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UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: chrisjohn on September 10, 2009, 10:31:56 pm

Title: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: chrisjohn on September 10, 2009, 10:31:56 pm

What is the best way to do this test?

Is it the 4 pin measuring method, or would most of you, depending on what fabric you are cleaning, just keep water temperature to around 40 degrees?

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: markpowell on September 11, 2009, 07:48:06 am

The 4 pin test.
The temp of the water has nothing to do with shrinkage, if an item is going to shrink it will do even with cold water.
Mark

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: chrisjohn on September 11, 2009, 09:07:27 am

Ok mark thanks for your reply.The reason i mentioned the water temperature is because when i went on the NCCA course they never mentioned anything about the 4 pin test,ive just picked that up from you experienced cc.On the course they advised us to do a burn test on the inside cushion,colour test,then hwe with temperature at a lower heat to stop any possible shrinkage.

As you can tell im new to cc,and just trying to find out the most practical procedures.Cheers.

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: Adam Fearnley on September 11, 2009, 08:02:11 pm

Please explain the 4-pin test if you would.

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on September 11, 2009, 08:07:25 pm

Offer up a business card to an unobtrusive area of the sofa - put a pin through the fabric at each corner of the card - remove the card and spray the area between the pins, let it dry - then offer up the card again and see if it overlaps the pins.

If it does - shrinkage



Steve

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: Adam Fearnley on September 11, 2009, 08:21:51 pm

Thanks, so if there's shrinkage then its best to not use HWE? or can you get away with it depending on the level of shrinkage.

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on September 11, 2009, 08:29:02 pm

Personally, if there's shrinkage I would walk or use dry mineral solvent if I thought I would get a result with it.

To be honest I have yet to come across one that would shrink - although I am sure some of the other guys have.


Steve

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: robert meldrum on September 11, 2009, 10:55:52 pm

Only shrinkage I ever experienced on fabric was on cotton print about 20 years ago.

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: John Kelly on September 11, 2009, 11:46:09 pm

In 15 years have never experienced it and after 2 months never tested for it. There were some top end suites about which were a sandwich of two fabrics and I think a few people had problems with those.

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: chrisjohn on September 11, 2009, 11:56:14 pm

Steve,i would do exactly what you said.Sometimes things can be over completcated.

Title: Re: Upholstery shrinkage test
Post by: robert meldrum on September 12, 2009, 12:33:19 am

What I've come across occasionally has been the aftermath of customer cleaning sofa covers in the washing machine and drying them BEFORE putting the inset back in...............does'nt work.