30 Nov Heacock’s Corner: Applying Protectors “Conscientiously” (The Myth Of Acid-Dye Blockers)
I have in my briefcase (and in my spotting kit), 2 small bottles. One bottle has plain water in it, while the other has sewing machine oil in it. A drop of each, placed on the carpet, tells me whether the carpet is oil or water repellant. Placing these drops in several areas tells me:
#1) Whether the carpet’s repellency is total, and therefore, does not need a treatment (as the fibers cannot be more than 100% repellant, already). If this is the case, a treatment will not be of any real benefit.
#2) If they slowly soak in, a partial re-treatment will be needed in the traffic areas.
#3) If the drops go straight in, a total re treatment will be needed everywhere.
Most cleaners, if they believe in their “protector” products, will always apply them, whether the carpet or furniture needs it or not. In my opinion, by selling the customer something that they do not really need, this is “ripping them off”.
If the cleaner does not believe in the use of protectors, and never applies one, he is also giving the customer less than total satisfaction, by not giving them exactly what their carpet needs.
Generally speaking, I find that protector is not needed on a “factory-treated” carpet or furniture item, the first 4 times they are cleaned. That is just an average, of coarse, but without testing, the technician can only guess. The problem with guessing is, you are right about half the time and wrong about half the time [ I am specifically referring to the repellency of oil and water, here ].
Here is something that may or may not surprise you.
There is no such thing as “stain or acid-dye blockers”. That is just a “marketing ploy” by one certain fiber manufacturer. Stain and acid-dye blocking is impossible, and cannot be done. How do I know that, you ask? Simple logic.
Let me ask you these questions:
“How does a person remove a red dye such as Kool-Aid? Wipe it up? No. Steam or shampoo it up? No. Plant wash it? No.”
The correct way, is to utilize a stripper, steam, and white towels.
If there was such a thing as acid-dye blockers, dye stains such as:
* mustard
* furniture stains
* coffee
* that Christmas tree felt skirt that bled onto the carpet
* soda pop, etc.
would all wipe right up, or simply wash out.
The “reality” is, these dye stains do not come right out of a so-called, “dye blocker treated carpet”. The last time I checked, 2 + 2 still = 4. You get the point. :o)
Gary Heacock
-The Interstellar Crossroads of The Universehttp://www.heacocks.com