Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ag on April 26, 2007, 05:39:41 pm
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Hi All
Cleaned two three piece suites this week, and to be honest I was a bit disappointed in the results. Granted the first hadnt been cleaned in about 6 years, and was used mainly by toddlers, but I expected the second to lift better than it did. Im using a serious amount of citrus gel to lift stains. Are my expectations to high?
This is what I do:
1.hoover
2.prespray (prespray gold) & agitiate with upholstery brush
Let it sit for about 10 mins
3.hot water extract (hand tool approx.20 cms away from fabric)
4.usually have to go over it loads with spotters. More than when I do carpets, and they have been coming out really well.
So is that as good as it gets.bit disappointed.
Also how do you all stop the surrounding areas from getting wet? Or is that just part of it?thought maybe I was being a bit clumsy with the uph.tool.
any advice appreciated,
agnes
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You need to get an internal Hand tool that you can rest straight on the Fabric
Have you done any courses on Upholstery?
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Hi,
Have you tried prochems fabric restorer as a pre-spray then crystal green in the solution tank of the machine, if it is really heavily soiled or a smokers house try ultrapac renovate as the pre-spray and crystal green to extract, always get good results. Make sure you do the colour bleed tests.
Hope this helps, Mark
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I would also try Prochem fabric restorer as mentioned above.
I don't think the prespray you are using is suitable for heavy soiled upholstery.
John
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I'm trying other combinations but always find that Prochem Fabric Restorer followed by a rinse/extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse works well. I tend to mix the Fabric Restorer in a bucket and apply the foam, brushing it in with an Upholstery Brush - works well for me. You definately need an upholstery tool which limits any excess spray, failing that a dust sheet! I would suggest that you take extra care to keep any over spray away wood finishes - they are not always as permanent as you might think.
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Hi Agnes
A purpose designed upholstery tool is essential for HWE on upholstery. A carpet hand tool is totally unsuitable.
Your pre-treatment should be formulated for use on upholstery. Some are dual purpose carpet/upholstery, but most aren't.
I can not think of a situation whereby I would recommend the use of Crystal Green as described above. It can be likened to playing Russian Roulette :o I'd go with a pH neutral, acidic or freshwater rinse as appropriate.
I'd also go with neil and advise an upholstery training course. It's much cheaper than buying a customer a new suite, or even just the insurance excess 8)
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Try this for fantastic results:
1. Pre clean with a sea sponge, getting the fabric nice and damp (which also allows the next pre spray good distribution).
2. Pre spray with Alltec's Traffic lane de-greaser (not traffic lane cleaner) or Prochem's Fabric Restorer.
3. Scrub
4. Wipe off with terry towelling (gets loads of soil off, and its nice to show the custy ;D)
5. Rinse & Extract with Ultimate Master or similar
6. Towel off removing excess moisture/tram lines etc
7. Turbo dry for maximum effect and custy satisfaction
Obviously I dont know what your charging but if its bottom end then the above wont be very cost effective.
For overspray this comes with experience I guess, you can use your hand to cup the tool and catch it in these circumstances.
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Hi there
Yes, I have done a training course - NCCA, I've followed everything in their manual and from their demos, so I assumed it was the products.
I wouldnt have said that the second suite I did was heavily soiled, and I gave it a good agitiation. Maybe I didnt put enough prespray on, as I was a little hesitant as I didnt want the filling of sofa to get wet.but I felt that I did. I was going to lather up a bit of soultion and hand apply instead, maybe shoudl have done that.
What s the difference between a uph. tool and a hand tool?Why is a carpet hand tool unsuitable? The one I saw used at NCCA seemed very similar to a handtool.
i will definalty try out your suggestions for products.
im getting them all this week - had first belgian wilton and sisal.
Thank you all very much.
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Upholstery tool has an internal pipe coming out of the suction that only allows just enough solution into the fabric that is lifted by the Vacuum.
Normal Carpet hand tool just soaks the fabric and overwets it.
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Ok, so it measures the amount of water out,and is tidy etc etc but does really have any affect on the actual dirt removal aspect or is that purely the products?
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ag
I agree with Uncle Ken Wainwright...many of the chemicals mentioned in several of the above posts have the potential to cause serious problems on upholstery fabrics.
I would be very surprised if the NCCA courses recommended their use
Its a pity you couldn't have got to Bromsgrove last month to one of Uncle Ken's NCCA shindigs...we would have shown you how to clean upholstery sucessfully...maybe you could make the next one?
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It goes almost with out saying I agree with Uncle Ken & Derek.
Regards
Mark
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i use fabric restorer as a prespray and remove as much soiling as i can with a terry towel whilst agitating then fabclean in the tank and finally a misting of fabric and fibre rinse and a final towellling down. I also use ashbys fabric safe powder in the tank now and again. Ive been getting fantastic results since i started using fabric restorer.
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I must say I have had very good results with "Fabric Restorer" followed up with Fibre & Fabric Rinse".
I'd echo the above comments about using products specifically designed for upholstery.
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Bit OTT
Fabric restorer has specifially been designed to clean FABRIC (the clue's in the name ;)). If the correct tests have been done (like any chemical) there wont be any problems. Perhaps getting clarification direct from Prochem who have developed it, may eleviate any concerns.
As for Traffic lane cleaner, try and not let the name ring alarm bells. At the end of the day it's purely a cleaning agent for fibres and is ph10, certainly not extreme by anyones measures. There are far harsher chem's out there and I certainly know of other reputable cleaners who use it on UPH with great results ;) In the 5yrs or so that we have been using it on UPH we have never had one single issue with it - only extremely satisfied clients ;D
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Hi
sorry - just to clarify NCCA didnt recommend any products over another. They explained the merits of all.
The upholstery course does indeed sound good, and infact I think training is really important part of business development, however my training budget is used up this year, so Im hoping to make it next year.
I have been really good a testing though, so hopefully that will stand in my favour.
Will check out some of the products.
thanks for all the tips,
agnes
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ag,
Get yourself a hand tool which has an internal jet, this will stop you from overspraying.
Use Microsplitters as a pre-spry, agitate with cotton towels and rinse with fresh water, towel dry and turbo vac.
If there is any head grease on the head rest or arms perhaps use fabric restorer, but I find this isn't usually nessesary
Do not use Crystal Green, Traffic lane de-greaser, or Ultra pac renovate, these products are designed for carpet not fabrics, why do people use these products on suites when there are specialist fabric cleaning agents and worse still why do they come on here advising others to use them. :o
Phil
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Phil
I think it a bit rich you giving advice on upholstery cleaning when the last custurd woun't pay you.
Dave
PS Please dont call me names.
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I now wish I had used Blitz, scrubbed in with a wire wool brush and rinsed out with enzall!
You Northern monkey. ;)
Phil
ps Is that Dog still that size?
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Hi
No its as big as a house now, but the custurds love it.
Dave
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Phil, can I ask what standard fabric cleaner you use that gives superb results on suites that you clean?
With all due respect, I gave an opinion as to what I use (trafic lane de-greaser amongst other chem's), and when you actually look at the product it's relatively mild, and will not damage any fibres so long as pre testing is done - like ALL chem's!
Why do people have hang ups about trying different avenues. For a newbie I wouldnt advise it but at the end of the day a fibre is a fibre whether its on the floor or on a frame. Synthetics, naturals, mixes etc all need cleaning and so long as your sensible, test, dont use excessive agents and approach it professionaly, there wont be a problem.
Fabrics are more complex I know, and certainly need kid gloves at times, so I would always advise to PRE TEST PRE TEST & PRE TEST! with what ever chem you use. Correct fibre identification will also assist in what method to use.
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Phil, can I ask what standard fabric cleaner you use that gives superb results on suites that you clean?
It says in my post what I use!
All I was stating is that in many of the above posts people are advising the use of incorrect agents, Traffic Lane de-greaser is one of them IMO.
You can test all you like with Ultra Pac Revonate, Crystal Green, Traffic lane etc, you wont see any damage, but it probably wont do the suite any good long term.
Phil
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Hi Agnes
A purpose designed upholstery tool is essential for HWE on upholstery. A carpet hand tool is totally unsuitable.
Your pre-treatment should be formulated for use on upholstery. Some are dual purpose carpet/upholstery, but most aren't.
I can not think of a situation whereby I would recommend the use of Crystal Green as described above. It can be likened to playing Russian Roulette :o I'd go with a pH neutral, acidic or freshwater rinse as appropriate.
I'd also go with neil and advise an upholstery training course. It's much cheaper than buying a customer a new suite, or even just the insurance excess 8)
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Just to clarify a few points regarding prochems ultrapac renovate and crystal green.
ultrapac is the chemical that prochem recommend for heavy smoke and heavy soil removal on upholstery, mix 60ml to a litre of warm water and pre-spray.
Crystal green can be used in hwe machine tanks on upholstery, see the prochem training guide for upholstery section 2 page 45.
Fabric / fibre rinse should be used in place of crystal green if there is a chance of dye bleed or browning.
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you obviously know nothing about prochem products, section 2 page 45 of the upholstery training manual or maybe telephone their technical line and ask, why is ultrapac renovate / crystal green for carpets only?
ag,
Get yourself a hand tool which has an internal jet, this will stop you from overspraying.
Use Microsplitters as a pre-spry, agitate with cotton towels and rinse with fresh water, towel dry and turbo vac.
If there is any head grease on the head rest or arms perhaps use fabric restorer, but I find this isn't usually nessesary
Do not use Crystal Green, Traffic lane de-greaser, or Ultra pac renovate, these products are designed for carpet not fabrics, why do people use these products on suites when there are specialist fabric cleaning agents and worse still why do they come on here advising others to use them. :o
Phil
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In the Prochem catalogue Crystal Green comes under the heading of Carpet detergents. I agree Ultrapac Renovate is a problem solver and can be used on fabric, but not sure why anyone would use it on a suite at PH 10.5.
Phil
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I have been in this trade for 20 yrs now.
I have tried all of the above and find that microsplitters work best on upholstery.
The hand tool that you need is the CFR tool.
Inspect / colour test and pre vac.
Spray with micro splitters ( sol nr 2 at 10 - 1 mix )
http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?categoryID=104
Agitate fabric with SOFT brush or hand mitt
Rinse with fresh water using the CFR hand tool.
Treat stains with sol nr 3 , or eco spotter ( or citrus gel)
http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?categoryID=105
Fabric restorer is good on head grease.
Towel and turbo dry.
The above method is safe and effective.
Other chems will do the job, but you are taking a risk that is not really needed.
I clean about 4 or 5 suites a week, I do not advertise, all of my work comes from recommendations.
regards
Chris
ps Spraying water onto the fabric from 20cm away will not rinse it enough, with the cfr tool you can hold it onto the fabric and blast it clean, without ANY overspray.
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Mark
I take your point about Prochem Training Manuals, but read what you have written.
Fire Restoration is a different beast to carpet and upholstery cleaning. Agnes was enquiring about upholstery cleaning difficulties, NOT Fire restoration.
With all due respect to all of us wand draggers, if we are not trained in the VERY DIFFERENT field of Fire Restoration, my advice would still be to steer cleer of these types of products for regular upholstery cleaning. There are much safer options (for user and fabric) that can be successfully used.
With regards to upholstery cleaning tools, there are many different types with internal and external jets, and shielded or enclosed, with/without trigger/valves, made from plastic, perspex, aluminium or stainless steel. The only consistent difference between a hand and upholstery tool seems to be the water delivery. The guidelines that I would follow are for upholstery tools having an 01 or 02 jet and a hand tool having an 04 or 06 jet.
Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
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Hi Guys,
I too use 'microsplitters' , Prochem Pureclean as my standard clean with other chemicals as required.
Don't be afraid to use hot water, approx 60 C as this will work much better than cool water.
Crsytal Green is useful if you are sanitising as it is compatible with Cleansan.
Cheers
Doug
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Some of the comments on here are still frightening me...
no one has mentioned pH sensitive dyed fabrics yet that requires a cleaned item to be left neutral
pH in chemicals is not given the respect it deserves
You can test all you want but there are still some fabrics that beggar belief....I received a piece of fabric just today and when I put one of the yarns in hot water it dissolved... :o ...still undergoing testing...
The fabric is a spare piece sent to me by a cousin who has bought a suite covered in the stuff...and it ain't cheap fabric either
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The Prochem catalogue says Ultrapac R is suitable for use "on carpets, fabrics and other surfaces" so that suggests it can be used on upholstery.
However, as Ken and others say, it's better to play it safe and use products that are specifically designed for the job in hand. pH is especially important when dealing with upholstery as the fabric will be more delicate than carpet.
Not only will you run less risk of damaging the item long term, the proper chemical is more likely to provide a satisfactory cleaning result.
I'd suggest only using UR on upholstery in that situation as a last resort and only then after qualifying it with the customer and appraising them of the potential problems.
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It really is frightening the advice that gets given out on here sometimes, its either that or some people deliberately set out to give extremely bad information where some unsuspecting soul screws up good style.
Yes at times there may well be a very good reason for straying outside of accepted boundries of what is a safe method of cleaning, but only when the skills and knowledge go with it. To advise someone to use Ultrapac on uph, and presumably that well informed advice applies to all and any type of uph is absolutely ridiculous.
By all means buy 5ltrs of Ultrapac and follow such well informed advice and merrily clean some bodys suite with it, hopefully it will clean well, because the odd's are it will soon belong to you!!!!!!!!!