[House Angels]

Hi

I recently cleaned a clients wool berber carpet using HWE, the carpet was covered in baby 'puke' stains, I used Prochems traffic pro then Prochem double clean. the carpet came up great and she was very pleased.

However, her twin girls again sicked up bottled milk formula onto the carpet, having not listened to the advice i gave her about cleaning up any further messes she sprayed the patches with Vanish carpet spray (in the pink bottle) which has left brown stains on the carpet.

Any advice before I tackle this would be great

Thanks

Terry :

[House Angels]

Can no one help with this?

and there I was thinking that I had found the font of all knowledge!

 :

[AquaMagic]

Hi Terry, i thing the reason you are not getting a responce is becuase its probably bad news, the use of Vanish is not a good idea, i belive it contacts a bleaching agent, Vanish can acctually set the stain or even if the stain is removed you are sometomes left with a lighter patch where the stain was.  Hold out for more replies Terry or use the search function as im sure there have been loads of topics about the dreaded Vanish problem before.

Hope this helps.

Dene

[House Angels]

Thanks Dene

You are a star

Tel

[John Kelly]

Hi Terry, as Dene says if Vanish has been used in unsuitable quantities then permanent damage may have occured. It may also be cellulosic browning caused by the backing getting wet and the loose dyes wicking up into the face fibres.
You may be able to rectify it to some degree. Start by extracting with either palin water or detergent. This will remove the residue of the vanish and give you an idea of the actual fibre damage. If a brown stain remains treat this with a coffee stain remover or de-browning treatment. Best to use a white cloth and wipe on in one direction. See if any brown dye comes off onto the cloth. If it does then this may remedy it, may take a few goes. If staining remains you could use a reducer like spray n go or shift. It may be completely knackered so before doing anything explain to the customer that you can attempt retrieval but cannot guarantee success.

[House Angels]

Thanks John

I have explained the situation to the client and she is now dithering over cleaning or just replacing but thank you for your advice it is much appreciated

Terry

[Ken Wainwright]

Terry

I can't help but cringe at the procedures you have taken on this carpet.  To clean a wool berber with the products you have used is a disaster waiting to happen. 

The problems that customers usually have with the retail product types you have mentioned tend to be lightening/colour damage.

Because you have used high pH solutions yourself, it is probable that even distilled water spilt on the carpet at a later date could have dried out with the staining you have described.

My advice would be to attend a Woolsafe Training Course and then practice their teachings.

It is not very often that treatments to cellulosic browning stains on a wool berebr are successful.

Sorry to be so blunt.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Adam Young]

Hi Ken,

I cleaned a wool/mix berber today using Prespray gold and extracted using double clean? I checked the pH of my tank solution and it was pH 8 as I only mixed for light soiling. I tested both solutions on an offcut of carpet that was being used as a rug for transfer for ca 30 mins while I was prevaccing.

Do you think there is also a problem with this? I would like to do a woolsafe course any Ideas of where and when in the near future?

Regards,

Adam.

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Adam

It's good to challenge your own procedures as knowledge is gained. Very refreshing.

I would not myself clean this type of carpet in the way you have described. You have used an appropriate, Woolsafe Approved pre-spray, and I would have elected to use an acidic rinse or a mild, low pH Woolsafe Approved detergent rinse.

After the pre-vac, most of the work is performed by the pre-spray, which is then rinsed away.  You have rinsed with a more aggressive solution, albeit less concentrated.

It is my opinion that ALL carpet cleaners should be obliged to attend a Woolsafe or similar training course. Woolsafe can be found at:  www.woolsafe.org

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Robert Watson]

Sound advice from Ken as always.

Hello Adam.
I see you are a fellow Scotsman  there's a few of us on here.
I like Prespray Gold, but would most likely have rinsed with fibersafe gold or
maybe Fabric and Fiber Rinse if not to soiled.

"Fibresafe Gold
A safe and effective powdered extraction detergent for wool and stain resistant nylon carpets. Approved by the “Woolsafe” Organisation for use on Wool and Wool-rich carpets. Fibresafe Gold incorporates a self neutralising pH system which reduces the risk of colour bleed, texture change and re-soiling. Yellow powder with green apple fragrance.
Dilution 1 to 333 pH 8"

If your in Edinburgh and you fancy a chat, get in touch.
Rab

[Adam Young]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for that, Looks like I missed a woolsafe course this month at Sebo, However I'll get booked onto the one at the National flood school in November which is good because I'd like to visit the NFS anyway.

Hi Rab,

I'll order up some Fibresafe gold, as I too have been impressed with Prespray gold the handful of times I've used it so far. Is there a Prochem supplier in Edinburgh? As I only know of CSUK in Cupar which is quite a trek for me as I'm at Pease Bay! I know I can mail order but I like to have a look at what's available and listen to the advice given on some products.

Nice Profile Pic  and nice website too! I'll give you a call when I'm in Town for a blether. I normally drop in to see my Mum in Musselburgh on a Tuesday so maybe could meet up sometime.

Long may Wee Jeemy avoid you're wand!

Regards,

Adam.

[Graeme@Access]

Hi Adam,

There is a prochem distrubutor in Greenock who delivers to edinburgh.

Contact Alec on 01475 892111 or  07801610430.  He is a nice guy and is full of helpful advice.

Hope this helps

Graeme
Access Cleaning Solutions

[gwrightson]

Ken in responce to yor reply "all c/c should be obliged to attend a woolsafe or similar" similar been what ?
 NCCA   or IICRC     or do you infact mean a course specificaly foor wool !!!!
 I personaly feel that any c/c cleaner with the slightest bit of sense who have attended either of these 2 courses , would realise the consequences and possible implications of improper use of chemicals etc when using on wool.
 So do you feel that its really neccasary to take a woolsafe course?, or will either of the others suffice!!,
apart from the obvious benifit of having the woolsafe logo onboard, or is that just more expense every yr to be a member
  Geoff

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Geoff

Fair comment!

As far as I'm aware, there is only one training course specifically structured for just wool.  That's the Woolsafe course, and is run by the Woolsafe Organisation. However, there are other companies who offer the same Woolsafe approved or certified training such as Chemspec Europe, NFS and probably others too.  The way I worded my earlier post was perhaps not clear.

IMO, because of time constraints, the NCCA and IICRC CCT courses are not able to give the amount of time to instruction about wool that can be done in a dedicated course.  The content of the Woolsafe training is very involved and technical and gives you a much better understanding of the composition of wool, it's characteristics and it's care and mainenance needs. Knowledge is power.  Just because you attend the training course, it doesn't mean that you have to enrol into the Certified Operator Network.

For me, this was the most important traing course I have ever attended.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Paul Redden Countryfresh]

Hi, It is very dangerous to clean a wool berber like a pub carpet. High alkaline pre-sprays followed by an alkaline like double clean, will with a loop carpet like berber go straight to the backing, it will look great when you leave, but will dry yellowish and patchy.  far safer to use micro splitter or pre-spray gold, follwed by a neutral ph detergent or acidic rinse.

The quick easy option is not the best course in the long run.

Safe cleaning   paul

[Frank E]

Greetings from Florida, gents.  I have been lurking on this site for a bit, I grew up in the West Midlands.  I was just curious about how much wool carpet you come across over there?? Is it in a lot of homes?? 

[carpetclean]

hi Frank in my experience about 80% of homes have wool or wool mix

[HolmansUKLTD]

I found 50/50 espically over the last few years.

Then again Pete you dont do a burn test

Just a burn guess

Nick

[Frank E]

Wow, we do not see nearly that much over here, maybe 1 out of 150 will have some wool in it..  Mostly nylon over here..

[carpetclean]

hi frank i was told nylon is the most popular over there  . beats me why you buy chemicals as its so easy to clean.
Nick B#######s