[rice]

An artists studio,white wool carpet/large rug.
CHARCOAL pencil stains all over, also fine flakes from chimney lining caused by  downdraught during
recent storms.Neither are water soluable and solvent is about 80% effective,it`s simillar to removing
soot stains but the problem is held on the top of the fibres.i`ve done these over the years but allways
was disappointed with the results. ANY IDEAS!
REGARDS  RICE.

[Fred Gullan]

have you tried ultrapac renovate (prochem) agitate with a micro fibre pad on a rotary give it good dwell time and extract with acid rinse.

[The Great One]

Hi

Has it already been wet at some stage?

The reason I ask as soot, charcoal is a carbon based powder, when it gets wet it tends to dye the carpet and seep into the fibres.

Regards

Martin

[rice]

hi martin,I have only tried a few of each spots with ms  and ms solvent type with not bad but still less
than perfect resuts.you know how it is, it`s that last 10% of the stain on white wool that is totally
absorbed and wont shift,if it was just one or two stains i`d fade them out but this is all over the place.

Is there anything that carbon is soluable in?
regards rice.

[The Great One]

Hi

Tough one you have there.

As it is white wool and it sounds like the carpet is stuffed anyway, you could Oxibrite it, now I haven't tried that, it is just a suggestion. Anyone who has I'm sure you would be grateful for their input.

Before you obviously attempt such a thing, qualify with the client, get him to sign that he agrees it's doomed anyway and does not hold you responsible for any damage, take before pictures to

A. Cover yourself

B. if it works you have great before & after pictures

Or just walk away from it and tell him to claim on the insurance

As it is wool sounds like it has dyed the fibres anyway, bleaching via Oxibrite may be your only solution. If he does replace it you could also ask for a big sample to experiment on for next time, or offer to do it anyway with a no clean no fee basis, just for the experience, just a few ideas?

Good luck

Regards

Martin

[matt jones]

Good reply Martin i too have heard about oxibriting problematic carpets yet never done it as yet would be interested though if someone that has could shed some light on the subject. One thing though is ive heard that its not the best thing to extract through your machine?
matt