Somebody smart help me

[Steamin McFadden]

Something very weird happened yesterday. I was cleaning a room and soon as I pre sprayed the first area the brown carpet turned blue. It was like I was spraying blue paint. Freaked me out . I thought maybe something was up with my pre spray so I went and got my green cleaner mild PH, and hit the rest of the room with it , no blue and removed the blue from the first pre spray.

WHat the heck??? Only thing I noticed was lots of faded pet stains , and a big jug of natures miracle sitting in the hall way. I wonder if it was some sort of chemical reaction? But I've used this same pre spray (powermax) on many like jobs and never had the blue thing happen.

Other thing to consider, I mixed powermax in a pump sprayer that I normally use to apply my green pre spray, (procyon) if that matters?

Some one educate me, Im very curious as to what happened?

 

[Pat Muller]

Sounds to me like an indicator dye issue
Your prespray was a high alkaline and the carpet was telling you the pH was to high that is why the other solution did not react the same
Spray all of the blue areas with an acid and the blue will go away

 

[Mikey P]

Happened to me decades ago..

Vinegar mist fixed it

 

[Desk Jockey]

Cobbs?

 

[hogjowl]

I'm not sure why I even click on this...

 

[Desk Jockey]

You wanted to see who was smart?

 

[J Scott W]

Agree that it seems to be an indicator dye issue. But don't try and get any carpet or dye manufacturer to admit that such a thing exists. Basically acts like litmus paper. A sudden or large change in pH to the alkaline side can cause a blue color. A large change to the acid side can cause a pink color.

I saw this several times back in the '80s and '90s when using strong acid rust removers. Once had a lady who liked the color change she got by cleaning her sofa with a strong alkaline product. I recleaned and returned it to the original color. She wanted the new color but just clean. I misted with ammonia and it went back to the new color.

Usually you need to neutralize with a pH that will take it back to neutral. Sometimes you need to act pretty fast or the change can be permanent.

 

[Steve Lawrence]

Agree that it seems to be an indicator dye issue. But don't try and get any carpet or dye manufacturer to admit that such a thing exists. Basically acts like litmus paper. A sudden or large change in pH to the alkaline side can cause a blue color. A large change to the acid side can cause a pink color.

I saw this several times back in the '80s and '90s when using strong acid rust removers. Once had a lady who liked the color change she got by cleaning her sofa with a strong alkaline product. I recleaned and returned it to the original color. She wanted the new color but just clean. I misted with ammonia and it went back to the new color.

Usually you need to neutralize with a pH that will take it back to neutral. Sometimes you need to act pretty fast or the change can be permanent.

Cool, Scott. I wish I could find customers who are happy with our screw-ups.

 

[jcooper]

WHat the heck??? Only thing I noticed was lots of faded pet stains , and a big jug of natures miracle sitting in the hall way. I wonder if it was some sort of chemical reaction?

I've had colors suddenly appear(red & green) from people using oxyclean. It rinsed out fine.

 

[mirf]

I never had that happen. How can I make that happen. I owe someone a prank.

 

[Louis]

That would be a good prank .To bad when it does happen you freak out for a moment and then run to the truck looking for acid cleaner. Resolve truns the carpet green and it doesn't go away.

 

[jcooper]

Oxyclean...

 

[Steamin McFadden]

Thanks for the replies . I appreciate the information.

 

[Larry Cobb]

It could be from several pre-existing conditions . . .

1. Indicator dye reacting to pH change (carpet defect) . Reversed by acid rinse .

2. Reaction with allergy spray ingredients . (less common but more difficult to remove)

3. Prior cleaning by Chavez with whatever he found on the shelf . . .

 

[Desk Jockey]

3. Prior cleaning by Chavez with whatever he found on the shelf . . .

Just trying to use up that Cobb stuff someone sent me.

 

[Larry Cobb]

Richard, you can't use PowerMax . . .

Your reputation will go up . . .

and you might actually have to work . . .

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[hogjowl]

He'd get so excited, that wouldn't be all that would go up.

 

[Doug Cox]

Depending on whether it was over the whole carpet or just in splotches, if it was it splotches I would start thinking kool aid, jello, etc that would light up when water is applied.