Scotchgarding carpets – what does that mean?

Here are some answers to those questions and more (some from Scotcgard’s own website). If you have a question that isn’t listed here, please feel free to send it in to Danny and he’ll get back to you with the answers as soon as he can.

1) What does Scotchgard™ actually do for carpets?

The triple-action approach repels spills, resists soiling, and blocks stains by forcing liquids up to the surface where they bead up for easy clean-up.

2) How long does Scotchgard™ work on carpets?

In our experience, and from what we know from Scotchgard™ themselves, Scotchgard™ is effective on carpets in areas of ‘average wear’ for around 6 months to a year– especially if shoes are not worn. For carpets with heavier wear or traffic, or having children and pets around, that timescale will of course be less. We recommend regular cleaning and protecting of your carpets to prolong life – how long between cleans depends on how much wear and use it’s had.

3) Is Scotchgard™ only for treating spills and stains, or should you cover the whole carpet?

Both. Regular use of Scotchgard™ will keep your carpet looking fresh and new for longer. We recommend applying Scotchgard™ after ever clean. This is because after a professional deep clean the “scotchgard” will be gone, and a reapplication of a fabric protection would be needed.

4) Does Scotchgard™ protect carpets from bleaching from the sun?

Scotchgard™ does have a ‘water and sun’ shield product, which is suitable for furniture and outdoor gear, but they do not recommended for indoor use. There are some protectors like fluorocarbons on the market that offer short-term protection from the sun but are expensive and need to be applied frequently. There are also lots of reasons why a carpet might fade, so talk to a professional about any change in colour of your carpets and what might be able to be done about it. We don’t use any of the products we use on anything outside. Sun bleaching is permanent and we don’t use any of the products we use on anything outside.

5) How long does Scotchgard™ take to dry?

Typically in average room temperatures it takes an hour to dry, but longer if it’s cold or particularly humid. We leave the windows open, close the doors to the room and advise customers not to enter until dry, Please note, it takes 48 hours for it to bond and protect the carpet so be careful not to spill anything. For best results, we would also recommend scotchgarding carpets straight after cleaning

7) Why would I get a carpet cleaner to Scotchgard™ my carpet if they were already treated when I brought them?

Carpet protectors like Scotchgard™ aren’t effective for ever. If your carpet’s been around for a year or so, then it probably needs cleaning and reapplication of a protector like Scotchgard™ after it’s cleaned will extend the period between the next clean.

8) Should I use Scotchgard™ on wool carpets?

Scotchgard™ say their rug and carpet protector can be used on acrylic, nylon, polyester, polyolefin, polypropylene, and coloured wool carpets and rugs. It is not recommended on Oriental rugs or white wool.

Putting a protector on cheap carpet like polyprop will not always work due to lake of material that it needs adhere to, it will just sit like a film on top.

9) How much does Scotchgarding cost?

Depending on the product required and the size of the carpet, costs will vary. Expect to pay between £2-£4 per square meter for professional scotchgarding.

So there you have it – the most common questions we get. We hope they go some way to helping you with your carpet protection queries.