We spend a lot of money on our home furnishings, so it makes sense to make sure they stay looking new and clean as long as possible. If you are still on the fence, consider these three reasons to choose fabric protection for your upholstery, rugs and carpet.
Trust Fabric Protection for Peace of Mind
In this age of “performance fabrics,” it is not always clear to buyers how stain-proof that new sofa actually is. Even the rug market can be hard to navigate. Wool rugs may be timeless and luxurious – think Oriental and Turkish varieties – but they are still vulnerable to stains and fiber damage. And don’t get us started on carpet. At the end of the day, you have to be able to live in your living room – and all the rooms of your home. Choosing fabric protection can be the key to worry-free livability. But there are a lot of misunderstandings about protection products.
It is common for buyers to ask how fabric protection works. Protection should shield against oil and water-based stains. It should encapsulate fibers rather than remaining on the surface. Fabric Protection should make professional upholstery cleanings much more successful. It should even make soil lift easily from carpet fibers. A quality protectant will have a good track record with multiple categories of fiber and finish. From sisal to velvet to wool, protection is meant to delay staining from spots and spills. Ultimately, that buys the homeowner the time to blot up liquids or gently remove solids.
With effective protection, even the scary stainers – coffee and wine, for example – can be lifted from your sectional or imported rug. All that you should need is a quick response and a white cloth or paper towel. If you entertain family and friends, or have a busy household with children and pets, or if you enjoy a glass of cabernet every once in a while, it is a relief to know that a spill does not need to ruin your week, or your sectional. Fabric protection is an investment, just like your new or newly cleaned furnishing is. When you choose fabric protection, you choose peace of mind.
Allow Fabric Protection to Insure Long-term Value
When you buy a sofa, sectional or area rug, you are looking for those items to last. Most buyers expect the warranty on their furniture to cover anything that happens to that purchase. Did you know that the standard warranty for upholstery does not cover performance of the fabric? Nope, the warranty only protects structural elements that break unexpectedly, or malfunctioning internal components like cushion foam that flattens prematurely. But those product degradations are far less common than the everyday spot or stain.
If you have a sofa upholstered in a performance fabric, make sure to research that fabric. With some performance fabrics, manufacturers may mix a protective agent into the fibers during manufacturing. This makes for effective, long-term stain resistance. However, some “performance” fabrics are merely regular fabrics that manufacturers overspray with a protective agent. A few deep cleanings will wear away that sort of protective coating. So applied fabric protection is rarely a one-time service. Over time, the best cleaning results will be achieved if that type of protection is kept up to date.
To get the most out of your purchases, you want to know that the everyday spots and spills don’t have to turn into long-term stains. You also want to extend the life of your furnishings and delay their replacement. When you choose fabric protection, you make it easier for the professionals to get great cleaning results. Your purchases will look new longer, thanks to periodic cleanings and the effectiveness of that protective layer.
Many protection products last for between 1-3 years. If you can make a 7-year sofa last 10 years, you are delaying a new purchase and you are enjoying the true value of your original investment. The frame, springs and cushion filling of that item should perform as promised. By getting the fabric protected too, you can enjoy long-term use and savings.
Use Fabric Protection for a Healthier Home – and a Healthier Planet
If you are going to protect your furnishings, you want to understand the difference between protection products. You may already know this but not all fabric protectors are created equal. Some protectants are made from silicone-based chemicals which can yellow over time. That’s a risky choice for homeowners who choose light or white upholstery and flooring. Other stain treatments are fluorochemicals that can hurt the environment and compromise the health of your home. Another discrepancy is the difference between a surface-spray and a nano-tech application where the protectant encapsulates the fibers of the furnishing and provides more than a superficial seal.
It pays to do a little research. And take it with a grain of salt when protectants say they are chemical-free. Even basic detergent has a chemical profile. Water-based protectants are available on the market and these can be as effective as solvent-based products, though they may slow the drying time of the items protected. Read online profiles and consider the information shared on a product’s website. Always thoroughly vet any treatment used in your home. Let your service company explain the reasons they stand behind their choice of protection product – and ask what you can expect in terms of longevity and follow up.
Look for a fabric protector that keeps allergens and bacteria from embedding in carpet, rugs and upholstery. This is a real advantage if you have a family member with allergies or illness. Make sure that the ingredient list says that the product is PFOA, PFOS and Fluorocarbon-free. Keeping these substances out of the home and the larger environment is important. And speaking of the environment, remember that the longer the lifetime of your furnishings, the fewer of them will end up in the landfiill. In fact, a protected and professionally cleaned sofa makes a great hand-me-down for kids going off to college or moving into their first home or apartment. When you choose fabric protection, you choose safety and sustainability.
Are You Ready to Choose Fabric Protection?
Our home is where life happens. It is also where accidents happen. Puppy puddles, leaky sippy cups, mustard on game day hot dogs, Saturday coffee snuggles and red wine anniversary toasts – every one has the potential to cause long-term damage to your favorite furnishings. Protection insures better cleaning outcomes. It helps vacuums get more soil and contaminants out of carpet and rugs, more spots and spills out of our upholstery. It allows us to keep our cool when that oops happens.
Wall-to-wall carpet, designer rugs and large upholstery pieces are among the most expensive additions to a household. Getting more years out of these items gives you more bang for your buck. A good fabric protection will keep your furnishings looking new longer. It will reduce wear and tear on even the most-loved furnishings. The expense of a protection application every few years will more than offset the cost of replacing an item that suffers a one-time staining event or that is subject to everyday use and abuse. If you want to prolong the life of your home’s furnishings, investing in fabric protection is a no-brainer.
Remember, any home – any place exposed to people – is a dirt and germ magnet. When you use a quality protection, one with no PFC’s, you can make your home a safer place to live. Protecting furniture discourages bacterial growth and the spread of allergens. Having rugs and carpets protected helps to offset the contaminants that walk through the door on the soles of our shoes. And maintaining your home’s furnishings with regular cleaning (and periodic re-application of fabric protection) will slow down wear and tear and will keep those furnishings out of the landfill longer.
The Take-Away…
Invest in your investments. Choose fabric protection. How? Find a local company that applies a well-vetted fabric protection product. Have them price out the job, then compare that pricing to the cost of replacing the furnishing altogether. Given all the advantages of fabric protection, it may be an easier decision than you expect. If you think that fabric protection is a match to your lifestyle, consider these pointers to prepare for your protection appointment.