[Paul Simpson]

Hi Guys

Been asked by a local carpet suppliers to go and look at a tea stain spilt on a seagrass type carpet. Never worked on these to-date and seems from previous posts alot of you walk straight away from them.
Client says he tried to clean it with just water and maybe a little soap and it started to go white when it dried so in a rash decision he chucked something else on it (he's not quite sure what) and made it even worse.
I told him it sounds as if he's bleached it in which case theres nothing I could do but he wants me to go and look anyway and give it a try before contacting his insurance company.
I feel kinda obligated as the carpet fitters has just started referring regular work my way but am I wasting my time.
I'm feeling slightly paranoid that if I try to treat it he's gonna say it's 10 times worse and claim from the insurance anyway.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[*paul_moss]

Paul the white will prob be just detergent wick back which has settled on the  top.
Seagrass cant be wet cleaned very well some guys do have some success on cleaning it dependent on soilage type and levels but in the main it is very difficult to clean it atall possible and generally we walk away from it.
Dry cleaning is the best option if you fancy having a go at it but as you know you dont get great results with dry cleans.

[Ken Wainwright]

Paul

These vegetable face fibre carpets are highly prone to colour loss when cleaned. I have encountered it myself with just a freshwater rinse and also from Dry Compound cleaning.  It is not bleached, but colour loss.  OK, to the consumer the effect is the same but the cause is different. As Paul has said, it may be down to crystalised detergent residues reflecting more light, but in my experience, this will be additional to the colour loss and not be the cause.  Anything you do is likely to worsen the situation.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Paul Simpson]

Thanks for the reply guys.
Client has already rang this morning to put it off till next week so I told him after consulting with people more experienced in dealing with seagrass it does very much sound like it is colour loss and nothing I can do will make much difference, only make it worse. He thanked me for investigating it further and says he will go down the insurance route.
Said he will keep my details for future use anyway.
Which was nice!