Applying non-treating liquid to a traveling textile fabric substrate during temporary change-over discontinuance of treating liquor application in a textile treating and drying range with the non-treating liquid being applied in an amount sufficient to approximate the amount of treating liquor applied during normal operation of the range so as to allow the dryer to continue operating at substantially normal operating temperatures without damage to the fabric substrate. A non-treating liquid applicator is shifted between an inoperative position out of the path of the textile fabric substrate into an operative position in engagement with the substrate. The applicator includes a roller for arcuate engagement with the substrate and to which liquid is applied by spray and is uniformly distributed by a squeeze roll acting on a cover on the roller of material capable of retaining and transferring liquid onto the substrate. Fabric guide plates are mounted adjacent to the roller and extend generally tangentially from the roller on opposite sides thereof under the traveling substrate to guide the substrate substantially flat and crease-free as it travels to and from the roller.