Jim Pemberton
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- Joined
- Oct 7, 2006
- Messages
- 12,558
- Name
- Jim Pemberton
"Safe, Affordable, Fast & Effective" Upholstery Odor Control Services
Upholstery fabrics that have been exposed to minor pet "accidents" rarely emit bothersome odors; but as the warm and (in many regions) humid, weather begins, such odors may, and often do become more apparent.
Today's "pampered pets" are allowed to sit on furniture, and urine stains and odor may often be the result!
Most services who clean upholstery are primarily carpet cleaners, making 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
#1 - Inspection and Communication:
The extent of contamination from urine can be detected 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.
#2 - Clean it First!
If the contamination hasn't penetrated through the fabric, upholstery cleaning products are often very good deodorizing and even spot/stain removal treatments as well.
Here are some examples:
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 helpful in treating urine.
Acid rinse agents can be used as urine spotting agents as well. This helps eliminate the need to carry several products.
b) Oxidizing Cleaning Boosters:
Urine stains that remain after acid spotters remove sticky residues often 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 has 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.
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.
"…be aware that liquid that is injected will often wick to the surface.."
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 regularly offer an intensive, hands on class that encompasses all aspects of fine fabric care.
Become a 'Fabric Pro Upholstery Specialist.'
In this class you will learn 'What to do" + "When to do it"
as well as "How to do it . . . "Hands-On"!
Two Day - All New "Specialist" Course With "Hands On" Training
Class size is very limited for personal attention purposes,
so register today.
[Next Available Date? Click Here For The Learning Center Calendar:]
Instructor: Jim Pemberton
Time: 8:00 AM – 5 PM each day
Cost: $795.00 per student {Includes Comprehensive Online Pre-Study}
Good for 2 IICRC CEC's
Lunch & Refreshments -- Compliments of Pembertons
Click Here to Register For the Class
************************************************
Upholstery fabrics that have been exposed to minor pet "accidents" rarely emit bothersome odors; but as the warm and (in many regions) humid, weather begins, such odors may, and often do become more apparent.
Today's "pampered pets" are allowed to sit on furniture, and urine stains and odor may often be the result!
Most services who clean upholstery are primarily carpet cleaners, making 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
#1 - Inspection and Communication:
The extent of contamination from urine can be detected 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.
#2 - Clean it First!
If the contamination hasn't penetrated through the fabric, upholstery cleaning products are often very good deodorizing and even spot/stain removal treatments as well.
Here are some examples:
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 helpful in treating urine.
Acid rinse agents can be used as urine spotting agents as well. This helps eliminate the need to carry several products.
b) Oxidizing Cleaning Boosters:
Urine stains that remain after acid spotters remove sticky residues often 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 has 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.
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.
"…be aware that liquid that is injected will often wick to the surface.."
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 regularly offer an intensive, hands on class that encompasses all aspects of fine fabric care.
Become a 'Fabric Pro Upholstery Specialist.'
In this class you will learn 'What to do" + "When to do it"
as well as "How to do it . . . "Hands-On"!
Two Day - All New "Specialist" Course With "Hands On" Training
Class size is very limited for personal attention purposes,
so register today.
[Next Available Date? Click Here For The Learning Center Calendar:]
Instructor: Jim Pemberton
Time: 8:00 AM – 5 PM each day
Cost: $795.00 per student {Includes Comprehensive Online Pre-Study}
Good for 2 IICRC CEC's
Lunch & Refreshments -- Compliments of Pembertons
Click Here to Register For the Class
************************************************
