Carpet Protectors- for longevity

Over the years, manufacturers and distributors of protectors for oleophilic fibers and fabrics have hosted many seminars focusing on both performance and profitability of applying protector to every surface cleaned.

Not all protectors are the same, and a cleaner should know how to pick the protector best suited for the surface being protected.

In a previous article, I focused on nylon and wool carpet. My conclusion is that the best protector for these fibers needs to have an acid dye resistor. The acid dye resistor fills up open dye sites in these fibers making it more difficult for them fibers to stain as a result of a spill from Kool-Aid or other dye materials.

Water repellency is useful for ease of removing spills, but the olefin, polyester and triexta carpet fibers are solution dyed preventing the fibers from staining. Upholstery fabrics are blends of many materials with some of them subject to staining. Surface repellency for spills only a few inches from the material generally spread out on top of the fabric allowing for easier clean-up.

Based on my experience in the industry, it is readily apparent that extreme soiling bonded to oils is the hardest issue to effectively solve in the types of fibers that we are discussing. If soils bonded to oils are the primary concern, then we need to use a protector which best limits the bonding of oil to the fibers.

For protecting olefin, polyester and triexta carpet along with upholstery fabrics, you can easily argue that oil resistance demonstrated by repellency would be the primary feature that you will want in this type of protector.

Surface repellency has long been oversold for use on nylon and wool carpet. Stain resistance is the most important feature needed in a protector for these fibers. However, we need to recognize that oil repellency is the most important feature of a protector for oleophilic carpet fibers and upholstery. Also, since we have customers who value protection only if it demonstrates repellency, we need to honor their opinion by applying a surface repellent protector to nylon and wool fibers as well, when requested.

A common problem in our industry is that cleaners have a hard time identifying the fiber or fabrics that they are cleaning. Without proper identification, it is difficult to sell the protector that is best suited for what they are protecting. Selling without conviction is difficult for our conscientious technicians. They want to be convinced about what they are selling, and education provides the information necessary to build conviction.

It is about providing a service with real value to the customer.

In short, you will realize that there is a need for two protectors in your truck, one for fibers needing stain resistance and another for fibers and fabrics needing oil repellency.

I have said that a good protector is better than no protector. But applying the right protector is the best for the customer and their fiber or fabric.