee?
“Yes, it’s effective for pet accidents, helping to remove both stains and odors,” confirms Rodriguez. But I tried it and found that Folex works so well on pee and pet excrement that it gives other pet odor removal products a run for their 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 10 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. Folex was 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 novice cleaners.
Final verdict
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 on old coffee, red wine and ketchup stains, and it’s an affordable addition to your cleaning arsenal. 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
VIA MERCHANT
Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover
This practically magical carpet cleaner is water-based, non-flammable and completely odor-free—making it safe to use around pets and children.
The best place to purchase Folex carpet spot remover is Amazon, where a full-size bottle retails for under $10 and comes with 32 ounces of stain-fighting power. With over 77,450 ratings and a nearly perfect 4.5-star average (from over 101,000 verified buyers), it’s selling quickly. It’s also available at a variety of retailers, including Walmart, The Home Depot and Target.
