protectME blog

We get asked a lot of questions about ingredients in our eco friendly fabric protector spray, and rightly so. Traditional fabric protector sprays contain highly toxic chemicals that have been proven to have a negative impact on our health and on the environment. They are not safe for your family or your pets, this is why opting for a non toxic fabric protector spray is a safer option. But how do they achieve fabric protection without the nasty side effects, you may wonder. Here is the low down on ingredients, what is in the spray and (more importantly) what is NOT in the product. Feel free to read our Ingredients page for more detailed info!

  Did you know? The average household contains 62 toxic chemicals (source). They usually come in an innocent looking bottle, you can buy it at the supermarket and it sits in your cupboard at home. At first glance, these products don’t appear to be hurting anyone. However, it’s what’s on the inside that matters most. Household fabric protector sprays and cleaning products are the silent sinners, wreaking havoc on our health and the environment. For years, mainstream fabric protectors were praised for their remarkable ability to repel anything from water to wine, dirt and oil. We’ve since discovered that the adverse effects of these toxic stain guards significantly outweighs their value when they contain fluorocarbons, which are believed to be carcinogenic. So much so, that one of them had to be banned a few years ago, when traces of the toxic chemical it contained were found in blood samples of the general population. Protecting fabrics using highly toxic products is coming at a significant cost to our health and the environment. Knowing what’s actually inside the bottle and what each ingredient does to our health is the first step in banishing the bad guys once and for all, and in finding eco friendly alternatives.   The main culprits Until now, the hazardous and toxic chemicals in fabric protector sprays may have simply been words on the back of a bottle that you probably glanced over. Most of us are unable to pronounce these words, let alone comprehend their effects on our livelihood. Keep your eyes peeled for these chemicals: Hydrotreated heavy naphtha Propane, Butane, Isobutane or Ethylbenzen Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane Flammable Aerosole These chemicals, known as PFAS, PFOS or PFC, are manufactured compounds that do not break down. This applies to the environment, and also to our bodies. Exposure to these harmful toxins can lead to their accumulation in our bodies, raising the likelihood of long term health concerns. In tests, 3M gave very high dosages to monkeys, who had convulsions, and to rats, whose offspring died. The main culprits that contain these toxic ingredients are fabric protectors and water repellent sprays, but also cleaning products, paints, varnishes, non-stick cookware and (even more shockingly) personal care products. Other toxic additives include fragrances and carcinogens, which can be problematic for allergy or asthma sufferers.   What they’re doing to you Studies* undertaken on humans with PFA exposure have shown that the compounds could induce the following: Growth, learning or behavioural defects in children Reduced fertility Hormonal imbalances Increased cholesterol levels A weakened immune system Increased risk of cancer Disruption to liver, thyroid & pancreas function Scientists are continuing to study the effects of PFAs on human health, and it’s likely the results will be daunting. *Sources: NSW Government, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, USA Environmental Protection Agency, MLive.com.   Make the change to non toxic products It’s time to detox your home and put your family’s health first! The good news is non-toxic household products exist. Choose water-based fabric protectors and natural all-purpose cleaners that won’t pose a long term risk to you and your family’s health. Contrary to popular belief, eco friendly stain guards are actually more effective and durable than mainstream products containing unnecessary, harmful ingredients. Start making smart choices that will have a positive effect on your future! View our range of non-toxic fabric protectors and start protecting your family, as well as your fabrics.

You've embraced meat-free Monday, you remember to pack your reusable shopping bags, and now you’re looking to take that next step in sustainable living. Switching to vegan and cruelty-free household products is a great way to support ethical brands and eliminate toxic chemicals and other nasties from your home.   Conscious protection: vegan AND cruelty-free What are vegan and cruelty-free products? Vegan products do not contain any animal ingredients or animal-derived ingredients Cruelty-free products are created without any form of animal testing Beware, vegan products aren’t necessarily cruelty-free and cruelty-free products aren’t necessarily vegan!    Ingredients to rethink Making ethical choices about your fabric protector can be difficult. Just like harmful chemicals, animal products are often listed under long, hard to pronounce names. We’re often left with no clue as to what's actually in the bottle.Here are a few you’ll need to keep your eye out for: Lanolin – A waxy substance from sheep wool Bees wax – A wax made by bees Oleyl Alcohol – An unsaturated fatty oil from fish Caprylic Acid – A fatty acid from milk Tallow – Rendered beef fat Unfortunately all of these and many other animal products are common ingredients in mainstream fabric protectors.To help protect and prolong the life of your upholstery, clothing and car interiors the clean way, look instead for protectors that contain no animal products or toxic ingredients. protectME is a vegan and cruelty free stain guard (not to mention eco friendly) that you can feel good about. With no animal products, no animal testing and fully recyclable packaging; you and your family, fur babies included, can enjoy the benefits of a fresh and stain free home, without the ethical concerns. Read our Ingredients and About us pages to find out more about our ethical commitment.   Love for our animal friends A sterile, indoor laboratory is no place for an animal. Animals are subject to harmful and often fatal experiments, and it’s no surprise more and more people are making the change to support more sustainable brands that have a conscience. Even if you don’t personally follow a vegan or a plant based diet, choosing ethical and local brands is a no brainer.There are lots of options available when it comes to stain proofing your life, and it can be hard to navigate the labels while you try to make an ethical choice.With protectME, you can protect with confidence. Our vegan fabric protector is a cruelty free alternative that hasn’t sacrificed quality. The absence of chemicals and animal products doesn’t mean your home is any less protected.Our water based, vegan stain guard is proven to perform better than traditional fabric sprays in every way: it is more durable, and won’t poison you or our Mother Earth.Protect your items from day to day wear and little accidents rather than paying for expensive professional cleaning or replacing them every time they get a stain. If you’re on a journey to reduce your waste, you’ll also appreciate that this leads to less household wastage, a greener, more sustainable lifestyle, plus more money in your pocket.Protect your home with our vegan stain guard and feel confident about reducing your impact on the environment! For more inspiration on how to live a non-toxic life with your family, check out our other articles and follow us on social media.

Cardiovascular health hazards may cause dizziness, drowsiness and damage to organs. Sounds like a warning for a deadly chemical used in factories right? But what if we told you these were the warnings on the back of Scotchgard, a popular fabric protection spray that's all too often used by the unaware. Read on to learn more about the potential health risks of Scotchgard and a safe alternative that actually performs better.   Clear the room: it's time to Scotchgard An outside excursion is always fun but evacuating your home because its a health hazard is less than ideal. Negative attention surrounding some key ingredients of Scotchgard forced the producers of Scotchgard 3M to change the makeup of Scotchgard (Read about it here). This new and improved formula claims to be safe but the warnings remain the same. Keep pets and children away and apply in a well-ventilated room. Is Scotchgard safe for babies if you need a mask to apply it?  The fear of fainting due to breathing around the product, combined with the risk of skin irritation has got us wondering if this ‘safe’ product is really worth it? We think it’s clear that an eco-friendly, safe alternative to Scotchgard is the way ahead when it comes to stain-proofing your life.    Setting a better example: A safe alternative to Scotchgard  With all the different symbols and fine print, it can be frustrating trying to ensure you purchase the safest product. We’ve made our protectME eco-friendly fabric spray a fine example of what to look out for when it comes to protecting your upholstery and home. protectME contains pure silicon dioxide, a natural substance. Using new advancements in nanotechnology, we are able to create a thin, breathable protector for all your fabrics. No need to evacuate the area after application, protectME is odourless! Stop risking your health and choose products that are breathable, water based and vegan friendly with no animal products or testing. Bonus points for a fully recyclable packaging. Compare the ingredient breakdown between protectME and other popular fabric sprays here and see for yourself that the non-toxic choice is the clear winner.It's important to understand both the benefits and hazards of all the products you are bringing into your home. With protectME you can be confident you have made the safest choice, so you can enjoy more and worry less! Browse our full range of eco-friendly, child safe products here and feel confident you are protecting not only your fabrics, but your home as well.

There is no doubt that in today's society the easiest way is the preferred way of doing things. Having your home furnishings pre-protected with Scotchgard before they are installed in your home is easy and convenient, but is having no control over the chemical treatment of your new upholstery worth it?  Read this before you decide, plus find out about a safe alternative to Scotchgard.    Are pre-protected Scotchgard furnishings safe?  First up let's have a quick chat about Scotchgard. After a lot of negative media attention surrounding their original Scotchgard formula containing harmful PFOS, the producers of Scotchgard 3M were forced to make changes to their product. The damaging PFOS were replaced with perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS). While 3M claim this new makeup is safe, the fact that PFBS can still enter the bloodstream creates a bit of uncertainty, especially with those trying to maintain a more natural, sustainable lifestyle. Got some big questions surrounding the safety of Scotchgard? Read more here. When it comes to their built-in protection range, Scotchgard and their partners offer the service of pre-protecting your furnishing with Scotchgard before it arrives into your home. Products available for this service include hardwood floorings, carpets, rugs, leather goods and home roofing. There is no doubt that this service is handy, but what’s got us hesitating is the great unknown. Exactly what treatment, and how much are they spraying? The uncertainty still surrounding the safety of their product and having no control over the quantities being applied is enough for us to question if the convenience is worth it. These pre-protected furnishings are not protected indefinitely and require a stain guard to be reapplied after a few years of use or after professional cleaning. This means you would need to ultimately pay for extra Scotchguard post-cleaning or purchase and apply an at-home protection anyway.    A safer alternative to Scotchgard Feeling stressed because you want your home protected from stains and spills but not at the cost of your health? The good news is there is a safe, sustainable alternative to Scotchgard. protectME fabric protection spray is eco-friendly, contains no harmful ingredients and no animal products. This sustainable upholstery stain protector is also easy to apply and lasts for up to 3 years! Got a large carpeted area that needs protection? Our battery operated pack is designed to get those larger jobs done quickly and without the wrist fatigue. protectME allows you to be in control of protecting your home against stains. Sometimes the easiest way isn't always what's best for you or your home. But luckily the safer alternative isn’t a big task. protectME vegan friendly spray keeps your fabrics stain free and protected for years to come after just one application. For more information about how eco-friendly products are the way forward, follow us on Instagram.

Nano fabric protection Nano water-resistant sprays: you've heard of them, but you're not sure what exactly they do, or how they do it? Read on! 'Nano' stands for nanotechnology and these sprays, like the protectME range, are the future of fabric protection. More efficient than mainstream fabric protection sprays like Scotchgard, they are also more eco friendly: better for your health and for the planet.   Nanotechnology water repellent spray: how does it work? Nanotechnology is the science, engineering and manipulation of matter at the nanometre level (billionths of a metre). Nanotechnology has made it possible to create extremely tiny structures and new materials capable of solving specific needs, one of which is providing nanoparticle protection. Nanotechnology is an evolving 21st century technology that will change all our lives in the future. Working at microscopic levels, the range of possibilities are endless, whether it be the treatment of disease, environmental cleansing, health or accident prevention, sports performance and security to name a few. Many nanotechnology products and applications are already in use. Nanotechnology coating sprays surpass today’s standards in mainstream fabric guards as they have nanometric qualities that repel any liquid, dust or dirt, protecting textiles from dirt and stains.  Time, money and cleaning costs can be minimised and nanotechnology applications will make certain fabric protection products and methods obsolete in the future. The best part? Nanotechnology’s properties are found in nature and therefore are environmentally friendly, biodegradable and safe to use around humans and animals.   Why nanotechnology water-resistant sprays are better than mainstream fabric guards    1. Higher level of coverage Due to the nano composition of this technology, the nanopolymers when combined with the natural product of silicon dioxide creates a special nano coating spray. When the coating is sprayed on to surfaces the material is rendered hydrophobic and oleophobic; that is, it repels both liquids and contaminants. These include water, oils, other liquids, dirt, dust and stains reducing food sources for bacterial and fungal growth. ​   2. More cost-effective Compared to competitor products that have been around for years, protectME Textiles’ nano-technological coatings offer greater coverage per m2 at a more affordable price. They also last longer as they are abrasion resistant and UV stable so less repeat applications are required.   3. Environmentally friendly ​Not only will you be saving money long-term but you’ll also reduce your ecological footprint by using an eco friendly fabric protector such as protectME Textiles.  With protectME Textile application, you will be reducing the number of chemicals commonly found in household cleaners that can harm the environment, often cause health issues and sometimes cause further damage to fabrics and furnishings with their use.   4. Less maintenance & no cleaning Reducing replacement & maintenance costs are easy when you’ve protected your items from stains and damage, using a nano water-resistant spray. Whether it be saving on everyday cleaning products for carpets, clothes, dry cleaning, shoes, indoor & outdoor fabrics or having to pay for re-upholstery, new furniture or clothes to name a few, protectME Textiles will pay for itself in no time!   5. Long-term results Due to the nature of the nanostructure found in protectME Textiles, fabrics & materials with the nano coating spray applied preserve their composition, are more resistant to abrasion & exposure to UV rays and have superior durability for 2 years or more depending on use.   6. DIY application Our nano water-resistant spray is ready to use and can be applied by yourself in the comfort of your home. No need to evacuate the premises as with traditional stainproofing products. protectME Textiles is odourless and is safe to use around humans and pets. Better yet, protectME Textiles will not change the look, feel and smell of your items. Items will cure between 12-24 hours depending on temperature. You can find more information on how to use our fabric protection spray or what items to use it on on our website and our blog. Follow us on social media for more regular updates !

Is Scotchgard safe? Is Scotchgard safe? It’s a question asked more and more frequently, given the increased awareness surrounding toxic ingredients in fabric

Are Scotchgard pre-protected furnishings safe? There is no doubt that in today’s society the easiest way is the preferred way of doing things. Having your

A dozen different bottles of a dozen different products cluttering up your cupboards, shopping trolley, not to mention clouding the air in your