Today, most mill-made carpets come pre-treated with anti-static treatment. This can also be provided using many off-the-shelf products, but beware! These may leave a sticky residue that can attract soil! An old-fashioned but very effective treatment for static is a good humidifier.

Deodorants may use perfumes, disinfectants, enzymes and/or antimicrobials etc. Localized contamination can often be treated with cleaning or spot removal but for extensive contamination, the carpet may have to be removed and inspected from the back; in some cases, the pad may have to changed and the carpet reinstalled. Your carpet cleaner may not be equipped to handle this. At times, the carpet may not even be worth salvaging.

Anti-microbial treatment should be applied as preventive measure after the cleaning operation, which would remove most odor-causing microbes. These treatments promote a healthy, clean indoor environment by controlling bacteria, yeast, mildew and other microbes which are behind most biological odors.

For non-microbial odors such as smoke or gasoline, deodorants usually work by masking the smell.

Carpet protectors are basically of two type:

• Soil retardents: which prevent soil from building up in the pile.
• Stain repellants: which provide protection from liquid spills.

Some products available in this category provide both the services together.

Most new mill-made carpets come pre-treated with carpet protectors but you might have to reapplythe protector after 2-4 yrs of usage in high traffic areas and every couple of yrs thereafter.

Generally, fluorochemical-based protectors are held to be more effective than silicone-based protectors. Silicone-based protectors may actually leave a residue that attracts soil. Fluorochemicals have the added advantage of being able to withstand many Hot Water Extractions without requiring reapplication. But they are removed by solvents and have to be reapplied everytime the carpet is treated with solvents.

TIP: Some "truck-mounted" units are merely portable units bolted onto the truck. Remember, the most effective machine would be powered by the truck's engine and not your residential electric supply.