[fitz2kleen]

Had a call today from a distraught lady.
She suffers with an allergic reaction to anything and everything.
She usually has leather sofas but was persuaded to buy a fabric one by her family.
She did what she does with all new items that she buys, leaves it to air for a few days away from her and usually all is ok.
She left it in her conservatory for 3 days, brought it inside last night and this morning her eyes look like shes done 10 rounds with Tyson.
She said the shop she bought it from offered her scotchguard protection but she refused and explained about her allergies.
She also says there is some kind of odour from it and is assuming that it has been treated with a chemical of some kind.
so the dilemma is does she sell her beautiful brand new sofa or is there a way we can clean it and remove any treatments it may have been given without causing her further problems.
We are wondering if it may be the foam inside that is fire retardent causing the problem.

Any ideas?

[robert meldrum]

More likely to be a residual odour from wrapping material or possibly from fabric dyes although thats pretty rare nowadays.
Leaving in a conservatory is probably the worst thing she could have done.
Use the search facility for past posts on allergy treatments which might help the lady.

[John Kelly]

Its likely to be off gassing of solvents from the foam. This stuff actually has the ability to discolour carpets as is seen with BHT yellowing.
My advice would be to steer well clear. We come across these clients occasionally on our fire & flood work and they are nothing but trouble. Initially you go out of your way to help them as you feel sorry for them and they stab you in the back. Now we won't even attempt any sort of cleanup as no matter what product you use they say they are allergic to it and even say that you have made things worse. Stay well clear.

[wynne jones]

Its likely to be off gassing of solvents from the foam. This stuff actually has the ability to discolour carpets as is seen with BHT yellowing.
My advice would be to steer well clear. We come across these clients occasionally on our fire & flood work and they are nothing but trouble. Initially you go out of your way to help them as you feel sorry for them and they stab you in the back. Now we won't even attempt any sort of cleanup as no matter what product you use they say they are allergic to it and even say that you have made things worse. Stay well clear.

Ditto, she will be looking to you next for some hysteria.

[Steve_Knight]

Marc
I had the same call too.
As John said Im gonna steer well clear.
Also something didnt seem right,when I offered to go and inspect it she seemed very cagey and flustered.
Cheers
Steve

[fitz2kleen]

Steve,

 Funny you should say that, she did say she had just spoken to someone who was in her words 'very pushy wanting to come out to the house etc'
She was very agitated and never stopped for breath.

All in all it was a very bizarre call.

Trena

[mark joyce]

well how are you going to sort it if you cant see it!!


bet she does not want anyone round as she wont want to get the purse out


this could all end in tears if you do something to a brand new suite and it still makes her allergies react

[fitz2kleen]

Told her we going to make some enquiries into the best way of dealing with it.
She was going to call back and arrange for us to go and see her but as yet nothing.
Maybe somebody is testing us for some reason..... it really was a strange call.
Have no intention of doing anything to it other than advise her that if she has had leather furniture in the past with no problems , maybe she should consider a return back to that.

[Steve_Knight]

Hi Trena
Wasnt pushy at all!
I told her as the other Mark says above that we would need to see it to try to evaluate the problem.
She couldnt give me a time so immediately set the alarm bells ringing.
She rang me on a witheld number and said she would get back to me but like you, I aint heard anything.
If she does call me back I will give her your number

[fitz2kleen]

lol cheers steve .... i gave her yours 
told her you were far more experienced to deal with such things  :

j/k

[John Kelly]

I've found a lot of these people also have underlying mental health issues as well.
Remember one well. A young girl with an upper flat. There had been a serious fire in the flat next door and the smoke had entered her flat through open windows contaminating the walls and ceilings. Smoke residue from domestic fires is one of the most toxic chemical mixes going. She had been living in this stuff for about 2 weeks before we were assigned by the insurance company. We attended and she was there with her social worker. I explained that the residues had to be removed using high alkaline detergent as it was the only way to do it and neutralise the acids contained within. If she moved out for a few days we could have it cleaned and decorated ready for her to move back in. Wouldn't have it, insisted we used water only. Despite demonstrating how totally ineffective water was at removing it she wouldn't budge along with her mouth piece of a social worker. I tried explaining that she was at far more danger sitting and breathing in this crap than any chemical that was going to be used on the job. Still wouldn't have it so I left them to it. Don't know what happened in the end, think the insurance company washed their hands of it.

[John Atkinson]

As she has spoken to all of you, I suggest you all tell her to sell her new sofa. You will save further troubles to yourselves and to the lady...Such people, allergic to anything, are very dangerous, they can really cause you a lot of problems. They might accuse you that you have used an irritant for them and it will only get worse.
Tell her to sell the sofa! 

[fitz2kleen]

Thats my intention if she calls back .

[Steve Rothwell]

I would not even suggest that to them as they may blame you for making them sell a brand new sofa for a loss.

I would just say that this is not in your field of expertise and suggest she looks elsewhere.