One of the most lucrative add-on services a carpet and furniture cleaning company can offer is fabric protection.

One of the reasons some do not benefit from this is they don’t ask the customer if they would like this type of service.

By not asking the all-important question — “Would you like me to apply a fabric protector?” — you leave money on the table and a clean textile that can resoil quickly, depending on traffic and use.

The benefits

Fabric protectors, typically consisting of fluorochemicals, work by lowering surface energy. Water-based spills, if they have a higher surface energy (or tension), will then remain on the surface, not penetrating the carpet or upholstery pile.

Think of wax on a car. Water on a freshly waxed car will “bead up” due to higher surface energy. In simple terms, that’s what you are looking to do with fabric protection — keep the surface energy of the spill higher than the surface itself.

Applying a quality fabric protector means customers will enjoy cleaner carpet and furniture over a longer period of time. And the cleaning technician will find the job easier to handle during the next appointment.

What to promise

Fabric protectors can take up to 24 hours to “cure” — in other words, don’t promise the product will work immediately after it is applied. The desired chemical reaction isn’t immediately evident.

Protectors help block both water and oil-type spotting substances. But some types of spills can penetrate despite the type of protector used, especially if the spill is hot, such as a fresh cup of coffee. Heat creates lower surface energy and can penetrate surfaces easier, which is why using hot water in cleaning is considered by most to be more effective.

Application points

Here are some simple steps to consider when using these products:

1. Follow directions
2. Make sure the surface you are protecting is as clean as possible
3. As you apply the product, work it into the fiber with a brush or groom
4. Speed dry when possible
5. Keep traffic to a minimum for at least 24 hours after application.

CTI Pro’s Choice: Upholstery Guard

With the Pro’s Choice product line from CTI, you have two different ways to protect upholstery. Upholstery Guard WS is the most advanced technology in upholstery care. Use it on water-safe upholstery to shield textiles from spills and stains. Use it to stabilize dyes, brighten colors and prevent browning. Use Upholstery Guard SS to protect all new or freshly cleaned textiles. Upholstery Guard SS is not just a surface treatment, it also encases and penetrates fibers and provides long last protection against spills and stains.

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Bridgepoint Systems: Maxim Advanced

Bridgepoint’s Maxim Advanced fabric protector provides the latest and most advanced technology in fluorochemical and polymer protection and soil resistance designed specifically for upholstered fabrics and the soils and spills most common to them. Maxim Advanced uses exclusive and proprietary flexible polymers and fluorochemicals. Unlike conventional carpet fluorochemicals, whose surface tension breaks down when someone sits on upholstery, the polymers stretch with the fabric, maintaining the highest level of protection.

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Prochem: Fourguard

The new Prochem FOURGUARD carpet protector provides superior carpet protection. Prochem FOURGUARD protects against the four main contaminants; soil, stains, spills and oil, preventing them from becoming embedded, making carpets easier to clean and last longer. Increase your revenue with the help of FOURGUARD and Prochem.

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Steam Way International: pH-iber Guard Protectant

Steam Way's pH-iber Guard Carpet and Upholstery Protectant is Environmental Protection Agency-(EPA) friendly and performs as good as the best protectants on the market. It has been reformulated to a concentrated mix of 1:4. Each gallon will now cover 2,000 square feet. This new concentrated formulation will save you money in shipping costs and save the land fills with extra bottles. And get this… the cost is only $58 per gallon. I’m that confident that Steam Way’s pH-iber Guard Protectant will make you the hero to your banker, your client and your recycler.

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