[Len Gribble]

Went to clean a patterned cream coloured cotton 3-piece suit today, which looked like it was covered in nicotine no problem I thought, done my usual test the dirt kept coming out, changed cleaning agent and tested in two other areas still the same problem. (Agents used were ms and fabric prespray/restorer

I advised the customer that I’m having problems with it, her reply was that she was not happy the last time it was cleaned about four years ago (it was hand cleaned and recommend by one of the big stores) it looked like the same then as now, (thinking what am I doing now but with a terry towel Len been setup) and then I started to dig deeper it’s was bought from a company called ELF locally and it came from Wales (main depot) 12years ago and it was protected.

Has any one come across this type of problem and is there a cost effective cleaning remedy?

Len



 

[dave401uk]

I had the same problem with a velour suite, i called the client in and showed her,the suit was just not letting go of the dirt,her reply was.. well its better than it was,and the last time it was cleaned,it  didnt come to well either!

I think as much as we would like to get a good result all the time, there are times when we just cant.

And i gave her every chance to say, oh well you had better leave it then!

She didnt,and payed with out hesitation!!

Dave

[Len Gribble]

Dave

I only got as far as the testing and this being in a none conspicuous area, if that wont clean what chance do you have on the seating area wear and tear is an other thing.

Len

[Dynafoam]

Len,

I have come across a couple of cream cotton suits that had previously been 'hand-cleaned' that had developed a distinct yellowing.

Though the discolouration looked too even to be classic cellulostic browning one responded to B175, mixed 1:7, with a 20 minute dwell.

The next did not respond to the same treatment, though similar in appearance. It was greatly improved by a shampoo with Oxibrite and Fibrebuff, followed by an extraction rinse with B109 the following day.

Another product that comes to mind is Haitian Cotton Shampoo, though I have not used it in these circumstances.

[Derek]

Hi

John

I have used both of the methods you describe and they both work...in each case I have rinsed with the oxibrite/fibrebuff solution (in the first scenario) and Haitain cotton cleaner in the second.

WARNING... do NOT mix the two scenarios     

Oxibrite is an oxydising agent whilst Haitain cotton cleaner/shampoo both contain reducering agents

The resulting mix (reducer and oxidiser) ...should you wish to live dangerously... is quite spectacular...YOU WILL ONLY DO IT ONCE

Derek

[woodman]

Used to get this problem with new furniture pre-sprayed with potectors before delivery mainly on off white cotton suites when they were the rage a few years ago.

John Lewis stopped the use of all protectors as a result and recommended any customers buying them not to have them protected.

Seemed to be where they had been in storage and airborne soil and humidity had penetrated the fabric prior to spraying.This did not become apparant until after when a yellowing would occur also speckled effect on the fabric.Many customers complained and JL had to replace quite a few.

A lot guys were doing a lot of protector at the time not always properly she may have had it cleaned and it reacted with the solution, probably dry foam.

Did she say who cleaned it ?was it Safeclean do you know.

[Len Gribble]

Woodman

I did ask her who cleaned it and ran though all the normal national/local cc to me, she could not remember husband thought it was CD but when she said sponges bells rang.

By what you are saying there may have been a problem at the start, she only advised me the suit is 12 years old and it was cleaned 4 years ago, (I wonder was it?) I was waiting for replies before rebooking an appointment with her which I will do tomorrow.

Len

[Nigel_W]

Len,

I have also come across a problem with suites evenly yellowing when they have been protected with silicone based protectors. In the days of silicone protectors it was very important not to over-apply. If the silicone protector is over-applied the fabric yellows over time and soils up quickly. If this is the case the fabric will probably feel  slightly tacky.

Interesting that Woodman should mention Safeclean as I believe that Guardsman is/was? silicone based.

I have also seen Sofa's yellow uniformly when a solvent based protector has been applied to wet fabric. The solvent inhibits the drying causing the fabric to yellow all over.

Nigel

[Derek]

Hi

You raise an interesting and familiar issue

We had similar problems when treating suites with Scotchgard a few years ago...It was found that it wasn't the protector that was causing the trouble but a cheap foam used by the manufacturers... result of cost cutting again folks

Foam when new is usually white'ish in colour but when exposed to air it oxidises and produces a yellow sulphur like staining...commonly known as phenolic yellowing or BHT staining.
(BHT ...Butyl Hydroxy Toluene)

It was found that this could be removed by cleaning with an acidic rinse... I have carried out inspections galore on this phenomenon and also seen furniture in stores with signs of yellowing and these have NOT been treated with a protector.

On the darker dralon and flock fabrics it did resemble severe nicotine staining.

Thought we had seen the last of this...maybe not

Derek

[Dynafoam]

Derek,

For severe phenolic yellowing I have found citric acid to be the most effective.

The problem with using this is that it tends to dry sticky, requiring a second clean to rectify.

[Len Gribble]

Spoke to master of the house, husband words not mine: she advised the suit had not been cleaned before the sponges that equates to appox 8years.

She has sent e-mail to whom she thinks the product is. Can’t wait for the phone call.

Len

[HolmansUKLTD]

Had a similar problem len, after i cleaned it with various products i towled some bonnet buff onto it went back and sponged some fibre shampoo with B151+B162 oxibright and fibrebuff. when it was dry she was over the moon i wnet back AGAIN!! and protected it with solugard job done!!

NIck