Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: kinder clean on October 31, 2009, 07:38:20 am
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Had a call yesterday
First since I started trading Benny! ;D
premature posting !! heres the rest -
Had a call yesterday, going to look on Monday.
Custy said ' I think it might be scotchgarded as when it gets wet with a small spill etc the pile looks different in the sunlight ' ??? - sounds familiar, I know that some people have posted about suites that cant be wet cleaned before.
Can anyone describe this type of fabric and whats the name of it ? and does anyone have any photos ? why does moisture permanantly distort the pile, whats actually happening ?
Its definately fabric not faux suede but other than that its a suck it and see job.
Any technical info would be appreciated.
If I can't clean her suite I'll try and get the carpet !
Paul
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Had a call yesterday
Your point being..? ;D
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No fair. You changed your post!
LOL.
Gotta go, ...working
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It might be 100% viscouse pile. This distorts if subjected to water and does not recover when dry.
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Various conbinations of fibres can be made into a fabric of this type. It is one of the simplist tests to determine whether it can be wet cleaned or not.
In an inconspicious area wet your thumb and press it onto the fabric or spray a small area. Rub the material with a dry terry towel. If the pile bonces back and looks exactly the same as the surrounding pile then it is probably Acrylic and can be safely wet cleaned. If the pile remains flat, looks distorted, like wet rats fur then it can't be wet cleaned safely.
You also have to differentiate between a pile fabric such as Dralon and a Chenile. Cheniles can sometimes go flat when wet but the pile tends to be much thicker rather like a towelling.
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Paul,
Congrats on getting your first customer ;D ;D ;D
The light-looking bit when wetted can be a sign that it's viscose.
I almost bought a suite a few months ago, I spotted it was viscose (i normally hwe if tests are OK) but it had a kind of fleck pattern in it. Where I did my test clean with HWE it took all the definition out of the pattern, it just "dissolved" the flecked appearance into a plain pattern and it lightened the whole area. Out came the dry clean!
The other way fabrics can look lighter when wetted is if they're treated with a silicone-based protector. Normally though, that'll be a patchy or streaky appearance when a panel is wetted all over.
Book it in, make sure you have a hairdryer with you and do a hidden test area, ideally the bench under the cushions if it's upholstered all the way over. Dry it off with towels and hairdryer FULLY before making any decisions. Only HWE if you're 100% sure you won't end up owning it ;)
If not, dry clean with full explanation to customer that results are limited etc etc..
Sometimes they'll tell you to HWE it anyway, i never get signed disclaimers but you need to make the customer tell you to do it. offer the hwe, explain its superiority and also dangers but retract it saying you'd prefer not to, get them to talk you in to it so you've put the responsibility back with them.