[Russ Chadd]

I have a customer who has sisal throughout his home (yuck)
even though the sisal is relatively new, he claims there are various stains caused by urine, faeces and tea . coffee etc...
I have a TM5 with the dry powder to clean the carpet, however what would be the best method for dealing with the spots and stains as mentioned?

Any pointers guys?

Russ

[Hilton]

Youl will get no where with those kind of stains on a Sisal carpet which at the best of times is a VLM clean if that.

Most CC will not touch them because of the very real danger of shrinkage.

[Jamie Pearson]

HydrOx and a CRB. I have been doing some tests in house on some crucial trading stuff and haven't had any colour change on it.
Best do a test area to be sure.

[Bob Allen]

Walk away it will give you a massive headache otherwise

[Billy Russell]

Faeces and urine!!!!! Doesn't he use the toilet!!! 

[Neil Williams]

For anyone who doesn't know about sisal and needs to see the effects, go to the Crucial Trading website and you can order some samples.
They come in about 2 inch squares.
When they arrive, place sample on a piece of white card and draw around the sample.
Now dunk the sample in some water.
Place sample back onto the outline.
Wait 20 minutes (or less) and see the damage.
Now in your mind multiply that damage to a 24ft x 12 ft lounge and imagine what that will ,look like.

And this is why we all run away   

[Russ Chadd]

To be fair, i have cleaned Sisal before using the TM5 and VLM powder and never had a problem with shrinkage.
We all know that sisal is probably the most impractical carpet to have in your home especially if you have kids or pets.
This particular customer is really clutching at straws and i think he knows that the chances of removal are slim... an improvement is all you can hope for.

[Neil Williams]

I'm guessing you might get some improvement without damage by limiting the HWE to just spot cleaning and drawing out using the cuff on the hose.

[Russ Chadd]

I was thinking more about combining the powder with MPower or a wool safe microsplitter

[Paul Redden Countryfresh]

Yep that's a good method...mist m/s or m power. agitate with crb, then sponge it.
As said, will improve but with limits. But with no risks most importantly.

good luck

[Carpet Dawg]

Unless you can get rid of the stains 100%, then its still going to look crap on that type of carpet! IMO Just reducing the staining isn't going to look good.

I'd feel bad expecting payment from this type of  job and wouldn't want to put my name to a patchy mess.

Stress of leaving water marks, stress of shrinkage (not when using dry methods to be fair) and a not a very good outcome...

I'd walk.

[Len Gribble]

For me I like Dionne Warwick (walk on by) or Aretha Franklin (say a little pray) give me black tops any day of the week 

[John Kelly]

Russ you have the ideal machine. Clean it with dry cleaning fluid. £12 per square metre. If you think thats daft someones already doing it.

Best pre-spray for sponge cleaning is Craftex Multisolve. Colliodal won't do much as it needs water to work. Pointless on Sisal.

[Russ Chadd]

Thanks John - will give you a call to discuss

[Mike Roper]

I would think dry clean fluid would affect the latex backing . I've tested solvent based protectors on this stuff and that softens the latex foam and almost starts dissolving it. If its not going to be clean and of good appearance when you've finished why bother?
Beware of customers who say they only want it freshening up!!
Mike 

[John Kelly]

Mike I'm talking about using solvent in an extraction machine where it is recovered before it hits the backing. Will take a full day to do but at 12 quid a metre its worth it.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Was it john bridon that does it that way?

I remember him saying he charged one customer £350 for a room 20 sqm but it took a lot of dry cleaning fluid.

Shaun

[Russ Chadd]

Wow... cheaper to put a new carpet down... im wondering if its best to walk...

[petermaybury]

You have to make the customer aware of what a totally impractical product they have and also the limitations in cleaning it. They have paid through the nose for the product in the first place, it also costs a hell of a lot more than standard carpets to fit, so they have the choice.
It is niches like this is very often where the money is.

Peter
www.carpetcleanercardiff.com

[Russ Chadd]

Agreed Peter... i think the custy realises that he has made a huge error choosing Sisal, if this was a straight forward clean i wouldnt be so concerned... its the spots and possible damage which simply cant be removed which is giving me second thoughts.