[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Always, always ALWAYS do the proper test prior to commencing curtain cleaning!
I recently cleaned a cotton moire suite using ms and hwe through a drimaster handtool. Perfection.
 
Curtains at both ends of the lounge made from exactly the same fabric so after thorough kirby dry vacuum I gave them the same treatment (DIDN'T DO A SHRINK TEST !!!) 
Despite receiving £180 for the curtain clean, It's cost me £125 to have them completely taken apart and remade to the original length. All for the sake of not carrying out a 2 minute shrink test.
The suite is fine, the cushions are wedged in place - theres definately no shrinkage there.
Fortunately they're nice folk and they've already booked in next years clean on their brand new Ryalux throughout
Alan

[CATMAN]

Alan,

On curtains there is no need to perform a shrink test, as all items such as this are liable to shrinkage for which there is a BS Standard. No care label and its owners risk. Care lable and they shrink means they haven't been tested to the standard, which means the client should return them to the seller, . Either way, I don't pay for shrinkage.

The standard for this is 3% shrinkage

Take them to Johnsons its 5% Morrisons 4%

Regards

CATMAN

[maxcarpets]

Solvent clean

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Thanks for your comment. I had the allowable shrinkage down as 5 - 7%. Either way, if your client has expensive furnishings, someone's got to clean them so why lose the business to another company next time round.
The reason I chose to swallow the £125 bill so readily is because the whole problem was down to a lack of care on my part. Responsibility - If you know how to do something properly and choose not to you should at least be willing to accept the consequences ... especially when you stamp a money back customer satisfaction guarantee on your inspection sheet.
Ho-hum   :

[NigelD]

Alan

Sorry if this a dumb question, but, how do you do a shrink test?

Nigel

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Four pins two inches apart to form a square. Spray area with cleaning solution and dry with a hairdryer on its coldest setting. When dry re-measure the area.
Simple - Thats why there's no excuse not to do it.

[Derek]

Didn't you lose the Moire design?

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Hello Derek,
No I didn't, but where the client had previously taken the curtains and cushion covers to the dry cleaners it had all but disappeared. I discovered that it had a bold moire finish on the upholstered framework and the Roman blind that hadn't been dry cleaned.
The Moire was the reason why I chose to wet clean. Am I not correct in this decision? I'd be glad for your feedback. (Incidentally the water temperature was hand hot.
Alan

[idealrob]

how big were the curtains ?  £180 is a lot of money

robert t

[ColinFitch]

Hi Alan,

I was going to ask the same question as Derek B.
Out of interest was the job in North London?

Regards..colin

[Derek]

Alan

Normally the Moire pattern will disappear quite quickly on the traditional Moire silk fabric when either wet or dry cleaning (the manufacturers are putting this fabric on some dining chair seats!)

The Polyester fabric with a printed Moire design will wet clean well without loss of pattern definition

[craigp]

how do curtains get dirty ?

should only be dust. removable by dry vacuum.

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Cotton Moire. £8.50 per M sq. both sides.

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

how do curtains get dirty ?

should only be dust. removable by dry vacuum.

You are kidding right?

[Derek]

I think he is Alan....

[NigelD]

Alan,

Thanks for the info on shrinkage test. I always steer away from cleaning curtains in case they shrink. Now I may be tempted to try them.

Regards

Nigel

[Karl Wildey]

Going back a few posts.

solvent clean, I thought that it was now illegal to solvent clean curatins in clients houses, can anyone confirm?

[Alan Brooker. Aqualink Carpet Care]

Not that I'm aware. We would have been advised by the powers that be (trade bodies and insurance companies etc.) if that were the case. Always use with caution and consideration though.
Alan

[idealrob]

i have cleaned tens of pairs of these curtains in a drycleaning machine(Johnsons/Sketchley) type and never has the pattern been removed. I would negotiate a good rate with a good local independent dry cleaner and take the curtains there. I think you would be able to get about £1.50 a sq metre trade price.

robert t

[Shaun_Ashmore]

I've had the hardest negotiations ever with my Dry cleaning shop

She always wins.

Shaun