What is a carpet and upholstery protector?
The textbook definition of a carpet and upholstery protector is … “an advanced-generation polymeric emulsion applied to carpet and upholstery to affect the surface properties so that the carpet and upholstery will look cleaner, newer longer.” In layman’s terms, this means carpet and upholstery protectors are professionally applied solutions that help your customers’ carpets and upholstery maintain their good looks longer – long-lasting protection, long-lasting good looks.
Types of after-market protectors and what they do:
In the industry today, there are three general classifications of carpet protectors:
- Colloidal Silicates, Acrylics and Resins
- Silicone
- Fluorochemical
Colloidal silicates and acrylics are actually “sacrificial soil” – so-called “clean” dirt that is removed when the carpet is vacuumed. These protectors are based on old technology and really do not provide durable soil protection or repellency. Included in this type would be Pro’s Choice ARA Anti-Resoiling / Anti-Wicking Agent.
Silicone-based protectors can provide excellent repellency but have a tendency to attract and hold soil. Silicones are good at protecting carpets, rugs and upholstery from water-based stains. They are best used where protection against water-based spills is the only problem. Silicone products are NOT FOR USE ON residential stain-resist nylon or olefin fibers.
Fluorochemical-based protectors are the state of the art for maximum carpet and upholstery protection. Fluorochemical protectors can provide excellent initial and durable soil resistance, along with outstanding oil and water repellency. Additional acid dye blockers can be formulated into some fluorochemical protectors to provide additional stain resistance for nylon carpets. Bane-Guard™, Sta-Clene®, Teflon® Advanced and Scotchgard™ Protector for Carpet and Upholstery change the surface energy of fibers and provide soil resistance as their primary function. Additionally, they help fibers resist both water-based and oil-based spots and spills. Fluoropolymer protectors are allowed for use on most stain-resist nylon fibers.
Today, almost all carpets are protected at the mill during the manufacturing process. However, it is important to maintain this protection with an application of an after-market carpet protector like DuPont™ Teflon® Advanced. Think of it like waxing your new car to keep it looking as good as the day you bought it. Soil, stains, traffic and even aggressive spot cleaning are all enemies of your customers’ carpets. Teflon® Advanced helps supplement the mill-applied protection to keep carpets looking as good as they possibly can.
According to a recent study, the potential for increased sales of carpet protectors is huge! Among consumers surveyed, the satisfaction level of those who have purchased carpet protectors is also very high.
Soil retardants such as Bane-Guard, Sta-Clene, Teflon and Scotchgard, coat the fibers with a material that keeps the soil on the surface for ready removal.
Advantages to Your Customer for Your Applying Carpet Protector to Their Carpet:
- A carpet that has been treated with a carpet protector will soil more slowly.
- Carpets protected by a carpet protector will stay cleaner longer.
- Additionally, a carpet that has been treated with a protector is easier to clean the next time.
- Treating a carpet with a protector provides a real time and money saver for the consumer.
- A carpet protector will extend the life of carpet.
- A carpet protector can prevent both water-based and oil-based stains from penetrating carpet, making stains less permanent and more easily removed.
- Carpet protectors work by creating a barrier against stains, spills and dirt.
- They protect a carpet’s appearance and preserve the color.
Most carpet protectors will change the “feel” of the carpet. However, routine vacuuming and traffic will bring back the original feel within a few days. How long the protection lasts depends primarily on how much use the carpet receives and how well it’s cared for. For most protectors, 2 - 4 days curing time are required for optimum results.
For optimum performance, it is best to have protector re-applied each time the carpet is cleaned.
When applying protector and while the carpet is drying after application of protector, the customer needs to follow these suggestions:
- Avoid using the room.
- If it is necessary to walk on the carpet, wear clean shoes or white stockings.
- Avoid walking on carpet with bare feet.
- Keep children and pets off the carpet.
- Weather permitting, open windows to provide fresh air
- Remove caged pets from room.
- Customer should be out of room during application.
- Anti-wicking / anti-re-soiling products, such as ARA, prevent the problem of large spills reappearing a few days after cleaning.
Additional Information on Carpet Protectors:
Related Carpet Protector Products: