[david_claxton]

Hello,

I've been asked to look at a terracotta coloured sofa with chenille fabric that has a 2p coin size oil stain on it. It's from M&S and they say it shouldn't be cleaned. Can anyone advise what the best way is to clean this or is it a not starter?

Many thanks in advance.

Dave

[nick.solution]

Hi David

You could try indirect application ie apply Eco spotter to a towel and place it over the stain, tamp lightly, then warm the towel with a hair dryer this should remove the mark using heat transfer,

I hope this helps

Best regards Nick

[woodman]

Hi David

Who says it shouldn't be cleaned?

[david_claxton]

Nick, thanks.

Woodman, M&S say it should not be cleaned.

Thanks

[Ken Wainwright]

David

I suspect that the stain can be successfully cleaned, but to go against the advice of the supplier is dodgy. Firstly, if M&S say it can't be cleaned then you have to ask the question "Have they supplied goods not fit for the purpose?" as all fabrics soil and require cleaning. Secondly, I'd suggest to your customer that she should claim on her household contents insurance for accidental damage, that way, if the item can't be salvaged, it will be replaced.

It's cases like this that you should think with your head and not be a hero. There are soooo many pitfalls with upholstery, many of them that you can't see or identify. Perhaps M&S know something about this fabric that we don't?

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Derek]

Uncle Ken

You said it...if it can't be cleaned why sell it...refer back to M & S ..as if they haven't got enough probems at the moment

Cheers
Derek

[woodman]

Are you sure it's not 'textured chenille', alot of M&S sofas are in fact 100% polyester

If the label said it can not be cleaned I'd be very surprised.

As far as I know all M&S suites can be cleaned, I don't know how you could sell a non-cleanable one.

Did the label say something along these lines:

'Do not wet clean do not dry clean contact.....'

If so,and a lot do, this simply means they are passing the buck to a professional cleaner to make the decision for them, this is quite normal and it is just warning the customer not to attempt anything herself.

The decision is yours, if your not sure then walk and explain to her that due to lack of information supplied you do not want the risk.

[Len Gribble]

Twice in the last three weeks I’ve had customers phone do you CD can’t understand this, as phone number are on the tag.

Len

[david_claxton]

Len,

I think you're saying to phone the number on the label. I did and that was what they said. On actually seeing the sofa to quote is was in fact textured chenille and it cleaned well.

Thanks for the advice from everyone.

Dave

[woodman]

Hi David

How did you clean it in the end?

[david_claxton]

Hi,

Experiencing some difficulty with this one. The story from the start is that a removal company moved this chaps goods and chattels and during the move, apparently, the oil mark appeared. The removal company, who I do a fair amount of work for contacted me and asked if I could remove the mark, though they were unconvinced that they were the cause. (The chap was a nightmare to move for and gave incorrect info which resulted in access problems even though an on site meeting had taken place, thus the removal company had to hire to smaller vehicles to enable access. They've told me he was very difficult from the start). Now he's claiming that I have made a lighter patch on his sofa, about the size of a 2p coin despite confirming with him exactly what the material was and speaking with my chemical supplier what was required. I'm now in the middle of a feud with him trying to get me to accept responsibility for something I did to the best of my knowledge and I'm unsure of what direction I should go from now on.

Any help, perhaps from past similar experiences, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

[dave401uk]

It would seem M&S put this label on all there suite,s regarless of fabric type,it take the onus away from them,so they seem to think!

Happy Xmas to you all

Dave

[Doug Holloway]

David,

Is the 2p coin shaped stain the same one that was originally on the suite or did it supposedly appear when you cleaned the suite?

Cheers,

Doug

[Ken Wainwright]

David

See my post above.

Is the fabric pH sensitive?
Is the "colour loss" due to residues?

You may be obliged by your insurers to inform them NOW if their is a chance of a claim being made. Do it anyway.

Making presumptions. Thinking common sense, not the same as legally.

Your client (the haulier) had been informed that M&S had marked the fabric DO NOT CLEAN. He had commisioned you knowing this. His options were replace the item or it may clean successfully. He was clutching at straws.  What had he got to lose? He still has to replace it 

Good luck with this one

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[david_claxton]

Thanks for the replies,

re the mark now, it's a slightly lighter area on the sofa about the size of a 2p coin, this has replaced the similar sized mark that was a very dark oil mark.

I think that possibly because the sofa is 4 yrs old anyway, I've simply made the area in question go back to looking new because they've never had it cleaned before. No chance I'm going back to clean the rest though.

...and Ken, you are exactly right with your ending comments.

We will see.

Thanks again,

David