Unfortunately, consumers are probably as much confusedy about carpet protectors as they are about cleaning. Uneducated, uninformed, and sometimes downright unscrupulous carpet cleaners cause a great deal of confusion by misinforming or intentionally misrepresenting the product.
A nylon stain-resist carpet is made with two protective properties: The first is an acid dye blocker that is basically a clear dye that fills the extra dye sites in a fibre. This helps to keep “foreign” dyes (such as red dye in a beverage) from penetrating the carpet fibre. The second property is called a “fluorochemical”. It is commonly known as 3M Scotchguard ® or DuPont Teflon ®. This treatment helps keep spillage from actually getting to the acid dye blocker, but its biggest job is to resist dry soil.
By resisting dry soil, less soil is embedded into the carpet. This allows the dry soil to release from the carpet much easier when you are vacuuming. Making sure that you have a sufficient amount of protector on your carpet will help keep the soil from bonding to the carpet. Once it bonds to the carpet, it acts like sandpaper on your traffic area. Carpet manufacuturers recommend reapplication of protector when your carpet in 2-3 years old. Once the traffic area yarns are broken down, there is no way to bring them back to their original state.
2 Primary Ways That Protector Is Removed From A Carpet:
1. Regular foot traffic. Over a period of 6 months to 2 years depending on the traffic, a significant amount of protector can be removed from your traffic areas and needs to be reapplied.
2. High alkaline cleaner. Uneducated, uninformed and sometimes downright unscrupulous carpet cleaners use harsh chemicals on the carpet that will strip its protection. If one of these rascals has been in your house, you may want to have the carpet re-protected.
4 Mistakes Cleaners Make In Applying Protector:
1. Not using high quality protector. Discount protectors are not as effective and sometimes void the warranty of the carpet.
2. Not using a dedicated container. Using the same container for carpet protector as other cleaners can contaminate the carpet protector making it gummy and ineffective.
3. Not applying the product properly. Some cleaners either under apply or over apply the protector. Under applying it doesn’t allow for complete penetration on the carpet yarns. Over applying it causes the carpet to become overly stiff and crusty.
4. Not grooming the carpet. For the best performance, the product should be groomed into the carpet for maximum penetration. This ensures contact with all surfaces of the carpet yarn and proper distribution and drying. I thoroughly groom the protector into the carpet pile.
5 Reasons You Should Always Get Carpet Protector:
1. Reduces permanent stains. A great looking carpet can be ruined by an ugly spot. Unprotected carpet doesn’t repel spillage as well as protected carpet. Being able to remove spots and spills more effectively, you can avoid permanent staining.
2. Helps save your traffic areas from becoming destroyed. Traffic area soil is very abrasive and cuts carpet yarns like a knife. This damaging soil can easily bond to an unprotected carpet. By applying protector, you will increase the life of your carpet dramatically. When you vacuum your protected carpet the soils will release from the carpet pile much more effectively.
3. Make spots easier to remove. The easier a spot is to remove, the less cleanly you will have to use. The less agitation you will have to use, and the less time it will take. Many spots can be removed easily with just water.
4. Makes your next professional cleaning more effective. Having protector applied to your carpet will enhance your next cleaning. More soil will be removed the next time your carpeting is professionally cleaned.
5. Helps avoid costly service calls. Although you want to call us out to handle any spot you cannot remove immediately, carpet protector helps you remove more spots than you could without protector. You may be able to save a minimum charge by removing the spot yourself.
So is carpet protection worth the investment?
- Fibre producers know it works
- Carpet mills know it works
- 3M Scothguard knows it works
- Dupont knows it works
- Any now you know it works
An another couple examples of how protectors work can be seen in the auto industry. Wax on vehicles allow water to bead and run of and allow for years of that showroom look. How about those non-stick pans you use when you cook?
Ask your professional carpet cleaning company to provide you with a FREE demonstration. Your carpeting represents a big investment, so make sure you protect your investment by having carpet protector reapplied after each carpet cleaning.
Seems a lot of clients have been asking about Tile & Grout Cleaning. First Class Carpet Cleaning Vancouver will be getting some cutting edge education in late May 2012. Harry Deligiannidis will be adding a A Stone, Masonry & Tile Care Technician ceritication to his cleaning education. Look for promotional incentives in the Summer for our new service offering: SMT Care (STONE, MASONRY, TILE ). Continual education to better serve our clients. We are informed!
