Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Clean2Day on March 12, 2010, 02:48:28 pm

Title: Pink spot!!
Post by: Clean2Day on March 12, 2010, 02:48:28 pm
Hi all, I'm hoping that you can help me on this one as I am stumped.

Cleaned two cushions for a custy yesterday, quite standard cotton covers, and apparently one in particular has dried with a small pink spot on it. They were cleaned before by another company, who had overwet & rusted the buttons in the center but no pink spots?

Im thinking it may be a ph issue as a couple of areas were quite bad, and had to use a small ammount of high ph pre spray, but it hasn't affected the other one, can't take the cover off to look for pen marks etc on the reverse as the buttons restrict doing this.

Please help, I have to go see her on monday!!

Many thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: markpowell on March 12, 2010, 03:17:27 pm
What solutions have you used to clean with and what fabric was the suite?
Mark
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: derek west on March 12, 2010, 03:23:42 pm
did you use a solvent booster of any kind?
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Clean2Day on March 12, 2010, 03:37:07 pm
It was a cotton fabric, wet cleanable, no solvents used, just a bit of elbow grease, upholstery shampoo and a touch of prochem fabric prespray. nothing harsh or out of the ordinary.

Cheers.
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: markpowell on March 12, 2010, 04:14:27 pm
You said in the original post that some areas you used high ph products?
If so what did you use?
MArk
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Clean2Day on March 12, 2010, 04:19:17 pm
Well I supose it wasnt that high, the pre spray is 8ish ph, prochem fabric prespray.
Could this be the issue?
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Dave_Lee on March 12, 2010, 04:35:28 pm
Was the fabric green in colour by any chance?
Dave.
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Clean2Day on March 12, 2010, 04:38:05 pm
Hi Dave,

No it is a natural, off white colour. with a pink spot!
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Dave_Lee on March 12, 2010, 04:48:51 pm
Pink spots or marks on upholstery following cleaning can indicate a Ph problem. An indicator dye is usually the culprit. If it is down to this it is easily solved with Bicarbonate of Soda, or Sodium Bicarbonate which ever way you want to call it. A teaspoon full in half a litre of warm water, lightly sprayed onto the affected area or spot.  The spot should then disappear in front of your eyes. It is then wiped off with a clean white towel or tissue and dried (carefully) with a hair dryer.
Dave.
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Mark Slaney on March 12, 2010, 04:50:36 pm
   Is it on both cushions or just one spot, if just one spot i might have been something already there and reacted with your cleaning chems. Did you acid rinse it?

  Mark.
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Clean2Day on March 12, 2010, 05:12:48 pm
Thanks guys, the bicarb sounds good Dave, havent tried it before so it makes me a bit nervous! I also read that ammonia works in this situation? either way, it's sounding like it could be an indicator dye, which is more than I had before posting!

Mark, Its only on one cushion and I used the pre-spray on both! Usually I do acid rinse, when confronted with a heavy soiled piece of furniture, and after using higher ph chems, but for some reason didn't think it was necessary in this case as it was just a small area & I didn't use much at all. You live & learn I guess!

Thanks for posting peeps, It's all helpfull, as usuall! :)
Title: Re: Pink spot!!
Post by: Steve. Taylor on March 12, 2010, 05:25:50 pm
Both fabric prespray & fab clean are ph 8.5 with 7 being nautral i would not consider the chems a problem you may have brought something to the surface as said as this is off white you could use just the foam on a weak solution of prochem oxibrite then rinse have used this before on a cushion with a rust mark with good result.