"I paid extra money at the
furniture sales store to have my sofa protected with a fabric protector. I
can't tell if it's working or not because my sofa has gotten dirty and stained
anyway. Please explain this to me."
This is a very common question. The problem is a widespread
misunderstanding about how protectors work, and how exactly they help maintain your
furniture's appearance. Unfortunately, a misrepresentation, or an unclear explanation of
their benefit made by a salesperson to the consumer can make the consumer dissatisfied
when they don't see the "miraculous" results they have been led to expect.
Spills and dirt do not magically disappear on contact with the protected fabric- they
still have to be removed by someone. Sometimes the consumer will not have the ability or
equipment to do this themselves, and it may take a professional cleaner to remove it. The
simple fact is that a great many common fabrics, like cotton for example, without
protectors will permanently stain very easily, whereas with a protector, the odds of
removal by a professional increase vastly. A good quality protector is a very wise
investment and will extend the lifetime of your furniture and carpets by enabling them to
clean up better when it is done professionally. Liquid spills do bead up to some degree on
protected fabric, but they can soak into some naturally highly absorbent protected
fabrics, or on others if they are splashed forcefully, or if they are allowed to sit on
the fabric without blotting. Otherwise, since there is no texture or color change
associated with modern protectors, it is very difficult for the customer to detect the
level of protection they have sometimes. Again, this doesn't mean the protector isn't
working- you may still need a professional, but the chances of successful removal are
much, much higher on protected fabric as opposed to unprotected. There have been many
occasions over the years when I have been able to guarantee that no one would be able get
a certain stain out of a certain unprotected fabric. Yet the same stain on the same fabric
that is protected may just come right out, or at least improve enough to live with.
Protect your fabrics. It really works.
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