To evaluate the uniformity of ServeCo Leather/Vinyl Protector compared to Guardsman Protect & Preserve, as well as its effectiveness against dirt stains.
Date Run:
02/14/2025
Experiment Procedure:
Twelve leather and vinyl swatches, with three of each substrate per product, were cut into uniform rectangular samples and divided into two groups based on substrate type. The products were applied to at least three swatches per group following product instructions and allowed to dry for two hours. Visual ratings were conducted using a blind-test using three panelists, where only the experimenter running the test knew which coupons corresponded to which product.
Uniformity was assessed by examining the surfaces for streaks, untreated dry spots, and overall evenness of the product application after drying. To evaluate dirt repellency, approximately 0.005 g of synthetic dirt was applied to each swatch, and the surface was wiped twice with a dry paper towel. Cleanliness levels were then rated based on the amount of remaining dirt and streaking.
Uniformity Rating Key
Rating
Descriptions
1
No Visible streaking or dry spots; product application looks uniform (Excellent Performance).
2
Minimal streaking with mostly even coverage.
3
Slight streaking or small untreated dry spots.
4
High Streaking with noticeable uneven drying.
5
Severe streaking with significant dry spots or inconsistent coverage (Poor Performance).
Dirt Rating Key
Rating
Descriptions
1
No visible dirt or streaks after wiping (Excellent Performance).
2
Minimal dirt or residue remains after wiping.
3
Slight dirt accumulation with some streaking.
4
High dirt retention with visible streaking.
5
Severe dirt retention with heavy streaking or residue (Poor Performance).
Trial Results:
Uniformity Visual Evaluation
Product
Substrate
Panelist 1 Rating
Panelist 2 Rating
Panelist 3 Rating
Average Rating
Overall Product Rating
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
Leather Fabric
1
1
1
1.00
1.11
1
2
1
1.33
1
1
1
1.00
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
1
1
1
1.00
1.11
1
1
1
1.00
1
1
2
1.33
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
Vinyl Fabric
1
3
1
1.67
1.33
1
2
1
1.33
1
1
1
1.00
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
1
3
1
1.67
1.33
1
2
1
1.33
1
1
1
1.00
Both products exhibited similar uniformity performance on leather and vinyl substrates. Neither product caused discoloration after application or following a two-hour air-drying period.
Dirt Repellency Visual Evaluation
Post Wipe 1 Visual Ratings
Product
Substrate
Panelist 1 Rating
Panelist 2 Rating
Panelist 3 Rating
Average Rating
Overall Substrate Rating
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
Leather Fabric
2
3
3
2.67
3.00
1.5
1.5
2
1.67
5
4.5
4.5
4.67
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
3
2
3.5
2.83
3.06
2.5
4
2.5
3.00
4
3
3
3.33
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
Vinyl Fabric
3
4
3
3.33
3.00
3
3
2.5
2.83
3
3
2.5
2.83
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
1
1
1.5
1.17
2.22
3
3
3
3.00
3
2.5
2
2.50
Overall Average Rating of Product (Leather and Vinyl):
Product
Rating
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
3.00
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
2.64
Dirt Repellency Evaluation Continued
Post Wipe 2 Visual Ratings
Product
Substrate
Panelist 1 Rating
Panelist 2 Rating
Panelist 3 Rating
Average Rating
Overall Substrate Rating
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
Leather Fabric
2
1.5
1.5
1.67
2.11
1
1.5
1.5
1.33
4
3
3
3.33
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
1
2
1.5
1.50
1.72
1
2
2
1.67
2
2
2
2.00
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
Vinyl Fabric
1
2
1.5
1.50
1.22
1
1.5
1
1.17
1
1
1
1.00
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
1
1
1
1.00
1.03
1
1
1.25
1.08
1
1
1
1.00
Overall Average Rating of Product (Leather and Vinyl):
Product
Rating
ServeCo Leather/ Vinyl Protector
1.67
Guardsman Protect & Preserve
1.38
ServeCo Leather/Vinyl Protector improved by 66.75% whereas Guardsman Protect & Preserve improved by 53.60% between wipes. Both products showed a significant reduction in dirt retention after the second wipe.
Success Rating:
Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.
Conclusion:
ServeCo Leather/Vinyl Protector demonstrated similar overall performance to Guardsman Protect & Preserve in terms of uniformity and dirt repellency.
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