Product Overview
Fabric Shield RTU is an advanced water-based fluorochemical polymer protector for spills and stains. It creates a durable, highly repellent property on each fibre, holding spills at the surface long enough to be removed before they cause permanent staining.
It is supplied ready to use — no dilution, no mixing.
Which pack size do you need?
This is the 1 litre pack — roughly two to three lounge suites at the stated coverage. The 5 litre is the better buy if you protect regularly.
Which protector do you need?
CCW carries three Actichem protectors. They are not interchangeable, and choosing correctly the first time saves a callback.
- Fabric Shield RTU (this product) — water based, for water-cleanable upholstery, drapes, tablecloths and fabrics. It is also the only one of the three with acid-dye stain blockers — see below.
- Fabric Shield SV — solvent based, for dry-clean-only fabrics that cannot safely be wet. It is classified DANGER with H226 and H304, Poisons Schedule 5. Where the fabric can safely be wet, use RTU instead — it is by far the lower-hazard product.
- Fibre Shield — water based, formulated for nylon and wool carpet rather than upholstery.
Benefits
- Advanced protection — fluorochemical polymer technology against water-based stains, oil-based stains and general grime.
- Red stain protection — specialty stain blockers give added protection against acid dye stains from red cordial. This is the feature that distinguishes RTU from the solvent version, and on a family lounge it is the one that matters most. Red cordial is the classic unrecoverable upholstery stain, because the dye chemically bonds to nylon and wool fibre rather than sitting on it.
- Versatile — protects against food and beverage spills and hair and body oils.
- Makes routine cleaning easier — soil releases more readily at the next wet extraction, so the fabric cleans up better for longer.
- Low VOC, water-based formula — a genuine advantage in occupied premises.
- Verified non-hazardous — see the safety section below.
Directions for Use
Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location for substrate sensitivity. Ensure the fabric is clean and free of chemical residue before you protect it — a protector locks in whatever is already there. It can be applied to dry or damp fabric.
Coverage
Approximately 400 ml per 5 to 7 seater lounge, or per 15 m².
Application
- Ready to use. No mixing required.
- Spray from 25 to 30 cm away using a smooth back-and-forth motion, overlapping slightly. The fabric should be wetted out. Do not over-apply.
- Brush with a soft brush to spread the protector evenly. This step is not optional — unbrushed protector dries unevenly and leaves patches that repel and patches that do not.
- Align the fabric and speed dry.
Sprayer
Use a low-pressure sprayer with a 65015 jet, up to 60 psi.
Dedicate the sprayer to Fabric Shield RTU. Fluorochemical protectors are difficult to flush out completely, and residue from a previous chemical will interfere with the film. It is also worth keeping this sprayer separate from any used for Fabric Shield SV — the solvent version dissolves rubber and many plastics, so seals that have been through it are not the ones you want on a water-based unit.
Safety
Verified non-hazardous — and we checked.
Actichem’s safety data sheet for AP472, version 2.2 issued 9 May 2025, records Fabric Shield RTU as a non-hazardous chemical and non-dangerous goods. No signal word, no hazard statements, no GHS classification, no poisons schedule.
We are being explicit because we have been correcting a great many pages in this catalogue that claimed “non-hazardous” when the safety data sheet said otherwise. This one is correct.
It is also the reason to prefer this product where you can. Its solvent sibling, Fabric Shield SV, is DANGER with an aspiration hazard, a flammability classification and a poisons schedule. If the fabric in front of you can safely be wet, the water-based product does the same job with none of that.
Non-hazardous does not mean careless. It is still sprayed, still goes in the air, and you are still applying it across a whole lounge suite. Work with ventilation, wear eye protection when spraying, and keep it off your skin as routine.
What it reacts with
Avoid strong acids and oxidising agents. Do not mix it with anything else.
First aid
Eyes. Wash out immediately with water. If irritation continues, seek medical attention.
Skin. Flush skin and hair with running water. Seek medical advice if irritation occurs.
Swallowed. Do NOT induce vomiting. Immediately give a glass of water.
Specifications
| Product code | AP472.01 |
| Pack size | 1 litre |
| Product type | Water-based fluorochemical fabric and upholstery protector, ready to use |
| Appearance | Opaque white liquid |
| Odour | Mild solvent |
| Dilution | Ready to use — do not dilute |
| Coverage | Approx. 400 ml per 5–7 seater lounge, or per 15 m² |
| pH | 5.0 (Actichem SDS) — mildly acidic. This listing previously stated 7.5; we have asked Actichem to confirm. Mildly acidic is appropriate for wool, which prefers the acid side of neutral. |
| Incompatible with | Strong acids and oxidising agents |
| WHS classification | Non-hazardous chemical |
| Signal word | None — not applicable |
| Hazard statements | None |
| Dangerous goods | Non-dangerous goods |
| Poisons schedule | None applicable |
| SDS referenced | Version 2.2, issued 9 May 2025 |
Related Products
- Actichem Fabric Shield RTU 5 litre — the same product in the larger pack.
- Actichem Fabric Shield SV — the solvent version, for dry-clean-only fabrics. Higher hazard — read its safety section before ordering.
- Actichem Fibre Shield — water-based protector for nylon and wool carpet.
Safety Data Sheet
Actichem Fabric Shield RTU safety data sheet (AP472, version 2.2, 9 May 2025)
SKU: AP472.01
Not sure whether the fabric in front of you can safely take a water-based protector? Tell us the fibre and the care label. Protecting a dry-clean-only fabric with the wrong product is not something you can undo.
