[Kev Loomes]

Phil, can I ask what standard fabric cleaner you use that gives superb results on suites that you clean?

With all due respect, I gave an opinion as to what I use (trafic lane de-greaser amongst other chem's), and when you actually look at the product it's relatively mild, and will not damage any fibres so long as pre testing is done - like ALL chem's!

Why do people have hang ups about trying different avenues. For a newbie I wouldnt advise it but at the end of the day a fibre is a fibre whether its on the floor or on a frame. Synthetics, naturals, mixes etc all need cleaning and so long as your sensible, test, dont use excessive agents and approach it professionaly, there wont be a problem.

Fabrics are more complex I know, and certainly need kid gloves at times, so I would always advise to PRE TEST PRE TEST & PRE TEST! with what ever chem you use. Correct fibre identification will also assist in what method to use.

[Phil Marlor]

Phil, can I ask what standard fabric cleaner you use that gives superb results on suites that you clean?

It says in my post what I use!

All I was stating is that in many of the above posts people are advising the use of incorrect agents, Traffic Lane de-greaser is one of them IMO.

You can test all you like with Ultra Pac Revonate, Crystal Green, Traffic lane etc, you wont see any damage, but it probably wont do the suite any good long term.

Phil

[markpowell]

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

[markpowell]

Just to clarify a few points regarding prochems ultrapac renovate and crystal green.
ultrapac is the chemical that prochem recommend for heavy smoke and heavy soil removal on upholstery, mix 60ml to a litre of warm water and pre-spray.
Crystal green can be used in hwe machine tanks on upholstery, see the prochem training guide for upholstery section 2 page 45.
Fabric / fibre rinse should be used in place of crystal green if there is a chance of dye bleed or browning.

[markpowell]

you obviously know nothing about prochem products, section 2 page 45 of the upholstery training manual or maybe telephone their technical line and ask, why is ultrapac renovate / crystal green for carpets only?

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

[Phil Marlor]

In the Prochem catalogue Crystal Green comes under the heading of Carpet detergents. I agree Ultrapac Renovate is a problem solver and can be used on fabric, but not sure why anyone would use it on a suite at PH 10.5.

Phil

[Chris R]

I have been in this trade for 20 yrs now.

I have tried all of the above and find that microsplitters work best on upholstery.

The hand tool that you need is the CFR tool. 

Inspect / colour test and pre vac.

Spray with micro splitters ( sol nr 2 at 10 - 1 mix ) 

http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?categoryID=104

Agitate fabric with SOFT brush or hand mitt

Rinse with fresh water using the CFR hand tool.

Treat stains with sol nr 3 , or eco spotter ( or citrus gel)

 http://www.worldofclean.co.uk/index.php?categoryID=105

Fabric restorer is good on head grease.

Towel and turbo dry.

The above method is safe and effective.

Other chems will do the job, but you are taking a risk that is not really needed.

I clean about 4 or 5 suites a week, I do not advertise, all of my work comes from recommendations.

regards

Chris

ps Spraying water onto the fabric from 20cm away will not rinse it enough, with the cfr tool you can hold it onto the fabric and blast it clean, without ANY overspray.

[Ken Wainwright]

Mark

I take your point about Prochem Training Manuals, but read what you have written.

Fire Restoration is a different beast to carpet and upholstery cleaning. Agnes was enquiring about upholstery cleaning difficulties, NOT Fire restoration.

With all due respect to all of us wand draggers, if we are not trained in the VERY DIFFERENT field of Fire Restoration, my advice would still be to steer cleer of these types of products for regular upholstery cleaning. There are much safer options (for user and fabric) that can be successfully used.

With regards to upholstery cleaning tools, there are many different types with internal and external jets, and shielded or enclosed, with/without trigger/valves, made from plastic, perspex, aluminium or stainless steel. The only consistent difference between a hand and upholstery tool seems to be the water delivery. The guidelines that I would follow are for upholstery tools having an 01 or 02 jet and a hand tool having an 04 or 06 jet.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys,

I too use 'microsplitters' , Prochem Pureclean as my standard clean with other chemicals as required.

Don't be afraid to use hot water, approx 60 C as this will work much better than cool water.

Crsytal Green is useful if you are sanitising as it is compatible with Cleansan.

Cheers

Doug

[Derek]

Some of the comments on here are still frightening me...

no one has mentioned pH sensitive dyed fabrics yet that requires a cleaned item to be left neutral

pH in chemicals is not given the respect it deserves

You can test all you want but there are still some fabrics that beggar belief....I received a piece of fabric just today and when I put one of the yarns in hot water it dissolved... ...still undergoing testing...

The fabric is a spare piece sent to me by a cousin who has bought a suite covered in the stuff...and it ain't cheap fabric either

[calmore]

The Prochem catalogue says Ultrapac R is suitable for use "on carpets, fabrics and other surfaces" so that suggests it can be used on upholstery.

However, as Ken and others say, it's better to play it safe and use products that are specifically designed for the job in hand. pH is especially important when dealing with upholstery as the fabric will be more delicate than carpet.

Not only will you run less risk of damaging the item long term, the proper chemical is more likely to provide a satisfactory cleaning result.

I'd suggest only using UR on upholstery in that situation as a last resort and only then after qualifying it with the customer and appraising them of the potential problems.

[*Keith Richards]

It really is frightening the advice that gets given out on here sometimes, its either that or some people deliberately set out to give extremely bad information where some unsuspecting soul screws up good style.

Yes at times there may well be a very good reason for straying outside of accepted boundries of what is a safe method of cleaning, but only when the skills and knowledge go with it. To advise someone to use Ultrapac on uph, and presumably that well informed advice applies to all and any type of uph is absolutely ridiculous.

By all means buy 5ltrs of Ultrapac and follow such well informed advice and merrily clean some bodys suite with it, hopefully it will clean well, because the odd's are it will soon belong to you!!!!!!!!!