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When Dark Colored Fabrics “Water Mark”

Most articles about water marks (“water stains” “rings”) discuss how sizing that is dissolved by spills or spotting creates stains in the form of a ring that can be challenging to remove.  Most water stains of this type encountered by cleaners are seen on white and light colored fabric.

When water marks occur on dark colored fabrics, however, the cause may be different…

For complete article, please visit…
http://www.ecleanadvisor.com/public/901.cfm

Article source: http://www.jimscleanchat.com/when-dark-colored-fabrics-water-mark/

Deodorizing, FAQs, Fine Fabric Care, Odor Control, Spotting | Jim Pemberton | January 20, 2012 3:24 pm

Article source: http://www.jimscleanchat.com/urine-treatment-on-fine-fabrics-what-defines-success/

Not All Upholstery Is Worth Cleaning!

(Don’t Waste Time and Money on Cheap Furniture)

I recently had a discussion with a lady who was preparing to have a sofa reupholstered.  The old fabric was worn and faded, and surely not worth having cleaned.

But neither did the lady want to replace the sofa.  She rightly noted that the furniture itself was solid and well made, and only needed new fabric.   She so loved this piece of furniture that she intended to keep it for a lifetime.   She also felt, based on some shopping she had done, that she could never find another sofa so well made.

She is going to spend much more to reupholster this fabric today than the piece of furniture cost her when she originally purchased it!

Conversely, I also recently noted sofas for sale for only a few hundred dollars.

Such furniture might not last more than a few years before falling apart.  But many consumers who are price oriented and who do not think ahead when they buy are filling their homes with furnishings that cannot be described as anything other than cheap.

What does this mean to you, the “Fine Fabric Care Specialist“?

Customers who will pay a fair price for taking care of their carpet may NOT see the same value in your upholstery cleaning service!

The investment of time, products, and skill in cleaning upholstery fabrics is such that some cleaners struggle with the fact that they can’t seem to get paid enough to make upholstery cleaning as profitable as carpet cleaning.  Its easy to say that you should just “raise your prices”, but if you do so without recognizing that some furniture can be replaced for not much more than you might have to charge to clean it, you will likely become frustrated with your prospects objections to your pricing.

You need to find customers such as the lady that I know who is having her furniture reupholstered.   People who see their home furnishings as a long term investment, and who are more concerned with décor than function are very often your best prospects for “fine fabric care services”, as well as related carpet, rug, and hard surface care in their homes.

When you seek to establish your pricing for “fine fabric care”, bear in mind what your service is worth, and what profit you deserve.   That price will be one that will be very well received by the type of customer who values their belongings, and wants to preserve their investments for years to come.

Lisa Wagner and I have developed a serious training program for those who want to become specialists in rug and fine fabric care.This is not the typical sit in a classroom and get “powerpointed” to death course. It’s limited to those who want to be the best in the craft in their region.We are currently finalizing the companies we will work with in 2012, so if you are interested in more details, please fill out the form below and we will email you more info.

Article source: http://www.jimscleanchat.com/not-all-upholstery-is-worth-cleaning/

Avoid these Four Expensive Mistakes with Upholstery Fabric Protector

While most information shared in our industry about protector has been about carpet, it is important to note that upholstery fabrics are far more likely that carpet to be permanently stained by spills.

Its therefore arguably more important to apply protector to upholstery than it is to carpet.

With that said, its important to know that there are risks in applying protector to upholstery, especially fine fabrics made from natural fibers and blends, (that most cleaners fail to think about).

1. Overwetting: Every skilled upholstery cleaner knows that the control of moisture during cleaning, and the removal of it afterward with extraction and drying fans is critical. Overwetting and slow drying can cause problems (and damage claims), such as bleeding, browning, water marks, shrinkage, and odor
   problems.

   The application of a water based protector could leave just enough extra moisture to contribute to these problems. If you choose to apply such a protector, be cautious when the fabric you wish to apply it to is susceptible to any of the above problems from slow drying.

2. Texture Changes: Water based protectors may cause stiffening of soft textures, such as chenille or velvet. The harsh hand may be corrected by brushing the fabric after it dries, but even brushing will not restore a texture change in velvet or chenille made from rayon, silk, or acetate.
3. Damage from Solvent Based Protector:Many cleaners avoid the problems listed above by using solvent based protectors. While most of these problems will not occur when solvent based products are applied, it is important to note that some laminated microfiber fabrics can experience delamination from solvent based protectors, and a few print fabrics may bleed when exposed to solvents, whether in cleaning or after the application of a solvent based protector.

   Careful inspection of fabrics before you apply protector will help you to avoid this problem.

4. Color Change and Texture Changes on New Fabrics:Furniture stores no longer promote the application of fabric protector as aggressively as they once did, so you might be asked to apply protector by your customer on their new fabrics. This is usually a very safe procedure, and one that can be good for you and your customer.

   However, it is possible that the application of protector on new upholstery will leave a color or texture change that would not be easily noticed on older, freshly cleaned fabric. Solvent based protectors may slightly darken fabrics, and water based protectors can often cause texture change. Due to the fact that the furniture is new, your customer is more likely to notice the most subtle changes.

   Even though these warnings might seem to be something that limits an otherwise easy sales process, its important to warn your customer that protector application may cause color or texture changes that they would not have noticed had the protector been applied at the store.

   Protector remains a VERY valuable service for your customers. Preventing unsightly stains that even the best skilled cleaner cannot remove is likely more important to your customers than some of the above listed issues.

   Nevertheless, you must protect yourself as well as your company’s bottom line by understanding the products you apply, following safe and sensible procedures, and giving your customer fair warning of risks that might be involved in having protector applied.

Lisa Wagner and I have developed a serious training program for those who want to become specialists in rug and fine fabric care.This is not the typical sit in a classroom and get “powerpointed” to death course. It’s limited to those who want to be the best in the craft in their region.

We are currently finalizing the companies we will work with in 2012, so if you are interested in more details, please fill out the form below and we will email you more info.

Article source: http://www.jimscleanchat.com/avoid-these-four-expensive-mistakes-with-upholstery-fabric-protector/