[wayne zabel]

I posted on here a few weeks ago about some sofas I'd been asked to clean,they are plain deep purple and a velvet type fabric.

Anyway went to do them today and told the client that I would do a test on a small cushion and run the outcome by her before doing all the job,my main concern was pile distortion.

I used a microsplitter and cleaned a cushion and when I reset the pile with a Terry Towel I got a slight purple transfer onto the towel,the pile reset fine.

Does anyone have any ideas why this happened?Could it just be a crap fabric or is it something Ive done. I have set my mind thinking and I'm now wondering if I got the dilution rates wrong - would this have caused the fabric to transfer dye to the towel.I didn't continue with job as neither me or the client were happy to.

Thanks wayne

[jasonl]

Look , really close at the towel , I suspect it will be tiny fibres (crocking)  rather than actual dye.

[wayne zabel]

Just had a look at the towel and I'm sure its transfer of dyes,had a look under a magnifying glass and cant see any bits of fabrics.

[John Kelly]

You do occasionally get dye transfer especially on strong colours like purple dark blue and red. I would do a test clean on a small area and if its ok just do it.

[Dean Wilson]

Look , really close at the towel , I suspect it will be tiny fibres (crocking)  rather than actual dye.

Absolutely correct. Done a similar (cheaply constructed) bright red suite today and I initially thought the same; red dye transfer. But on closer inspection it was as Jason suggested, some loose fibres. Was a little worrying to see but didn't effect a good end result.

[ianharper]

wayne

why dont you have a look a foam cleaning? JK does a machine and there is the

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JicX_WyukM

[clinton]

Wayne why dont you just try a small section at the back of the cushion the part that has the zipper..



Deep purple love it smoke on the water

[wayne zabel]

Wayne why dont you just try a small section at the back of the cushion the part that has the zipper..



Deep purple love it smoke on the water

Thats what i did.and the dye ran so I packed up and didnt do the job - Why would the dye run?
The microsplitter was only ph6.8 so it wasnt highly alkaline.

If the dilution was wrong would this happen

[robert meldrum]

Red or mainly red content dyes are the most unstable and prone to run / transfer. There were suites a few years ago whih were very popular - sort of Regency Stripe and cleaned up beautifully except for the thin red stripe in the pattern which would run like Bolt if it got the chance.

We adopted a " hit and run " tactic to overcome that particular problem. If cleaning older carpets with red in the pattern I still expect to see some dye transfer.

[clinton]

Roberts right wayne and i still come up against some of the red dye type and get transfer in the water..

[wayne zabel]

Seeing as it was all the same colour would it have been safe to clean it?I had visions of it drying all blotchy