Mikey P
Administrator
My tech just sent me this..
He's pretty frustrated..
what would Jim do?
He's pretty frustrated..
what would Jim do?
Fels and 40 and no luck..
- Thread starter Mikey P
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Jim Pemberton
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1. Dining room chair? If any material can be accessed from the back, tell me if its a natural or synthetic fiber (burn and tell me if it crumbles or melts...takes seconds)
2. If not easy to test...assume natural.
3. What are these seats worth?
a. If not a lot, tell them so and move on.
b. If they are worth a lot, wind solution hoses around your employee and key the wand till its boiling hot for using 40 volume peroxide on this fabric.
it will probably rip the next time someone sits on it. If done under your
direction, then wrap the hose around yourself...geez Mikey...
4. If you still want to clean them, the spill is probably a food or drink spill. If the fabric is olefin or polyester, you might just need to nuke them with something with a high pH and solvent content. If they are cotton/linen/rayon, you can boost a neutral detergent with a d-limonene solvent.
5. As an alternative, an enzyme preconditioner might be the way to go. Bridgepoint Biobreak or Pros Choice Prozyme aren't too aggressive on natural fibers if you neutralize and rinse. You might need to pack them with an absorbent powder to eliminate browning though.
....40 volume....geez...
2. If not easy to test...assume natural.
3. What are these seats worth?
a. If not a lot, tell them so and move on.
b. If they are worth a lot, wind solution hoses around your employee and key the wand till its boiling hot for using 40 volume peroxide on this fabric.
it will probably rip the next time someone sits on it. If done under your
direction, then wrap the hose around yourself...geez Mikey...
4. If you still want to clean them, the spill is probably a food or drink spill. If the fabric is olefin or polyester, you might just need to nuke them with something with a high pH and solvent content. If they are cotton/linen/rayon, you can boost a neutral detergent with a d-limonene solvent.
5. As an alternative, an enzyme preconditioner might be the way to go. Bridgepoint Biobreak or Pros Choice Prozyme aren't too aggressive on natural fibers if you neutralize and rinse. You might need to pack them with an absorbent powder to eliminate browning though.
....40 volume....geez...
Last edited:
Mikey P
Administrator
Just talked to him
he did six chairs and a full linen sofa. all twelve years old, never been cleaned. Maybe 10% improvement.
1st time customer who was obviously not thrilled.
I told him to call her back and apologize for not testing first and to ask what sort of discount she feels is fair. Reasonable people would offer to pay something for our time. If she balks we'll give 100% back.
Good lesson learned for Ely. First time he's had such a tough upholstery job. With today's synthetics it's too easy to be the hero.
he did six chairs and a full linen sofa. all twelve years old, never been cleaned. Maybe 10% improvement.
1st time customer who was obviously not thrilled.
I told him to call her back and apologize for not testing first and to ask what sort of discount she feels is fair. Reasonable people would offer to pay something for our time. If she balks we'll give 100% back.
Good lesson learned for Ely. First time he's had such a tough upholstery job. With today's synthetics it's too easy to be the hero.
Jim Pemberton
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Well, since is Ely, just wrap the solution hose around one forearm. He's a cool guy, and I like him.
Walking away while you're ahead is better than spending hours to make it only 50% better.
Walking away while you're ahead is better than spending hours to make it only 50% better.
SamIam
Member
I would try hitting it with a citrus cleaner and rinse with detergent if synthetic, or natural fiber cleaner from CTI also a light misting of 40 volume and set in the sun, dry's quick and makes it pop. Still sometimes it's just stained.
Maybe try a little POG or solvent in a small area too.
Maybe try a little POG or solvent in a small area too.
SamIam
Member
You Know it's already ruined? It's not like anything you do can make it worse, unless your in the business of buying other people's problems.
Mikey P
Administrator
ruff
Member
Are we talking about the water rings or the reddish/brownish stains?
How screwed was the chair before the attempt? If not bad...
I'd think about getting the chair re upholstered(if not bad) for her and no doubt you would have a client for life.
Every time she looks at the chair, she going to have negative thoughts about the biz. Can't be much $$, it a dining room chair.
Everybody screws up on some cotton at some point. Well.... Anybody using oxidizers.
I'd think about getting the chair re upholstered(if not bad) for her and no doubt you would have a client for life.
Every time she looks at the chair, she going to have negative thoughts about the biz. Can't be much $$, it a dining room chair.
Everybody screws up on some cotton at some point. Well.... Anybody using oxidizers.
Mikey P
Administrator
It was a $390 job
Ely refunded all of it.
Ely refunded all of it.
Mikey P
Administrator
We didn't screw it up, we just couldn't fix it
GeneMiller
Member
My last tech cleaned some chairs that looked worse than that while I did the carpets. When I was done I checked on him. He was done and the chairs looked the same. He said he tried everything I'd shown him and it wouldn't clean. I took the first chair and using the same pre spray and a white scrub pad lightly agitated it. I moved the tool real slow letting the solution get nice and hot. It took 8-9 passes in the same spot but once the fabric was steaming the stains came out. Each dining room chair took about 15 minutes versus the usual minute. Sometimes it's more than product but technique.
Larry Cobb
Member
I would spray a powder reducing agent on it and dry extract (better choice for natural fibers)
Should see the results in less than 15 minutes.
http://www.cobbcarpet.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=1081
Should see the results in less than 15 minutes.
http://www.cobbcarpet.com/zen/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=1081
I used to use a powdered haition extraction formula and spray on and vac off with the hand tool.
Cleaned really well
Cleaned really well
GeneMiller
Member
When I used to carry Hatian cotton cleaner I would of made a paste and covered it. Glad I don't carry or use it anymore. Hated the smell.
steamron
Member
Jim Pemberton is a very knowledgeable wise man.
NobleCarpetCleaners
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I would .....I would.......
Goomer
Member
Chairs are also linen?
Maybe it's cellulosic browning without the brown?
Maybe it's cellulosic browning without the brown?
Louis
Supportive Member
Was it rayon? That stuff has rained on my parade more the once. The hardest part is knowing when to stop.
SamIam
Member
Ya Haitian cotton cleaner or CTI natural fiber cleaner sodium bisulfite reducer. Made a few messes pop considerably. But you can only bleach so much.
Old Coastie
Supportive Member
I recommend a spot of lacquer thinner in the middle, with good old lighter fluid saturating the edges.
Toss a match and run...
Toss a match and run...
Mikey P
Administrator
hey lookie here.
She turned out to be a Yelper Elite (think Southpark)
Tell me that isn't worth $380..
She turned out to be a Yelper Elite (think Southpark)
Tell me that isn't worth $380..
steve_64
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Prozyme plus and osr. Scrub and extract with cleanfree. Mist with brown out and brush thoroughly.
Not sure it would work but what thats what id try.
Not sure it would work but what thats what id try.
Jim Pemberton
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Priceless....thanks for sharing Mikey
Mikey P
Administrator
And if an Eliter would have ripped us?
Bad news...
Bad news...
Jim Pemberton
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You can't control crazy or sociapathic behavior, but otherwise showing genuine concern for the issue at hand, making an attempt to do one's best, and being very fair with the issue in the end earns you those responses....they are not luck.
John Olson
Member
Stop using beauty products and laundry detergent. Your a professional act like it! Stain Magic and some sun and those would have looked new in an hour
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
John Olson" data-source="post: 4408464" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">Please John...
ruff
Member
John Olson" data-source="post: 4408464" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">And the fabric would have lasted intact for about an hour of use.
I agree with Larry, I'd have used an haitian cotton (white cotton) cleaner.
Desk Jockey
Member
Nawww I'm not impressed. You paid $380.00 for that advertisement. 
