[ag]

Hi All

Cleaned two three piece suites this week, and to be honest I was a bit disappointed in the results. Granted the first hadnt been cleaned in about 6 years, and was used mainly by toddlers, but I expected the second to lift better than it did. Im using a serious amount of citrus gel to lift stains. Are my expectations to high?
This is what I do:
1.hoover
2.prespray (prespray gold) & agitiate with upholstery brush
Let it sit for about 10 mins
3.hot water extract (hand tool approx.20 cms away from fabric)
4.usually have to go over it loads with spotters. More than when I do carpets, and they have been coming out really well.

So is that as good as it gets.bit disappointed.

Also how do you all stop the surrounding areas from getting wet? Or is that just part of it?thought maybe I was being a bit clumsy with the uph.tool.

any advice appreciated,
agnes

[Neil Grainger]

You need to get an internal Hand tool that you can rest straight on the Fabric

Have you done any courses on Upholstery?

[markpowell]

Hi,
Have you tried prochems fabric restorer as a pre-spray then crystal green in the solution tank of the machine, if it is really heavily soiled or a smokers house try ultrapac renovate as the pre-spray and crystal green to extract, always get good results. Make sure you do the colour bleed tests.
Hope this helps, Mark

[Cloverleaf]

I would also try Prochem fabric restorer as mentioned above.

I don't think the prespray you are using is suitable for heavy soiled upholstery.

John

[Amethyst]

I'm trying other combinations but always find that Prochem Fabric Restorer followed by a rinse/extract with Fibre & Fabric Rinse works well. I tend to mix the Fabric Restorer in a bucket and apply the foam, brushing it in with an Upholstery Brush - works well for me. You definately need an upholstery tool which limits any excess spray, failing that a dust sheet! I would suggest that you take extra care to keep any over spray away wood finishes - they are not always as permanent as you might think.

[Ken Wainwright]

Hi Agnes

A purpose designed upholstery tool is essential for HWE on upholstery. A carpet hand tool is totally unsuitable.

Your pre-treatment should be formulated for use on upholstery. Some are dual purpose carpet/upholstery, but most aren't.

I can not think of a situation whereby I would recommend the use of Crystal Green as described above. It can be likened to playing Russian Roulette I'd go with a pH neutral, acidic or freshwater rinse as appropriate.

I'd also go with neil and advise an upholstery training course. It's much cheaper than buying a customer a new suite, or even just the insurance excess

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Kev Loomes]

Try this for fantastic results:

1. Pre clean with a sea sponge, getting the fabric nice and damp (which also allows the next pre spray good distribution).
2. Pre spray with Alltec's Traffic lane de-greaser (not traffic lane cleaner) or Prochem's Fabric Restorer.
3. Scrub
4. Wipe off with terry towelling (gets loads of soil off, and its nice to show the custy )
5. Rinse & Extract with Ultimate Master or similar
6. Towel off removing excess moisture/tram lines etc
7. Turbo dry for maximum effect and custy satisfaction

Obviously I dont know what your charging but if its bottom end then the above wont be very cost effective.

For overspray this comes with experience I guess, you can use your hand to cup the tool and catch it in these circumstances.

[ag]

Hi there

Yes, I have done a training course - NCCA, I've followed everything in their manual and from their demos, so I assumed it was the products.

I wouldnt have said that the second suite I did was heavily soiled, and I gave it a good agitiation. Maybe I didnt put enough prespray on, as I was a little hesitant as I didnt want the filling of sofa to get wet.but I felt that I did.  I was going to lather up a bit of soultion and hand apply instead, maybe shoudl have done that.

What s the difference between a uph. tool and a hand tool?Why is a carpet hand tool unsuitable?  The one I saw used at NCCA seemed very similar to a handtool.

i will definalty try out your suggestions for products.

im getting them all this week - had first belgian wilton and sisal.

Thank you all very much.

[Neil Grainger]

Upholstery tool has an internal pipe coming out of the suction that only allows just enough solution into the fabric that is lifted by the Vacuum.

Normal Carpet hand tool just soaks the fabric and overwets it.

[ag]

Ok, so it measures the amount of water out,and is tidy etc etc but does really have any affect on the actual dirt removal aspect or is that purely the products?

[Derek]

ag

I agree with Uncle Ken Wainwright...many of the chemicals mentioned in several of the above posts have the potential to cause serious problems on upholstery fabrics.

I would be very surprised if the NCCA courses recommended their use

Its a pity you couldn't have got to Bromsgrove last month to one of Uncle Ken's NCCA shindigs...we would have shown you how to clean upholstery sucessfully...maybe you could make the next one?

[Mark Stanley]

It goes almost with out saying I agree with Uncle Ken & Derek.

Regards
Mark

[ollie]

i use fabric restorer as a prespray and remove as much soiling as i can with a terry towel whilst agitating then fabclean in the tank and finally a misting of fabric and fibre rinse and a final towellling down.   I also use ashbys fabric safe powder in the tank now and again.  Ive been getting fantastic results since i started using fabric restorer.

[calmore]

I must say I have had very good results with "Fabric Restorer" followed up with Fibre & Fabric Rinse".

I'd echo the above comments about using products specifically designed for upholstery.

[Kev Loomes]

Bit OTT

Fabric restorer has specifially been designed to clean FABRIC (the clue's in the name  ). If the correct tests have been done (like any chemical) there wont be any problems. Perhaps getting clarification direct from Prochem who have developed it, may eleviate any concerns.

As for Traffic lane cleaner, try and not let the name ring alarm bells. At the end of the day it's purely a cleaning agent for fibres and is ph10, certainly not extreme by anyones measures. There are far harsher chem's out there and I certainly know of other reputable cleaners who use it on UPH with great results  In the 5yrs or so that we have been using it on UPH we have never had one single issue with it - only extremely satisfied clients 

[ag]

Hi

sorry - just to clarify NCCA didnt recommend any products over another. They explained the merits of all.
The upholstery course does indeed sound good, and infact I think training is really important part of business development, however my training budget is used up this year, so Im hoping to make it next year.
I have been really good a testing though, so hopefully that will stand in my favour.
Will check out some of the products.
thanks for all the tips,
agnes

[Phil Marlor]

ag,

Get yourself a hand tool which has an internal jet, this will stop you from overspraying.
Use Microsplitters as a pre-spry, agitate with cotton towels and rinse with fresh water, towel dry and turbo vac.

If there is any head grease on the head rest or arms perhaps use fabric restorer, but I find this isn't usually nessesary

Do not use Crystal Green, Traffic lane de-greaser, or Ultra pac renovate, these products are designed for carpet not fabrics, why do people use these products on suites when there are specialist fabric cleaning agents and worse still why do they come on here advising others to use them.

Phil

[David_Annable]

Phil

I think it a bit rich you giving advice on upholstery cleaning when the last custurd woun't pay you.

Dave

PS Please dont call me names.

[Phil Marlor]

I now wish I had used Blitz, scrubbed in with a wire wool brush and rinsed out with enzall!

You Northern monkey.

Phil

ps Is that Dog still that size?

[David_Annable]

Hi

No its as big as a house now, but the custurds love it.

Dave