Jim Pemberton
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- Jim Pemberton
Improve Your Spotting Skills!
(3 Steps & 5 Tips)
by Jim Pemberton - Fabric Pro Specialist
Skilled spotting capabilities are becoming rarer and rarer in the upholstery cleaning field!
The combination of the difficulty of removing spots and stains from absorbent, delicate natural fibers coupled with the risks involved cause most cleaners to shy away from all but the most basic spotting skills, if they even attempt that!
The answer to the problem is not avoiding the risk by using a safe, but ineffective method along with a few good sounding excuses. Nor should you blindly and carelessly attack the fabric with harsh spotting agents and aggressive procedures.
Before you attempt any spotting efforts on upholstery fabrics, always follow these three steps:
STEP #1. Identify the fabric and evaluate its unique sensitivities. Your chances to have a successful outcome are far greater when treating synthetic fiber fabrics than those than contain natural fibers.
STEP #2. Test your spotting agents for potential damage to colors, finishes, or texture. Remember that spotting agents that are "always safe" on carpet may be very damaging to the fibers, dyes, and finishes used in upholstery fabrics.
STEP #3. Discuss these factors with your customer, explain the results that may be expected, and where you may have to stop to protect the fabric from damage.
Remember that the spotting techniques that you use on carpeting may be unsafe for delicate upholstery fabrics.
Once you've tested and inspected the fabric, and explained both the risks and expected results with your customer, you should then follow these five tips:
TIP #1. . Never use spotters and cleaners that contain optical brighteners when spotting "off white" fabrics made of mostly natural fibers. These products may "over-whiten" the area that you treat, leaving a bleached out appearance.
TIP #2. Apply distilled water to the entire cushion face, or section of the body of the furniture that needs to be treated before using water based spotters. Distilled water will often remove water stains by itself, but in this case it should be used to prevent water stains from forming during the drying process.
TIP #3. Avoid, or use with EXTREME caution, highly alkaline or strongly acid spotters, as either may cause color damage.
High pH Alkaline Spotters May Cause Color Damage!-
TIP #4. Never flood upholstery with excessive amounts of dry solvent spotters. These products may deteriorate fabric backings.
TIP #5. If you are making a "spotting only" service call, be aware that some textures and finishes will be changed no matter how carefully that you work, and will contrast negatively with the untreated areas. It's a better practice to clean the entire piece, and charge accordingly, than to just take out a spot
Developing safe and effective spotting skills will help you to satisfy the growing needs that fabric protection companies and furniture stores have for a competent, reliable service to handle their warranty claims.
In addition to these firms, moving companies also need spotting services for accidents that often occur when transporting and handling furniture for their customers.
Most importantly, you will increase your value to your clients, who need a cleaning service that will provide the very best possible care in maintaining their valuable furnishings.
If you would like an opportunity to hone your upholstery spotting and stain removal skills, join us at a Fabric Pro workshop. Check here for more details, CLICK HERE
(3 Steps & 5 Tips)
by Jim Pemberton - Fabric Pro Specialist
Skilled spotting capabilities are becoming rarer and rarer in the upholstery cleaning field!
The combination of the difficulty of removing spots and stains from absorbent, delicate natural fibers coupled with the risks involved cause most cleaners to shy away from all but the most basic spotting skills, if they even attempt that!
The answer to the problem is not avoiding the risk by using a safe, but ineffective method along with a few good sounding excuses. Nor should you blindly and carelessly attack the fabric with harsh spotting agents and aggressive procedures.
Before you attempt any spotting efforts on upholstery fabrics, always follow these three steps:
STEP #1. Identify the fabric and evaluate its unique sensitivities. Your chances to have a successful outcome are far greater when treating synthetic fiber fabrics than those than contain natural fibers.
STEP #2. Test your spotting agents for potential damage to colors, finishes, or texture. Remember that spotting agents that are "always safe" on carpet may be very damaging to the fibers, dyes, and finishes used in upholstery fabrics.
STEP #3. Discuss these factors with your customer, explain the results that may be expected, and where you may have to stop to protect the fabric from damage.
Remember that the spotting techniques that you use on carpeting may be unsafe for delicate upholstery fabrics.
Once you've tested and inspected the fabric, and explained both the risks and expected results with your customer, you should then follow these five tips:
TIP #1. . Never use spotters and cleaners that contain optical brighteners when spotting "off white" fabrics made of mostly natural fibers. These products may "over-whiten" the area that you treat, leaving a bleached out appearance.
TIP #2. Apply distilled water to the entire cushion face, or section of the body of the furniture that needs to be treated before using water based spotters. Distilled water will often remove water stains by itself, but in this case it should be used to prevent water stains from forming during the drying process.
TIP #3. Avoid, or use with EXTREME caution, highly alkaline or strongly acid spotters, as either may cause color damage.
High pH Alkaline Spotters May Cause Color Damage!-
TIP #4. Never flood upholstery with excessive amounts of dry solvent spotters. These products may deteriorate fabric backings.
TIP #5. If you are making a "spotting only" service call, be aware that some textures and finishes will be changed no matter how carefully that you work, and will contrast negatively with the untreated areas. It's a better practice to clean the entire piece, and charge accordingly, than to just take out a spot
Developing safe and effective spotting skills will help you to satisfy the growing needs that fabric protection companies and furniture stores have for a competent, reliable service to handle their warranty claims.
In addition to these firms, moving companies also need spotting services for accidents that often occur when transporting and handling furniture for their customers.
Most importantly, you will increase your value to your clients, who need a cleaning service that will provide the very best possible care in maintaining their valuable furnishings.
If you would like an opportunity to hone your upholstery spotting and stain removal skills, join us at a Fabric Pro workshop. Check here for more details, CLICK HERE
