Application of Carpet Protectant

[4RealMustang]

Everyone,

I have been a lurker on this site for a while and have recently gotten into the cleaning business. I have been doing a lot of research on carpet cleaning and all of the aspects which go with it. One thing I just cannot really get good information on is carpet protectant. What is the process of that once you are done with the carpet? Do you simply spray and walk away? work it in with a special brush or something? I just want to make sure if we are upselling this, we are doing it right for the customer. any videos/resources you may have will be thoroughly welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any/all help!

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Everyone,

I have been a lurker on this site for a while and have recently gotten into the cleaning business. I have been doing a lot of research on carpet cleaning and all of the aspects which go with it. One thing I just cannot really get good information on is carpet protectant. What is the process of that once you are done with the carpet? Do you simply spray and walk away? work it in with a special brush or something? I just want to make sure if we are upselling this, we are doing it right for the customer. any videos/resources you may have will be thoroughly welcomed.

Thanks in advance for any/all help!

A few thoughts:

1. Be sure not to oversell what the product can do. Protector lessens resoil rates - if the carpet is vacuumed regularly. Protector should resist oily and water based spills-but does not make them stain proof.

2. Apply your protector in a sprayer that is only used to apply that product. Cross contamination with detergent or deodorizing treatments can significantly diminish the performance of the protector on the carpet or upholstery fabric.

3. Protector works best when there is as little residue left in the carpet or upholstery as possible.

4. Protector works best when worked into the pile of the carpet. A CLEAN carpet rake or brush will do the trick. On coarsely woven or fabrics that have a pile, use a clean brush to work the protector into upholstery fabric. Solvent based protectors don't need to have this step done.

5. Protector doesn't come out each time you clean, but does wear off in traffic areas over time.

If you have the time, you should test the protector you want to use yourself. Doing so will improve your confidence in the product's performance.

 

[Mikey P]

I've gotten to the point in my illustrious rug sucking career where I feel we can never apply enough without drenching the carpet with either water solvent to actually make a difference, or leave a stiff crunchy carpet

 

[Numero Uno]

Also have an understanding of what fibers it excells on
An those it does not.

 

[Hack Attack]

I'd talk more out of carpet protector than into it

 

[Trip Moses]

Same

 

[4RealMustang]

I'd talk more out of carpet protector than into it

Why is that? I am genuinely curious as I have heard this, but no real justification. crunchy carpet?

 

[4RealMustang]

A few thoughts:

1. Be sure not to oversell what the product can do. Protector lessens resoil rates - if the carpet is vacuumed regularly. Protector should resist oily and water based spills-but does not make them stain proof.

2. Apply your protector in a sprayer that is only used to apply that product. Cross contamination with detergent or deodorizing treatments can significantly diminish the performance of the protector on the carpet or upholstery fabric.

3. Protector works best when there is as little residue left in the carpet or upholstery as possible.

4. Protector works best when worked into the pile of the carpet. A CLEAN carpet rake or brush will do the trick. On coarsely woven or fabrics that have a pile, use a clean brush to work the protector into upholstery fabric. Solvent based protectors don't need to have this step done.

5. Protector doesn't come out each time you clean, but does wear off in traffic areas over time.

If you have the time, you should test the protector you want to use yourself. Doing so will improve your confidence in the product's performance.

Thank you very much for the response!

 

[Tom Forsythe]

You can get crunchy carpet from both too much encapsulant and protector. Typically a good vacuuming will remove it. I only remember one call over twenty years as a result of crunchy carpet. It happened in a room that was almost never used, but cleaned and protected on a regular basis.

 

[The Great Oz]

I'd talk more out of carpet protector than into it

Why is that? I am genuinely curious as I have heard this, but no real justification. crunchy carpet?

Given real-world experience of the value of protected vs. non-protected textiles, I too would like to hear some fact-based reasons for talking people out of them.

Something better than, "It leaves the carpet at night to club baby seals."

 

[Dolly Llama]

crunchy carpet?

Do you have nylon cut pile in your home?
If so, clean it, apply protectant according to manufacture's recommendations.

I'd also suggest you leave a control area unprotected to evaluate effectiveness in the months following application of

You won't have to take my, or anyone else "word for it"
You'll also have to do the same on different carpet types in different environments as well to get a more complete picture .

Regular quarterly and bi-annual accounts are a perfect place for that.


..L.T.A.

 

[Johnny]

I carry a gallon or two and a dedicated sprayer on the truck, but I never try to sell it because I'm lazy and don't like to unpack the respirator necessary so I don't taste solvent protector for the following twelve hours. But I know it works. I recently spilled a full cup of hot black coffee on the wool rug under my recliner. I last washed and applied Cobb's solvent protector about four years ago. Spill came right up with my little wet-dry shop vac. No stain.

 

[Trip Moses]

Most of the time when I talk people out of protector it is because they are dirty people who are not gonna take any effort to keep the carpet maintained. And they think the protector is going to keep it clean.

 

[Hack Attack]

"It's so expensive to get carpet cleaned, can you put a protector on so I don't have to get it cleaned so often?"

well maintained places I won't generally try and talk out of applying

 

[Scott S.]

I like maxim protector the best, have it on everything at my house. Even lets me get all the coffee out that my wife spills on the couch. Haha.

 

[D Luke]

I offer Protector to those that request it, but I'd rather not deal with it.

To do it "right" I:

-Buy and maintain a dedicated $600 electric sprayer with the proper pressure and jet.
-Mix up the product fresh for every application.
-Apply at the proper dilution and rate.
-Thoroughly work the protector in with a grooming brush.

When done properly and to spec I don't find protector application to be nearly as quick nor as lucrative as the industry supply houses would have us believe. It also noticeably extends dry times when applied at the indicated rate.

I'm sure it's quick and easy money for the guys that charge $20 a room and mist an ounce or two down with a bug sprayer, but at least I can sleep at night.

 

[The Great Oz]

-Buy and maintain a dedicated $600 electric sprayer with the proper pressure and jet.
-Mix up the product fresh for every application.
-Apply at the proper dilution and rate.
-Thoroughly work the protector in with a grooming brush.

Except for the need to spend $600 on a sprayer, I'm with you. And you're right, it isn't as lucrative to apply it correctly than take shortcuts. Nothing is.

Although people with well maintained homes are more likely to buy protectant, the poorly maintained homes needs it more. If the owner won't pay for protectant in a difficult to clean property, we apply it and don't tell them. Our cleaning "lasts" a noticeably longer time, and it makes life easier for the next tech that has to clean that carpet.

If you have a contract to clean restaurants or other heavily soiled areas, try an application. Hellholes become cake.

 

[Cleanworks]

Except for the need to spend $600 on a sprayer, I'm with you. And you're right, it isn't as lucrative to apply it correctly than take shortcuts. Nothing is.

Although people with well maintained homes are more likely to buy protectant, the poorly maintained homes needs it more. If the owner won't pay for protectant in a difficult to clean property, we apply it and don't tell them. Our cleaning "lasts" a noticeably longer time, and it makes life easier for the next tech that has to clean that carpet.

If you have a contract to clean restaurants or other heavily soiled areas, try an application. Hellholes become cake.

I apply more protectant on commercial carpets than residential. Build it into my price. Makes cleaning next time a lot easier.

 

[hogjowl]

Uh huh

 

[Mikey P]

If you have a contract to clean restaurants or other heavily soiled areas, try an application. Hellholes become cake.

I've done that a few times and I always forget to check those areas..


Not like they stood out or anything

 

[icleancarpetz]

apply just like you apply prespray with a pump up. No big deal. No degree or iicrc credentials needed

in some cases for the cheap bastids that give you a hard time, use a trigger spray bottle. Spray spray here and there.
‘Yes Mr / Mrs Chisler, protector was applied‘
(that will fix em...don’t mess with me)

 

[Johnny]

I offer Protector to those that request it, but I'd rather not deal with it.

To do it "right" I:

-Buy and maintain a dedicated $600 electric sprayer with the proper pressure and jet.
-Mix up the product fresh for every application.
-Apply at the proper dilution and rate.
-Thoroughly work the protector in with a grooming brush.

When done properly and to spec I don't find protector application to be nearly as quick nor as lucrative as the industry supply houses would have us believe. It also noticeably extends dry times when applied at the indicated rate.

I'm sure it's quick and easy money for the guys that charge $20 a room and mist an ounce or two down with a bug sprayer, but at least I can sleep at night.

Have you tried solvent protector?

No mixing. Actually accelerates drying because solvent evaporates faster. No need to brush in, I'm told.

You can also spray bug juice from a $600 electric sprayer. I have two battery Multi Sprayers. A good dedicated pump up sprayer works well for protector.

 

[Cleanworks]

Have you tried solvent protector?

No mixing. Actually accelerates drying because solvent evaporates faster. No need to brush in, I'm told.

You can also spray bug juice from a $600 electric sprayer. I have two battery Multi Sprayers. A good dedicated pump up sprayer works well for protector.

Solvent protectors is very expensive and very toxic.

 

[hogjowl]

So is everything else.
What’s your next moronic point?

 

[Cleanworks]

So is everything else.
What’s your next moronic point?

I guess it sucks to be old and crippled.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Solvent protectors is very expensive and very toxic.

That reminds me to start a thread. Stay tuned

 

[Hack Attack]

Solvent protectors is very expensive and very toxic.

my last protector application (last week) which she specifically requested, complained about the smell on my follow up courtesy call.. sigh