Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Marcus McDonnell on February 08, 2014, 07:08:44 pm

Title: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Marcus McDonnell on February 08, 2014, 07:08:44 pm
The armchair has small suede squares with zip like material inbetween. Tried prochem solvex no good.
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: gwrightson on February 08, 2014, 07:26:54 pm
  Hope you priced well ;)

  A case of box of cotton buds couple white towels ,apply pog  with buds  absorb with towel , 

  May take couple of hours or so, don't know where all the ink comes from you will find your towels covered in the stuff, so price well  . 

That has always been my approach if they are willing to pay, eventualy it will come out , what damage that may be done to that fabric , I don't know , just clarify with custy possible damage.

Geoff
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: jim mca on February 08, 2014, 08:01:53 pm
Marcus
What experience do you have in stain removal and can you get access to the back
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Paul Moss on February 08, 2014, 09:48:22 pm
It's not suede the raised flock is viscose mix.

Have fun    :)
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: wynne jones on February 08, 2014, 10:52:01 pm
The all in one gels can be hard work, have you got a range of different solvents you could test and see what best comes off on a white towel?
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: David Ware on February 09, 2014, 12:51:41 pm
If the base cushion has a zip, slide some plastic sheet to stop wicking from foam
David
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: maxcampbell on February 09, 2014, 03:04:10 pm
As Paul says, that's viscose - don't wet clean the whole chair if you haven't already - you'll be in for a long and perhaps disappointing grooming job. If you can get the vac behind the fabric do so and apply solvent to the top, then work out your wording to the customer along the lines of "I've done my very best, and reduced it so far, but can't get that last bit shifted"

That is fairly typical viscose - if you thought it was suede can I respectfully suggest you look up some courses.
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 09, 2014, 05:06:15 pm
 that's not viscose.

its a cheap crappy fabric fitted to budget suites, it has some of the characteristics of viscose in that the pile can distort when wetted but when its dry it returns to its general appearance and texture.
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Carpet Dawg on February 09, 2014, 05:28:20 pm
yeah cleaned a few of those. It looks like crap when wet.
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: peter maybury on February 09, 2014, 06:25:48 pm
Marcus
What type of ink is it. ?
Isopropanol should always be the first thing you use on ink as inks in the printing industry are formulated to be broken up by it and it is what the trade uses for cleaning the presses etc. The other beauty with isopropanol is that it will evaporate quickly and not leave any residue to effect any other attempts.
A solution of white vinegar and dry foam solution (or fibre shampoo) can effective on some inks including ball point.

peter
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Adrian Walton on February 09, 2014, 06:40:03 pm
I've cleaned a few of these they look terrible when wet but go back to normal when dry and usually clean ok.
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Simon Gerrard on February 10, 2014, 11:41:37 am
Personally, I would leave that well alone. The fabric is a real sod to clean even when it is not stained so trying to get a mark like that out is mission impossible because at best you'd only improve it and would the client be willing to pay for that?

Simon
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Paul Moss on February 10, 2014, 06:01:24 pm
that's not viscose.

its a cheap crappy fabric fitted to budget suites, it has some of the characteristics of viscose in that the pile can distort when wetted but when its dry it returns to its general appearance and texture.

Mike viscose is cheap and all the cheap suites these days are 100%  viscose or very near that. Defo viscose mix fabric and it will be a high content.
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Smurf on February 10, 2014, 06:22:18 pm
Many moons ago I used to clean carpets and upholstery and one of my contracts was to clean the uk head office of Reckitt Benckiser.

I was given a load of vanish products to try and was gobsmack on one job I was called out to do after a party it removed trodden in lipstick all over a white expensive carpet.

I know things have moved on a lot now and I'm way out of touch with micro splitters blaa blaa blaa but sometimes you need to keep an open mind and try other products out.
 
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 10, 2014, 06:47:18 pm
that's not viscose.

its a cheap crappy fabric fitted to budget suites, it has some of the characteristics of viscose in that the pile can distort when wetted but when its dry it returns to its general appearance and texture.

Mike viscose is cheap and all the cheap suites these days are 100%  viscose or very near that. Defo viscose mix fabric and it will be a high content.

We'll have to agree to disagree on all of that.

Haven't seen a cheap  viscose, everyone I've seen has been on old or high end items. As for 100% of cheap suites being made of viscose I can't say I've seen that.

I have that fabric on my front room suite I will check it out to see if it has any viscose in it,  but we bought it as we could stick all the cushions in the washing machine ( the carcuss is faux leather)
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Paul Moss on February 10, 2014, 07:44:58 pm
Mike, I thought you where more switched on than that.
Click on any of these
https://www.google.co.uk/#q=argos+viscose+sofa&start=10
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 10, 2014, 08:24:54 pm
Just give me a second to search google for an expensive viscose suite..... :) ;)

showing me an Argos suite does not prove nearly 100% or cheap suites are viscose. Of course there will be cheap viscose suites just like their will be cheap suites made of all fabrics.


Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Paul Moss on February 10, 2014, 11:29:25 pm
Ok you've had 3 hours  :D
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 11, 2014, 01:49:25 pm
still looking :D :D

to be honest I haven't bothered as we are getting away from the important point within this topic and that how difficult it can be to identify fabrics, some say this is viscose I disagreed. like I said I have this fabric on a suite so I decided to test it.

 the first test was a simple burns test:  http://youtu.be/5wFfnAU0H-M

I also have carried a wet then dry test which is still uploading to YouTube, I will post that later
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 11, 2014, 02:49:48 pm
these should all be online now, they show a basic wet test of this fabric to decide its suitability for wet cleaning,

 the only point to make is I know this fabric is ok to wet clean so for ease of making the videos I have used a prominent place on the cushion if doing it for real I would use an area that is hidden so  if anything did go wrong It would not be seen.



1st)   http://youtu.be/gxGSyp8yDwA

2nd)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjq8SPZWpNM&feature=c4-overview&list=UUjrAsK9kgOygJM682ay-BUA

3rd)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPXls7Sx7_I&feature=c4-overview&list=UUjrAsK9kgOygJM682ay-BUA
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Paul Moss on February 11, 2014, 06:43:52 pm
Can't see the first vid.

Just put a steamer over it Mike, that will clean it lovely  :)
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 11, 2014, 07:10:51 pm
sorry just fixed it for public viewing, it might make more sense now

this video malarkey is complicated stuff :-\ :-\     I should stick to reading Google for knowledge rather than taking a hands on approach
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Simon Gerrard on February 11, 2014, 09:35:44 pm
The wet test is all fine if you're just trying to determine whether or not the fabric is wet cleanable, or if the dyes are stable but on the fabric in the first clip I would be far more worried about cleanabiility, especially on the lighter versions of that same fabric, because when dirty can be a real challenge to get clean and then there is the lengthy drying time to worry about. So I tend to see these problem fabrics from a different perspective which is more about what the client gains from the finished product, which is sometimes open to question because of the nature of the fabric.

Simon
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: peter maybury on February 11, 2014, 10:03:06 pm
If you see the fabric as problematic to clean and you refuse to do it, the customer will quite simply go to a competitor.
There are additives that can make the prespray more effective and faster drying, it is a learning process that makes you better at what you do.  As for fibre identification it is not something that you can do by photographs unless you are able to recognise specific products. These fabrics are common so it is better to  be proficient with them.
Peter
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Simon Gerrard on February 12, 2014, 02:39:16 am
"There are additives that can make the prespray more effective and faster drying, it is a learning process that makes you better at what you do........"

Which culminates in you knowing which ones to leave well alone because you know that the customer is wasting their money, regardless of the the fact that they may go to a competitor merely to find out I was right and that is where the best part of forty years experience comes into play.
Simon
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: peter maybury on February 12, 2014, 08:58:46 pm
I would get the stain out in the first place, and gain a satisfied customer rather than letting one of my competitors make me look ineffective.
Peter
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Simon Gerrard on February 12, 2014, 09:54:02 pm
We both know that stain is unlikely to come out of that type of fabric, especially with it being ink. If you do, you do but if you don't the customer has seen what lengths you've gone to get it about and will accept the outcome and not go rushing off to a competitor.

Simon
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Doug Holloway on February 13, 2014, 07:48:33 am
Hi Guys

Chance of complete success are low especially as the ink has already been run.

I would start with Isopropanol and go from there with other solvents but you will probably find it doesn't look much better so maybe better to walk.

Cheers

Doug
Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: ian harper on February 14, 2014, 05:53:37 am
this is a great example where cleaning becomes restoration. big difference. spots can be cleaned stains are damage and have to be restored.

restoration carries a much higher risk and customer expectation.

charge accordingly.

Title: Re: Cant get this ink stain off armchair any ideas???
Post by: Joebagbanana on February 19, 2014, 09:11:05 am
Chemspec-Europe have just released a new spotter:- TIG that does not require rinsing. I've only tried it on a carbon on cotton velvet with limited success. It's less aggressive than POG. Worth having to hand