The Value of Soil Retarding Treatments (such as Scotchgard)

Soil retardants help to protect your carpet in two ways: One, it causes spills to bead up on the carpet surface, rather than letting them sink in immediately. This allows you more time to respond to a spill before a stain sets in. Two, dry soils do not adhere to the fibers as easily, making the carpet much easier to clean, especially at six to twelve month intervals.

Of course this doesn't mean that soils can't adhere to the carpet, but it does mean it will slow down the process. Like anything else, its not a miracle cure-all, rather it is a measure of protection for your carpet.

Typically, a soil retardant is applied as a coating to the fibers. And just like the fibers themselves, it is subject to wear and tear from soils, shoes and the like. So to better understand the challenges and benefits lets examine the soiling process:

Oil-based soils are the most likely to adhere to a carpet fiber first. These can be airborne, such as from cooking vapors and vehicle exhaust. Others might be tracked in on your shoes from the parking lot or pavement outside.

Over time, these small amounts add up to one big headache in the form of a dirty, stained carpet, as the oily soils build up. This is especially noticeable in your traffic lanes and pivot areas, like corners in hallways or next to your bed or in front of your sofas or chairs. Of course, the more people or traffic you have, the faster these soils will work their way into your fibers.

Even worse, these oily soils have a tacky consistency which allow them to trap and hold other soil types--especially dust which contains a wide range of contaminants (organic, inorganic and biological) as well as abrasive grits. This combination of soils is what causes those unsightly traffic patterns, which is permanent damage to your fibers, caused by the abrading action of the grits on the fibers thanks to the weight and movement of your feet across the surface. This is why regular cleanings are highly recommended, even for new carpets, and why soil retardants are offered with each cleaning. Getting and staying on a regular maintenance program will greatly reduce the amount of soils in your carpet, which reduces the wear and tear and consequently extends the life of the carpet, saving you money.

So get the sandpaper out of your carpet! save yourself the time, hassle and cost of traffic patterns and replacing carpets. Find a cleaner who will provide quality cleaning on a regular schedule and who will offer you quality protectants for your valuable investment.