[The Great One]

Hi Guys

I have a CC mate with a problem and thought I would turned to my learned HWE experts on here.

He has cleaned a 100% wool carpet with:

Prespray traffic Lane cleaner and washed through with Crystal Green.

Some 'orange spots' have appeared. On re cleaning he has used browning solution.

On drying these 'orange spots have appeared all over, some large, some smaller.

What are your thoughts?

Says the carpet had never been cleaned before and weren't there beforehand.

I thought it might have been vanish that has gone orange.

It was a rented property.

Regards

Martin

[markpowell]

celluostic browning caused either over wetting or not using wool safe products and cleaning with high ph solutions, the problem is using the de-browning chemicals you still need to use water again to rinse so the problem can get worse or move from one place to another, so one lot of spots will dissapear and some more appear in another areas.
I would use the oxi-brite, fibre buff and fibre shampoo method with the oxidising crystals, just put on with a sponge and leave to dry. this should sort the problem.
If you need talking through this method give me a call.
Mark

[markpowell]

If he chooses to use browning prescription again tell him to mix it 1=1 with water spray on and leave 25 mins dont put loads on just a fine misting will do, otherwise you run the risk of over wetting and making the problem worse. Once the solution is on you will see the spots fading and dissapearing. After the dwell time get the upholstery tool and hold about 4 inches above the carpet this avoids over wetting and lightly spray water or fabric fibre solution then lots of vaccum passes, then place airmovers in the room and get dry asap
Mark

[Ken Wainwright]

There isn't a definitev answer to this without an inspection and test procedures being carried out.

Was it a plain carpet?
Or a Heather/Berber style?
Was it just one colour that changed?
Can you see where I'm coming from.

Crystal Green (pH9.5) and Browning Prescription (pH2.5) both fall outside the safe range for use on wool.

My first port of call after a visual inspection is to take pH readings of undamaged and damaged areas of carpet. I fear though that unless it's a pH sensitive dye (perhaps unlikely) than the damage may be permanent.

Oh, and check whether there's been any insecticide ever been applied to the carpet at ANY time in the past, or perhaps flea treatment to pets. Insecticedes can do strange things to carpets.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[markpowell]

A simple test is to spray some browning prescription on the orange areas and if they disappear then its the acid reacting with the damaged fibre and its a case of browning. Let the carpet fully dry and inspect, if its browning the fibre will only be orange at the tip.
I had exactly the same thing happen to me when i started out and after taking advice from prochem the problem was easily rectified.
Mark

[lands]

It sounds like the spots may be PH burns. 100% wool will have a balance PH level of about 5.6. Traffic clean is (I think) about 10.5 and CG about 9.5 which will leave the carpet at something approaching 10.3-4.

Agree with Ken re the PH testing but (with due repsect) he may well want to get someone else in to try and deal with this as if he has used this combination in the first place he may well not be experienced enough to resolve. May require sodium metabisulphate to remedy.

Pete

[The Great One]

Hi guys

Thank you very much for your help & advice.

I have printed off your advice and I'm going to go and have a look myself.

I am inclined to go with the acid burn theory.

Also looks like the carpet has fleas as well! (a cat) so I am now wondering if the acidity has reacted with a flea product?

Regards

Martin

[lands]

Sorry to be picky Martin but you mentioned Acid twice, you mean alkaline.

Pete

[Deep Clean Newcastle Gateshead]

came across something like this in a more localized area where they had dropped a load of flowers some time back at a wedding.
It was pollen that was in the carpet, once wetted came out in spots.
Try using citrus gell, thats what I used.
Hope it helps
Aidan

[mark_roberts]

Id recommend a training course and insurance for times like this.

Mark

[The Great One]

 

Id recommend a training course and insurance for times like this.

Mark

Why do you assume the guy needs training?

As far as I am aware he has been doing it for quite a while, it's just never happened before?

Regards

Martin

[mark_roberts]

His choice of chemicals on that type of carpet.

Mark

[Gerry Styles]

crystal green is formulated for heavy duty grease, however on 100% wool I would personally use a dry compound such as Host

[The Great One]

Hi guys

Well, went there myself, it wasn't a pure wool, more an 80/20.

Anyway, after spotting ther stains and getting a dye transfer, I will dry clean tomorrow.

Envirodri to the rescue, just gotta get my red cape out of the dry cleaners!

Regards

Martin

[JS2]

Well Martin

How'd you get on ??

Pete (JS2)

[The Great One]

Hi Guys

Saved it!

When he left there were orange spots and a small square.

When I went the next day to spot test, the square was a rectangle, just outside the kitchenette, which led me to believe that it was a dye transfer from a rug or small piece of cheap mat.

There were also other orange marks in front of all the doors and hall area.

I used my EnviroDri spot remover and got a transfer.

So went in, presprayed and put down product, brushed in. The stains shot straight out. Vacced up and 'bob's yer Monkhouse!'

Also looks like the tenant had a cat, so picked up a flea job from the client.

Only used Envirodri products, as that is all I ever use.

Customer happy, my mates happy, me too.

Regards

Martin

[lands]

Well done M. "The future is dry"

[Joe H]

Showing us again there is more then one way to skin a cat (or even clean a carpet).
Well done Martin

[The Great One]

Aw, shucks!

Thanks guys