However, many people have no idea how many upscale interior decorators, homeowners, hotels and businesses have all their soft textile furnishings regularly treated with special products to protect their valuable furnishings. When someone spends thousands of dollars on a fine silk sofa or snow white carpet, they don't want to replace it any sooner than necessary. Professional fabric protection companies specialize in analyzing the content of materials to determine the best formulas of protection, then offer both maintenance and emergency services to help their clients protect their investments.

Most common name brands provide a temporary surface (topical) coating, which have their uses. However, many professional fabric protection products provide more protection against soil and tough stains by deeply penetrating the molecule of the fiber without changing the color or texture of the fabric or carpet.

Although no product will prevent soiling, they can protect fabrics and carpets against permanent stains, including grease, wine, water and even pet stains. This enables furnishings to be cleaned more easily-spills usually bead up to be wiped up and stains do not set. Fabric protection products can even reduce static electricity in carpets. Also, these special professional products help increase the durability and life of all fabrics by preventing friction-causing dirt from penetrating the molecule of the fibers and accelerate wear. All soft furnishings and carpets look better and last longer, reducing replacement costs. Soils vacuum more readily, so furnishings and carpets can be cleaned more quickly and effectively.

Fabric protection services usually offer maintenance plans with regular follow-up care. A custom program can be scheduled for the consumer's convenience, monitored throughout the year, and adjusted as needed to meet the specific needs of their home or business to assure that their furnishings will always look the way they should.

Here's how they work:

• First, a representative analyzes your fabrics and your household use patterns, recommends the appropriate products, and presents a customized, written proposal.
• Second, certified technicians clean surfaces as needed and apply the appropriate protective treatments at a time that is convenient for the consumer.
• Third, they provide special products along with instructions so clients can solve most problems quickly and easily.
• Finally, if something spills just before or after a special occasion, most companies offer an emergency service, too.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com