[david@zap-clean]

Can anyone confirm the fabric below is cotton?  
It burn tests as cotton (or jute), with a weak smell of burning wood.  Slight gritty-ness to the ash though.

I'm unsure.  I'll probably play safe and fibre shampoo it.

[Jim_77]

Which blurred bit are we supposed to be looking at!!!  I'm 50/50 whether this is synthetic or natural.  I've seen polyprop weaves like this plus the latex backing gives weight to that suspicion.  Most of the time cotton or linen weaves aren't latex backed but too many variables to be precise.  Irrelevant really, you just need to know what THIS fabric is going to do (or not do) when you clean it.

Obviously too late now but I'm presuming you took this pic on a quote visit?

In these situations, with the customer's consent of course knowing they might brown, I would wet up the zip panels of a couple of cushions and ask them to leave them so the areas could dry off.  One part I would wet with just water, another use a mildly acidic solution and another make a worst case scenario with something like alkaline HD microsplitter

After 24 hours your customer will be able to report back to you if you give them a call.

Your two main enemies are texture change and browning, different problems on different fabrics.  I think dye bleed and shrinkage in modern fabrics is a thing of yesteryear, have never ever encountered either problem.

Incidentally, if anyone's going to Alltec (Eastby Services) go have a look at the viscose sofa they have in the staff room.... someone had a whoopsie and wet cleaned it.  A very stark reminder of how things can go wrong!!!!

[Jamie Pearson]

This could be Haitian Cotton. it is often latex backed. More popular in America. If it is there could be problems with the preservative in the latex reacting causing yellowing.

[david@zap-clean]

This could be Haitian Cotton. it is often latex backed. More popular in America. If it is there could be problems with the preservative in the latex reacting causing yellowing.

Thanks.

Assuming it is Haitian Cotton I'm confused exactly how to clean it:  Chemspec do a specific Haitian Cotton cleaning solution (~pH 6), but it's for wet extraction cleaning... I don't think HWE is right for this job. 

I'm thinking a LM shampoo clean is the way to clean this (e.g. Prochem Fibre Shampoo, or Chemspec Fast Drying Upholstery Shampoo).

Who said this job was easy?

[AshWhite]

Why don't you pretest it for hwe?

[david@zap-clean]

Why don't you pretest it for hwe?

I've done a 5 minute dye test: no colour bleed. 
It's shrinkage I'm concerned about.

[Mike Halliday]

It's impossible to identify fabrics with a burn test there are too many mixes and chemical treatment applied to fabrics,

The only option to test a suite fabric is to clean & dry a section in a hidden area and compare it to an untouched area.

Dye bleed & shrinkage is the training course scare tactic, although you cannot totally disregard the risk it's the same as been run over while walking to the shops.... A possibility but not a big chance of it happening.

I think people over think these things and start to formulate plans for things that won't happen, just book the job, set up your kit and clean a bit.

The only problem that can arise is for the people don't carry airmovers and will leave it wet, ( and don't tell me you use a cfr  tool so don't need airmovers )

[AshWhite]

Good post, Mike.
David, if you're worried, do you know how to test for shrinkage on upholstery?

[Mike Halliday]

Please..please don't say "set up 4 pins an inch apart then......"

[AshWhite]

 

I think I've only ever done it once, as you said - there's a lot of scaremainering but I suppose it only takes one to bite you on the @rse!

[markpowell]

Avoid any solvents and keep heat down with the latex backing too.

[david@zap-clean]

Great feedback, thanks everyone.

I've rescheduled for this Friday, here's my plan: Set up and pre-test a (section of) cushion using Cleansmart Wool-X (pH6.8 ) HWE (warm), use air mover dry it...
 
I can then get on with the carpet cleaning side of the job. If there's an issue when dry I'll use LM fibre shampoo to clean it.

In my short time doing this job I've had 3 call-backs for suites not being clean enough, because I've been too cautious with the solutions I've used.  They look clean, until dry. On these re-calls I've stepped up the solution strength with great results.  I always tell the customer to call me if they're not completely happy.

[Dave_Lee]

The most important thing with Upholstery cleaning, regardless of what solutions you use, is to remove as much wetness as possible. Do not leave it unevenly damp. When cleaning prone fabrics, brown marking is often the result of leaving a small area or areas too wet. The longer it takes an area, no matter how small to fully dry out, the more chance of a browning problem.
Dave.

[benny d]

 (Eastby Services) go have a look at the viscose sofa they have in the staff room.... someone had a whoopsie and wet cleaned it.  A very stark reminder of how things can go wrong!!!!

It's very comfy though, and what with their Wi-Fi, having a machine service isnt as boring as it was before. 

[wynne jones]

Great feedback, thanks everyone.

I've rescheduled for this Friday, here's my plan: Set up and pre-test a (section of) cushion using Cleansmart Wool-X (pH6.8 ) HWE (warm), use air mover dry it...
 
I can then get on with the carpet cleaning side of the job. If there's an issue when dry I'll use LM fibre shampoo to clean it.

In my short time doing this job I've had 3 call-backs for suites not being clean enough, because I've been too cautious with the solutions I've used.  They look clean, until dry. On these re-calls I've stepped up the solution strength with great results.  I always tell the customer to call me if they're not completely happy.

This is why pre testing properly is important because a lot of the time you can use something with a bit of uumph if there are no problems. If you go to see a suite you can put some prespray on the back of a cushion and look at it when you turn up to do the job. If OK then away you go.

As Dave says dry as much as possible but remember it takes longer to dry if it is still dirty.

[JandS]

The problem I have with using the air mover on u/h
is usually the size of the room.
Too small and it blows everything off the shelves.
On nice days I'll sheet up an area outside if available
and put the cushions out in the breeze.
Leave the carcass to dry on its own.
Oh I use a Drymaster tool so don't need the airmover...

John

[garybristow]

looks man made to me ,extract with cold water ,cant see a problem
presuming there are no cleaning labels inside??

[david@zap-clean]

Thought I'd post a follow-up now I've (finally) successfully completed this 5 seat upholster job:

Prior to doing the job I burn-tested (cotton), dye tested (no bleed) and pin-tested for shrinkage (fine). I believe the fabric was haitian cotton.

Here's how I cleaned it:

1. vac'd
2. Wool-X pre-spray (Cleansmart)
3. Agitate with hand brush
4. HWE with Rinse-X (mid acid rinse)
... at this point, even though I'd been very careful not to over wet, the fabric was quite saturated because this cotton fabric is like blotting paper.
5. I stacked the cushions carefully, and left the customer with my air-mover overnight.

I picked up the airmover this morning - happy customer.

Thanks to everyone who chipped in with advice.