Cleaning Hatian Cotton in High Humidity

[Johnny]

Last job yesterday started cleaning Hatian cotton couch and two chairs at a beach house; about twelve feet from the water at high tide. Wave broke over deck where I set cushions to dry and drenched one. First few cushions look good, but last few are browning (yellowing). Presprayed CTI Ultra TLC with a little sodium percarb and delim because fabric is white and dingy. Rinsed with CTI Natural Fiber Rinse and sprayed some Cobbs powder reducer, which is probably the same thing (sodium bisulfate?). Going back this afternoon to try to reduce browning. Also have some CTI Browning Treatment.

Everything takes longer to dry at the beach. Used a Wagner heat gun, which is slow, but helps.

Any suggestions?

Much obliged.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

If needed, this could be covered by your insurance. I hope you don't, but I think a wave crashing over the deck in an area they were set to dry would be covered (rather than being damaged because you overwet them)

Do you own a dehumidifier? If so, tent the cushions and duct in dry air from the dehumidifier. Works great in cases like this.

 

[SamIam]

ya cushions take to the shop, the other problem is over correcting compared to the rest all the stripping agents could leave your cushions brighter than the rest.

A freaking Wave????? holy cow. Talk about over wetting, I would wonder whats the best way to nuetralize nasty salt water what about the foam in side?

I would want it to dry completly then try to correct the problem.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Any suggestions?

Are you sure its Haitian Cotton? I thought all that stuff was eradicated by now.

Personally I would not try correcting that on location. Take it home with you and deal with it there. Chances are its going to need multiple treatments and rather than make multiple trips its easier just to take it with you.

If needed, this could be covered by your insurance.

I'd check into this just in case you are unable to correct it to the clients satisfaction.

 

[SamIam]

PS what wrong with your customer's dont they know microfiber all the rage?

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[Jim Pemberton]

the other problem is over correcting compared to the rest all the stripping agents could leave your cushions brighter than the rest.

Thank you Sam...kicking myself for not mentioning that.

There will likely be a contrast Johnny, so plan to do the whole piece to match once you've corrected the problem at hand.

 

[SamIam]

Me and Rich were posting at the same time didnt see that lol.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Saying nearly the same thing too. LOL

 

[Johnny]

Gracious customer said its twenty-year-old furniture, just do what you can. It's faded, dingy, and has some grease and other stains. I told her it's not going to look new, but better. I want to get it looking as good as possible.

 

[SamIam]

Cool its always nice when they are laid back, 20 years old 2k originally, depreciate 10 percent a year, its worth nothing, You could always do a haul away for free!

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Gracious customer said its twenty-year-old furniture, just do what you can. It's faded, dingy, and has some grease and other stains. I told her it's not going to look new, but better. I want to get it looking as good as possible.

The biggest secret to success in handling a damage claim is the reasonableness of the customer. I do find that that reasonableness is often earned by good service and a good personal rapport from the cleaners' perspective.

Good for you Johnny

 

[Willy P]

Back in the late 70's............ (cue weird music) the company I worked for would cover raw cottons with Diatomaceous earth- it was ground to a fine powder and the take was it would absorb the browning by capillary action. Did it work? Sort of.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Diatomaceous earth

I remember instructors at that time advocating use of DE. That stuff is just so messy its seemed a bit insane but I never tried it.

At least now there are better compounds if that were needed now. Fortunately most of that crap is gone or at least a cleanable lookalike blend.

 

[SamIam]

Ya a company called organic compounds in long beach had a product called LST I think? guys from A-1 carpet care raved about it, was a powder you would pack all over the fabric. Probably alot like absorb a stain or like Willy said diatomaceous earth.

 

[SamIam]

http://www.proschoicesupply.com/Stain-Blotter_p_16.html

 

[Desk Jockey]

had a product called LST

LST was a product Ed York sold but was a chemical that was developed by Keith Williams.

Low Surface Tension, weird stuff, kind of a gel which was mixed with water. It cleaned really well but HAD to be vacuumed after drying.

I used it on upholstery that was a potential bleeder. Whipped up and applied with a sea sponge and then toweled off. Vacuumed both pre & post cleaning. It worked but the post vacuuming was a hassle.

Ed promoted using LST with a Cimex back in the day (when dinosaurs roamed the earth). That was the first I'd ever seen of a Cimex and never in my wildest dreams thought we would ever own one. (we own 8-of them )

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Diatomaceous earth will work sometimes.

You need to re-wet/re-clean the area, then apply the absorbent powder. It works so well that the one remaining problem is that it often leaves the area cleaner (not bleached) and its as difficult to match as when a customer throws the arm covers from a piece of furniture into the washing machine and expects you to match it with your cleaning process.

Its difficult to do an entire piece this way, and edges and corners can be especially troublesome.

 

[Jimmy L]

Yeah I was in a class down in KC with Ed York promoting the cimex and LST. LST looked just like mud. And when I mentioned Ed selling the cimex down there on the ICS board...................rIcKy stole the idea and began selling them.
Stealer of other's ideas.

 

[Desk Jockey]

A-1 carpet care

The Paulson brothers,Darryl & Rodney?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Yeah I was in a class down in KC with Ed York promoting the cimex and LST. LST looked just like mud. And when I mentioned Ed selling the cimex down there on the ICS board...................rIcKy stole the idea and began selling them.
Stealer of other's ideas.

Really? I never knew he came to KC.

The things Rick did truly made a difference from what Ed was selling. Ed was selling the Cimex to be used with the brushes. The soft brushes do a great job as agitation on rugs but brushes do not work as well has the fiber pads.

Rick as far as I know, came up with that idea, and it improved the ability of the finished products. He also introduced his product Releasit to be used with the Cimex and Fiberplus pads. It was also the first true "Encap" product that I am aware of.

LST did look like mud but cleaned well. However I don't believe it was truly an Encap product. ???

 

[SamIam]

The Paulson brothers,Darryl & Rodney?

Yes

 

[Willy P]

Really? I never knew he came to KC.

The things Rick did truly made a difference from what Ed was selling. Ed was selling the Cimex to be used with the brushes. The soft brushes do a great job as agitation on rugs but brushes do not work as well has the fiber pads.

Rick as far as I know, came up with that idea, and it improved the ability of the finished products. He also introduced his product Releasit to be used with the Cimex and Fiberplus pads. It was also the first true "Encap" product that I am aware of.

LST did look like mud but cleaned well. However I don't believe it was truly an Encap product. ???

You never hear about true inovation is begat on improving tthings. Take Jimmy for example. People were having issues with klingons and dingleberries staining their delicates. After years of selfless dedication and financially burdensome research and development he came with vibrating Lectrocob. It virtually changed the pòop ticket narketplace and turned it it's head, all acheived by a mind and nose for the nuances as great as it gets. Far too many lonely cold Nebrasken noghts were spent in his basement and the rest is evident. Thank you for the sacrifice Jimmy. Thank you. Truly a great American.

 

[Johnny]

Went back early afternoon. Sprayed with CTI Browning Treatment, set in sun and watched the browning disappear. Customer was thrilled and gave me a two hundred dollar tip.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[Ron K]

I've used Chemspecs Haitian Cotton Cleaner. Nasty stuff but it worked well. Post Dry Vacuum.

 

[Jimmy L]

Whittaker made the first "encap" scampoo.

Others over the years stole my idea of a tin foil hat too.
And lets not forget the "LecTroCob" of which all of those parasitic internet suppliers tried to copy.

: )

 

[Willy P]

You're always so shy and modest about those miraculous achievements and innovations Jimmy and the many influences they've had on modern day society. Take a bow Sir!

 

[Jimmy L]

But Willy I can't seem to remember a damn thing you've ever done to move our industry forward?

 

[Desk Jockey]

 

[Doug Cox]

Had 1 Cotton browning claim 27 years ago, not a claim since. Cost ins. co. 4500.00 bucks. Customer lived with upholstery for another 20 years and was still a customer afterwards. Sounds like a good deal.