[AshWhite]

Hi all, I've had a call from a customer who's cat has urinated on their 9 week olf Laura Ashley Cotton/Rayon sofa. It's a crushed velvet effect, she's wet it a little bit and it's changed the appearance slightly of the fabric.

It's marked "Professional clean only, do not dry clean".

I was thinking of towelling it, but I don't suppose this would have much effect on the cat smell/mark.

It's over a cushion, and the arm - she's ordered a new cushion but obviously can't change the arm. She said this sofa cost more than any other sofa she's ever bought combined!

Any tips (including walking away) much appreciated.

[Kev Loomes]

Jeez Ash, you dont half pick um!

It depends on how much viscose is in the mix - by the sounds of it it may be high as the appearance has changed as you say.

I would visit if closeby and simply do a wet test in a hidden area. This will confirm the feasability of wet cleaning it or not (importantly - dont forget to dry with a hairdryer to see what it looks like dry). If you can wet clean it then just use a good enzyme and dwell, then clean with some clensan added in to your pre-spray solution. Then mist over with a decent deodouriser - the odour should be gone at this point so this is just to make it smell nice for her

Why do they put these daft labels on. Do not dry clean! Depending on the mix I would advise to ONLY dry clean so long as its not a bonded flock of course.

What gets me is Rayon/Viscose is very cheap to make - but is sold as an expensive item. Manufacturers and retailers are making a killing on this fabric.

[AshWhite]

I've been to visit, I sprayed the cushion with a bit of m-power and towelled it off, groomed it but didn't dry it. I said I'd give her a ring on Monday to see how it's looking. It's either 45 or 55% Rayon (I forgot!).

You're right about the cheap fibre being sold as expensive, bit of a rip off.

I've recommended the cat go into a sack, and into the local river if this sofa can't be cleaned.

As for sh*tty jobs, first one this morning was for the parents of a guy who has a stomach ulcer, vomited blood over his bedroom and the landing, went into the bathroom and had a seizure - fell over banged his head and plastered the bathroom with blood from a head wound, then had a stroke (his 3rd one, he's 43 years old). Poor bugger - still, his carpets came up nice..

[Jim_77]

If she'd carried on reading the label it would have probably said call servicemaster

I clean loads of G-plan suites that say call chem dry

I've worked on some Laura Ashley suites that sound similar to this one Ash.  You will possibly get a texture change with water if it's the sculpted type fabric with flowery patterns?

But you gotta do what you gotta do, I would disregard the fabric and do what is needed to get the right result.  However I'd be finishing it off with a brush or terry towel and a hair dryer to dry it out and set the nap back.  It should look acceptable enough.  They have no insurance scape route so fixing the cat pee smell is no. 1 priority.

[AshWhite]

Ill have to ask them if they want to go down the kill or cure route, absolve myself of any risk 

I found the sofa on the Laura Ashley website: http://mto.lauraashley.com/furniture/sofas/fabric/shape/300039-100150/langham-2-seater-sofa

[Kev Loomes]

You might get away with that Ash, it looks more like a brushed effect as opposed to a pile. Also if its 50/50 on the mix then it could indeed be possible. I would still definately test though before commencing just to make sure.

[Jim_77]

Ahhh different to what I'd imagined.

I think - not certain - that this would have a sort of "mottled" effect as you look at it and catch it in different lights.

What might happen if wetted is it will lose this mottled, textured appearance and go really plain and lighter.  Almost like polishing up a little bright patch in the middle of a rusty bit of steel, if you get my drift.

Only way to do it is to whip the cushions off, and wet up a little test patch on the bench of the sofa , dry with hair dryer and brush the nap until completely dry, then stand back and look!

[Kev Loomes]

Only way to do it is to whip the cushions off, and wet up a little test patch on the bench of the sofa , dry with hair dryer and brush the nap until completely dry, then stand back and look!

Cough, cough

I would visit if closeby and simply do a wet test in a hidden area. This will confirm the feasability of wet cleaning it or not (importantly - dont forget to dry with a hairdryer to see what it looks like dry).

[Simon Gerrard]

 Nigel Woodhead's yer man for this kind of thing.

Simon

[AshWhite]

Who's Nigel Woodhead?

[Simon Gerrard]

Nigel works on very high end properties in Central London as is a real specialist in cleaning delicate fabrics., if anyone knows the answer to your question, he will.

http://designcare.co.uk/

Simon

[AshWhite]

Ah yes I remember him, wasn't he posting on here til someone upset him recently?

[peter maybury]

Ash
If it is a piled fabric the chances are that the pile is 100% rayon that is woven into a cotton back this is common with most piled farics including dralon which is acrylic woven into cotton. cotton is used due to its natural elasticity. It is normally difficult to clean a piled rayon or viscose (The same thing) without changing the appearance but if it is done all over then you should not encounter many problems. 15- 20 years ago there was loads of it about but it went out of fashion. Because it is in plentiful supply and cheap to manufacture and people have forgotten how crap it is, it is making a come back.

Peter
www.carpetcleanercardiff.com

[AshWhite]

Lady phoned me back today, the patch I tested has changed a little bit, but she is happy for me to clean the arm as she doesn't really have any other option. I said I'd keep moisture down to a minimum, and dry it with a hairdryer as I go.

[Jim_77]

Fair do's.  The drying won't make any difference to the visible change of appearance, but will just help get the nap set back.  If the change in appearance is acceptable I personally would suggest she gets the whole piece cleaned so it looks the same... and makes it more of a worthwhile job

[Jamie Pearson]

I would dry/wet/dry it.
Carding brush in hand and a little bit of this thrown in http://www.prochem.co.uk/safety%20data%20sheets/sdsa223.pdf
Subject to testing obviously.
Done loads of smelly rayons this way years ago.

[AshWhite]

Good link Jamie, never seen that for sale anywhere before.