What is Protective Treatment / Fabric Protection / Protectants?
All three terms mean exactly the same thing and are used
interchangeably. Protective treatment (or fabric protection) is a topically
applied non-toxic, hypo-allergenic repellency enhancer for natural and
synthetic fibers. It is important to note that protective treatments should not
be confused with water proofing. For more information, download the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Is it true that you can
simply 'wipe up' spills and they will disappear from treated textiles?
Sometimes. It is dependent on the tightness of the weave of the
fabric (pile count per square inch for carpet and rugs) AND the consistency and
volume of the spilled substance. This is the best case scenario when it does
happen but one should not expect to see this result every time a spill occurs.
Is it true that if a textile is protected, it will
not get dirty as quickly?
No. Carpet and upholstery will become
soiled just as quickly as it would have otherwise. Fabric protectants have
nothing to do with the rate that something becomes soiled. It will however,
make interim cleaning and routine maintenance more effective.
Does protective treatment have an odor?
Yes;
but only when initially applied and while drying. When dry the protective
treatment is odorless. All quality protectants have an odor distinctively
similar to that of a new car interior.
How long
does it take protective treatment to dry after it is applied?
We
always like to err on the side of caution and say safe drying expectation is a
minimum of 8 hours. Could it be more? Yes. In extremely rare cases, it may take
24 hours or longer to fully dry and cure. During the drying process, protected
items may appear to have uneven color or splotchy oily marks. These are common
and will disappear once the protection is dry. The use of fans (including
ceiling fans) may significantly decrease drying time.
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Is the protectant harmful?
No. In fact, once
the protectant is applied it is non-toxic and hypo-allergenic. The protectant
surpasses all State of California V.O.C. standards. For more information,
download the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
Will
protective treatment alter the feel, texture or color?
No. The
protectant used by Christopher's will not alter the color, nap or texture of
any natural or synthetic fiber.
Does the protectant
need to be reapplied?
It depends. Protectants wear off with time
and abrasion from regular use and should be reapplied annually if the owner
wants to keep a 100% level of protection on the areas of highest traffic or
use. However, each case is different, so when your one-year Textile Care
Service Plan is about to expire, a Christopher's representative will contact
you to help assess if reapplication is necessary.
Can I walk on freshly protected carpets?
Safe
drying time is a minimum of 8 hours. It is important to remain off of freshly
protected carpet to avoid tracking the protectant onto other floor surfaces.
While not common, the protectant can etch stone or wood surfaces if not
promptly cleaned. Additionally, walking on freshly treated carpet is a slip and
fall hazard and will degrade the quality of the job. Imagine washing your hair
and then not brushing or combing; however it dries is how it will look. When
carpets are cleaned, their fibers are pulled (mostly) into an upright position,
if it is allowed to dry like this the carpet will look better, longer. If
premature foot traffic is allowed, it will bend the fibers and thus reduce the
aesthetics of cleaning. It will still be clean, it just won't look as good as
it could.
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Can't I apply Scotchgard® myself?
Scotchgard® is the brand name of a water-based protectant.
Water-based protectants offer most of the protective properties as
solvent-based protectants but do not coat the entire fiber uniformly as with
solvents and they disintegrate with mild heat (ex. coffee). We regularly
witness the results of well-intentioned people who have over-applied a
off-the-shelf protectant and caused permanent damage to their own belongings.
Consider the cost of the protectant and compare it to the cost of your
furniture or carpet and think - Do you really want to gamble with the risk of
ruining your own treasured textiles to save a few dollars by applying this
yourself? Do you have the support of a textile care company backing you up
should a mishap occur? Moreover, water-based protectants are intended for
temporary use, not for long term care.
What is the
difference between you and FiberSeal®?
Simply stated,
Christopher's is a customer driven textile care service offering a high quality
mix of services from general cleaning of carpet and upholstery to spot cleaning
and protective treatment. Christopher's is not a franchised 'fabric protection
only' application service. If you ever need emergency advice regarding an
unfortunate spot, spill, smudge or smear you can reach Christopher's 24 hours,
7 days a week by calling our 800 number and a representative will call you back
promptly. After all, most accidents do not occur weekdays between 9-5 but
rather on evenings and weekends when most 'businesses' are closed.
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Why renew my
annual Textile Care Service Plan?
Like insurance, when you don't
think you need it any longer, you often discover (usually unpleasantly) that
you simply shouldn't go without it. Designed by our clients themselves, our
service plans are a wise investment if you truly treasure your textile
investments. Rest easy knowing that your textiles have a plan for when the
inevitable spill, pet accident, smudge or smear occurs. Need more reasons?
First, consider that the replacement cost of any one item that could have
otherwise been saved via up to date protective treatment and priority spot
cleaning service almost always outweighs the cost of applying the protection in
the first place. Add to the actual cost the following considerations: How long
would it take to replace any one item? Is the fabric still available? If yes,
will the dye lot match satisfactorily? If no, and the damaged item is a dining
chair, what is the cost to reupholster the set? Second, be aware that
protective treatment wears off over time and needs to be reapplied periodically
(especially for regular use, high value and unique textiles). We recommend
annual reapplication for most items. Finally, a sobering statistic: Over the
years it is estimated that we have saved (from permanent damage) millions of
dollars worth of textiles via our service plans.
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