1.   A good start is to have your carpets and upholstery cleaned, and treated with fabric protector that will make stains more easily removed.

2.   Heloise, who had previously advised Bryant Gumbel and Matt Lauer to use fabric protector on favorite neckties, found herself confronted with an anxious public after the show.

3.   If you attempt to use a fabric protector yourself, test a small, hidden area first to make sure the color is not affected.

4.   Patricia McKeogh, a lawyer from Katonah, N.Y., can tell you all about the marvels of upholstery fabric protectors.

5.   Salant said that the introduction of fabric protectors never affected his sales.