[Paul Simpson]

Job today, two seater faux  suede sofa with a couple of drink spillage stains. Very nice affluent area, house & it appeared the owners too.
Checked for labels (none) and tested the back of the cushion near the zipper and the spray seemed to pool, i.e. not soak away.
Wiped off after a few seconds with a terry towel and there appeared to be some pile distortion.
Checked the backing, it was a soft plastic backing, the sort of thing you get on a baby's cot mattress you can wipe clean.
Checked with the owner - "you said it was definately faux suede". Which she said yes to.

Explained that water was pooling and causing distortion and I wouldn't be happy wet cleaning it.
This is my first walk away and even though I'm busy at the mo' it didn't feel good walking. But the cynical side of me is saying it was genuine suede/nubuck and she wanted me to clean it, ruin it and claim off me. 
Any ideas what it could have been?
Thanks
Paul

[richy27]

you should never be afraid to walk away from something you are unsure about i have done it a few times especially on upholstery.

In one situation that i walked on it was a viscose suite customer was particularly rude when i said i would not be able to clean it as i would be concerned about an adverse effect. well she did find someone to destroy her suite and i just happened to be cleaning a few carpets for a near neighbour of hers months later and as i was packing up she came up and told me what had happened and apologised for being a little rude since then i have cleaned her carpets 3 times.

better to walk than loose sleep i say

[clinton]

Dont feel guilty for walking away mate,its not just the how it look when its been cleaned its how it might look after a few days.

I always as richard says sleep better if i didnt want to take the risk,leave it to the ones who really need the work and mess it up!

[james roffey]

I am the same, better safe than sorry.

I approach every job thinking what can go wrong, not sure if its a confidence thing or whether i may be more relaxed when i am more experienced, but my gut feeling is, the day i relax is the day i shrink a carpet or end up owning a customers 3 piece suite.