[mark_roberts]

Got a recall today, first in over a year 

Cleaned a cream coloured flat weave suite yesterday, probably cotton and polyester as it had a 'shiny' stripe about 3/4 inch wide throughout.

Treated the hair oil stains with eco spotter, solutions, fabric restorer and even alltecs citrus prespray.  As the suite was drying quickly I could see an improvement but still there and of course the customer thinks, upon fully drying, it looks worse.

Going back on Tuesday.  What should I use?

Derek - would your oxybrite mix work?

thanks
Mark

[david_m]

hi mark

for hair oil i use chemspec heavy duty soil lifter (this is solvent based)
scrub it in with a scrunge sponge

[Derek]

Mark

Used to use Prochem's Fabric Restorer but have found that Zap-it from the One-Step range of products works well too.

Oxi-mix OK for water based stains

Cheers
Derek

[Dynafoam]

Mark,

It seems likely to me that a competent cleaner such as yourself would not fail to remove a simple head mark on the second attempt.

It may be that the discolouration is due to an ingredient in a hair product, or crocked hair dye. If so treatment  to remove oil may not succeed  and it may require careful use of an oxidising agent to rectify.

This approach carries a risk, so unless you are confident, let well alone.

[nick.solution]

Hi
I would suggest solution Eco spotter if it is hair OIL this is alchohol based and safer than using a solvent method

Best regards Nick

[woodman]

I would just add,

extract first, only using water, you may find that on a second visit this is sufficient to remove the remaining marks/residue left behind.

Then if no go, move on to next procedure.

ps:sometimes the customers are under the impression it's worse because the mark now stands out against a clean surface where as before it blended in with the soiling, explaining this may go some way to pacifying her.

[Ken Wainwright]

Mark

A call back like this is a great opportunity to further enhance your professionalism. I'm sure you know all the right things to say and do.

Something I find works really well for me (not that this happens very often) is, if the soiling is easily removed and the desired results are achieved, to apologise for the inconvenience and that you have caused, and that you were embarrassed to have your name associated to what was obviously sub-standard work.  My experience is that people are fed up these days with people making excuses and passing the buck. By being commited to your standards and providing a superb back-up service, your reputation should be enhanced.

Obviously, if the results are less than desired, don't own up in this way.

As to the cleaning problem, a technique I learnt from Uncle Nick at CleanEx was to pre-treat then spray a micro-fibre cloth with your solution and use this for agitation. I've had some spectacular and speedy reults with this.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[mark_roberts]

Thanks

Ive pretty much done all that was mentioned already.  I used eco spotter and agitated with a terry towel and then moved up the process.  I think it may be just discolouration and being such a light colour of fabric is always going to show unless fully removed.

May have a practice with Johns method over the weekend.

Problem is this customer was price concious but I 'persuaded' her with my sales pitch and higher price so I dont want to look a prat although I did tell her beforehand I could improve but may not totally remove it.  But you know what their like.

thanks
Mark

[Mark Roberts]

Hi Mark

I would use dry cleaning solvent if the above fails to do the trick. Perchloroethylene - Chlorinated solvent with a dwell time, depending on fabric.

Mark

[Dave_Lee]

Mark,
Dont mean to be negative, but I doubt anything will remove the stain, because thats what it is, and I think you have already tried most things. I wouls have thought that if the first two attemps didnt work, then nothing was going to remove it completely. You warned her beforehand that you may only be able to improve it, but she now says its worse. Of course this is rubbish, it may just be more noticeable (even though you have reduced it) because you have removed the general soil layer that was helping to camoflage it. As is common with lots of permanent marks and wear areas, they can become highlighted following cleaning.
Dave.