Is fabric protector really worth the cost and does it work? When discussing fabric and carpet protector, those two questions are, by far, the most commonly asked questions. The simple answer is “yes”. Relying on the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, the pictures below illustrate the importance of fabric protector on fine furnishings by using untreated fabric as an example.

Pictured is a seat cushion from a sofa with the cover comprised of 100% wool fabric. The stain is red wine that was spilled on the cushion, as well as an arm cover. (Obviously a direct hit!) The cushion and arm cover were brought to my shop so I could work to remove the stain safely and control, to the greatest extent possible, any adverse reactions to the stain removal agents. As seen in the second picture, the stain was removed and the cushion returned to a very satisfied client. While the wine stain was removed, I was less than pleased with the results.

Looking closely at the cushion, there are areas of color loss on the fabric, some browning, and areas where the fabric looks worn as the result of having to use aggressive agents to remove the stain. Unfortunately, this expensive custom sofa did not have a protective treatment applied when it was purchased. Had a quality protector been applied, in addition to removing the wine stain, it is more than likely the issues created with the stain removal process could have been avoided, leaving the fabric unchanged and looking as if nothing happened.

There are a number of benefits gained from applying a quality protective treatment to fine furnishings, rugs, and carpet. And while no protector exists that provides an impenetrable barrier, the cost of applying protector is exponentially less than the replacement cost of that to which it is applied.