Asphalt. Bacteria. Car Exhaust. Chemicals. Dirt. Dust. Earth. Food. Particles. Fungus. Germs. Gravel. Grease. Grime. Grit. Hair. Industrial waste. Lint. Mud. Pet stains. Pollens. Pollutants. Rock. Sand. Scum. Smoke. Soil. Soot. Tar. Tobacco smoke. Urine. Vomit.

(Will you help us? We’re trying to find at least one thing that’s in your carpet for every letter of the alphabet. And we don’t have anything at all for these letters: J, K, N, O, Q, W, X, Y, Z. If you can think of something that could be in your carpet that begins with these letters – or any other letters – please call or write to us and we’ll consider using them in our next consumer’s guide.)