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Sean Dickinson

  • Posts: 17
Cleaning a velvet sofa
« on: December 05, 2012, 05:28:37 pm »
Hi,

Can anyone give me some advice on cleaning a velvet sofa as I have just received a request to carry out such a clean & have never cleaned one before.  Any advice would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

Sean.

gwrightson

  • Posts: 3617
Re: Cleaning a velvet sofa
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2012, 05:42:04 pm »


Hi Sean,

Have you actualy  surveyed the sofa ? 

Have you read the label ? usualy under the seating .

Velvet, i believe can be made from any number of things, including silk, rayon, cotton etc , i would  think it is more likely to be commonly lnown as buffolo . o may will be wrong so just check.
I never had a problem with h/w/e with this material, although when wet can tend to bubble so keep moisture to a minimum and rapid dry.one other important point cold water extract only, towel well after to navoid tool marks.
Geoff
who ever said dont knock before u try ,i never tried dog crap but i know i wouldnt like  haha

gwrightson

  • Posts: 3617
Re: Cleaning a velvet sofa
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2012, 05:54:51 pm »

Just done a quick search and found this if it helps .



Pure Velvet


Pure velvet is the most basic type of velvet, made from a plain weave with a cut pile. It's used in clothing, curtains, upholstery, and other home decor items. Velvet can be made from silk, cotton, rayon, acetate, or a blend of two or more of these materials. Cotton velvet is the most durable, while velvet made from silk or synthetic materials has a glossier sheen. Nacre velvet has a differently coloured backing and pile, giving the cloth an iridescent hue.



Cut Velvet


Cut velvet has a design cut into the fabric. The cloth usually has a backing of chiffon, voile, or another lightweight woven fabric. Manufacturers make this type of velvet by cutting the pile down to its backing around the design so that the design has the raised, soft feeling of velvet while the background is less distinctive. Floral and abstract designs are popular in cut velvet.






Crushed Velvet


Crushed velvet looks as if it has been wet, squeezed together and allowed to dry -- and that is exactly how it gets its unmistakable appearance. Manufacturers use machines to twist and crush the velvet then they dry the fabric in a crumpled form, which gives it a mottled appearance. Crushed velvet cannot be ironed or smoothed out.



Panne Velvet


Panne velvet has a flatter, shinier finish than pure velvet. During manufacture, the makers lay the cloth out flat and apply high pressure to it with a roller. This flattens the nap and makes it shinier. Panne velvet usually has a higher pile count than pure velvet. It can be made from any fabric that pure velvet is made from but it's often made from silk or rayon.



Velvet-Like Materials


Some fabrics look like velvet, but actually are not. One such fabric is velveteen, which is made from cotton and has a shorter pile than velvet. Another is velour -- a fabric often used for clothing and upholstery. It's also made from cotton, but it's heavier and has a deeper pile than velveteen.






 
who ever said dont knock before u try ,i never tried dog crap but i know i wouldnt like  haha

John Milnes

Re: Cleaning a velvet sofa
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2012, 06:19:09 pm »
You'll need to check if it's cotton velvet or perhaps viscose in an inconspicuous area.
Place a few drops of water on the pile and if it collapses or changes appearance then it probably can't be wet cleaned. Also see if custy has tried to clean or had any spillages.....and check those area's, if so and those area's have the pile altered then again it probably can't be wet cleaned.

If doing the water test and the area recovers it's appearance then it should be ok.

Even better is to visit and clean a small area around the back. Then if it looks ok, book the job and when turning up again, check the area previously cleaned to see if it looks ok.

There are not so many cotton velvet sofas/ suites about but they are usually quite expensive and the custy will unknowingly buy without being told they can't be wet cleaned. So when a custy says velvet, always proceed with caution.

Sean Dickinson

  • Posts: 17
Re: Cleaning a velvet sofa
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2012, 05:29:53 pm »
Thanks for the advice guys & sorry for the late reply.  Many internet issues :(  I have not surveyed the furniture yet but I am cleaning the same customer's carpet this weekend & will be surveying it then before going back to clean on another day.  Much appreciated :)