Jim Pemberton
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- Jim Pemberton
Two Unique Urine Damaged Upholstery Challenges!
Jim Pemberton - the 'Cleaning Coach'
Upholstery that has been exposed to minor pet "accidents" rarely emits odor, but as the warm and (in many regions) humid, weather begins, such odors may become more apparent.
Most of those who clean upholstery are primarily carpet cleaners, which makes it easy to assume that the products and techniques that we use to clean carpet should be the same. Such is not the case!
When it comes to pet odors, upholstery has two issues that do not exist with carpet:
ISSUE #1 - It is VERY dangerous to saturate upholstered fabrics with liquid, which is the primary way that deodorizing treatments are applied to carpet.
ISSUE #2 - Today's customer does not want strong fragrances to be used in their home, and is especially sensitive about strong odors in their fabrics.
These two issues mean that cleaners cannot do everything that they might wish to, and cannot use as wide of a variety of products (because of the potential of strong, lingering fragrances) either.
Treatment Steps:
Inspection and Communication:
The extent of contamination from urine can be determined with ultraviolet lights, moisture detectors, (and your nose of course). The fabric must also be tested for its sensitivity to water, as well as cleaning and deodorization products. You cannot make decisions about what products to use and how to use them without this information.
Clean it First!
If the contamination hasn't penetrated through the fabric, cleaning alone may remove most, if not all of the urine residues. This is especially true if the fabric had been previously treated with a high quality fabric protector.
Cleaning Products That May Remove Urine Residues:
a) Acid Detergents and Rinse Agents:
Acidic products remove urine residues, visible spots, as well as much of
the related odors from urine. The same products that are useful for
preventing browning and bleeding, as well as for residue removal, are also
helpful in treating urine.
b) Oxidizing Cleaning Boosters:
Urine stains that remain after acid spotters remove sticky residues may require mild bleaching for complete removal. The powdered oxidizing agents that cleaners use to whiten whites and brighten colors are also very effective urine stain removers. These same products also will remove odors surprisingly well!
c) Deodorize with Care
If cleaning with the above mentioned products have not removed the odor, choose deodorizers that use little or no fragrance in their formulation. Depending on the extent of the penetration of the urine, such products can be applied by spray or by injection.
"URINE OFTEN PENETRATES INSIDE OF CUSHIONS, - INJECTION MUST BE USED TO EFFECTIVELY TREAT URINE RELATED ODORS"
If you decide that injection is necessary, be aware that liquid that is injected will often wick to the surface and potentially cause water stains, browning, or color bleeding.
These brief tips should serve as a reminder that many things that we take for granted when we treat carpet cannot be taken so lightly when treating upholstery for odors.
*************************
If you would like to learn more about treating pet odors and related stains, I offer an intensive, hands on class that will encompass all aspects of fine fabric care.
Class size is very limited for personal attention purposes, so register today.
Two Day - All New "Fabric Pro Specialist" Course With "Hands On" Training
[Next Available Date? Click Here For Pembertons Learning Center Calendar:]
Jim Pemberton - the 'Cleaning Coach'
Upholstery that has been exposed to minor pet "accidents" rarely emits odor, but as the warm and (in many regions) humid, weather begins, such odors may become more apparent.
Most of those who clean upholstery are primarily carpet cleaners, which makes it easy to assume that the products and techniques that we use to clean carpet should be the same. Such is not the case!
When it comes to pet odors, upholstery has two issues that do not exist with carpet:
ISSUE #1 - It is VERY dangerous to saturate upholstered fabrics with liquid, which is the primary way that deodorizing treatments are applied to carpet.
ISSUE #2 - Today's customer does not want strong fragrances to be used in their home, and is especially sensitive about strong odors in their fabrics.
These two issues mean that cleaners cannot do everything that they might wish to, and cannot use as wide of a variety of products (because of the potential of strong, lingering fragrances) either.
Treatment Steps:
Inspection and Communication:
The extent of contamination from urine can be determined with ultraviolet lights, moisture detectors, (and your nose of course). The fabric must also be tested for its sensitivity to water, as well as cleaning and deodorization products. You cannot make decisions about what products to use and how to use them without this information.
Clean it First!
If the contamination hasn't penetrated through the fabric, cleaning alone may remove most, if not all of the urine residues. This is especially true if the fabric had been previously treated with a high quality fabric protector.
Cleaning Products That May Remove Urine Residues:
a) Acid Detergents and Rinse Agents:
Acidic products remove urine residues, visible spots, as well as much of
the related odors from urine. The same products that are useful for
preventing browning and bleeding, as well as for residue removal, are also
helpful in treating urine.
b) Oxidizing Cleaning Boosters:
Urine stains that remain after acid spotters remove sticky residues may require mild bleaching for complete removal. The powdered oxidizing agents that cleaners use to whiten whites and brighten colors are also very effective urine stain removers. These same products also will remove odors surprisingly well!
c) Deodorize with Care
If cleaning with the above mentioned products have not removed the odor, choose deodorizers that use little or no fragrance in their formulation. Depending on the extent of the penetration of the urine, such products can be applied by spray or by injection.
"URINE OFTEN PENETRATES INSIDE OF CUSHIONS, - INJECTION MUST BE USED TO EFFECTIVELY TREAT URINE RELATED ODORS"
If you decide that injection is necessary, be aware that liquid that is injected will often wick to the surface and potentially cause water stains, browning, or color bleeding.
These brief tips should serve as a reminder that many things that we take for granted when we treat carpet cannot be taken so lightly when treating upholstery for odors.
*************************
If you would like to learn more about treating pet odors and related stains, I offer an intensive, hands on class that will encompass all aspects of fine fabric care.
Class size is very limited for personal attention purposes, so register today.
Two Day - All New "Fabric Pro Specialist" Course With "Hands On" Training
[Next Available Date? Click Here For Pembertons Learning Center Calendar:]
