White cotton sofa didn't come clean (wicking?)

[jason wolfington]

I tried to clean a white cotton sofa yesterday. The sofa had been in storage for a while and was very dirty with dust and it also had boxes and items stacked on top of it that rubbed in the dirt.

I used prochem upholstery prespray and set my truckmount pressure to 200 psi with a closed jet wand. As I cleaned, it looked wonderful, I did have to go over some of the spots a few times. As each area dried, it turned a dingy tan color and was uneven. I cleaned it again and it looked perfect...for a while. I switched to an internal jet wand and left the pressure around 200..cleaned new areas and got the same results. I even tried a side of a cushion without prespray and it had the same effect.

I know there were some areas that were so dirty, I did over wet the spot, but there were areas that were not over wet that just didn't look right as it dried. I was cleaning this in a garage of a new home...it was a clean area and no dust in the air.

I told the customer that there would be no charge..it looked way better than when I started...it just wasn't good enough.

Have any of you guys ran into this before? And what has worked or do you suggest I try next time I have this trouble?

Thanks

 

[awratchford]

I tried to clean a white cotton sofa yesterday. The sofa had been in storage for a while and was very dirty with dust and it also had boxes and items stacked on top of it that rubbed in the dirt.

I used prochem upholstery prespray and set my truckmount pressure to 200 psi with a closed jet wand. As I cleaned, it looked wonderful, I did have to go over some of the spots a few times. As each area dried, it turned a dingy tan color and was uneven. I cleaned it again and it looked perfect...for a while. I switched to an internal jet wand and left the pressure around 200..cleaned new areas and got the same results. I even tried a side of a cushion without prespray and it had the same effect.

I know there were some areas that were so dirty, I did over wet the spot, but there were areas that were not over wet that just didn't look right as it dried. I was cleaning this in a garage of a new home...it was a clean area and no dust in the air.

I told the customer that there would be no charge..it looked way better than when I started...it just wasn't good enough.

Have any of you guys ran into this before? And what has worked or do you suggest I try next time I have this trouble?

Thanks

Your first mistake was applying water to a white cotton sofa. Gonna brown it out, every single time. My advice in the future don't touch white cotton, wool or any other God made fiber upholstery. Check with Rob Allen but I believe you might can apply a light misting of debrowning solution to remove your brown out spots

 

[Robert Woodson]

Get some Haitian cotton formula you might be able to correct it. I keep some on the truck but I turn down white cotton furniture if I think it will be too much of a hassle.

 

[jtsunbrite]

Haitian cotton cleaner is what I use on all white furniture and it works great and I don't worry about browning out anything.... Without Haitian cotton cleaner I wouldn't touch white furniture

 

[bob_rugratz]

You almost made some money huh. . Mist with a acid side and maybe do some wiping with mf towel. it would have started to disappear before you eyes prolly. suggestions above are correct. basically the ph needs to be lower to prevent browning. now go back and get your check.!!! it may look even worse the next day. you kinda need to fix it. not just do it free. this opens things up for someone to come in and fix your work and take that customer possibly forever. most likely actually. If you get a real bad spot. lower the ph even more. coffee stain remover mist and hand bonnet after about 15 seconds. try to remove as much as you can but let it almost disappear before wiping it off. fan dry.

 

[Common janitor]

I tried to clean a white cotton sofa yesterday. The sofa had been in storage for a while and was very dirty with dust and it also had boxes and items stacked on top of it that rubbed in the dirt.

I used prochem upholstery prespray and set my truckmount pressure to 200 psi with a closed jet wand. As I cleaned, it looked wonderful, I did have to go over some of the spots a few times. As each area dried, it turned a dingy tan color and was uneven. I cleaned it again and it looked perfect...for a while. I switched to an internal jet wand and left the pressure around 200..cleaned new areas and got the same results. I even tried a side of a cushion without prespray and it had the same effect.

I know there were some areas that were so dirty, I did over wet the spot, but there were areas that were not over wet that just didn't look right as it dried. I was cleaning this in a garage of a new home...it was a clean area and no dust in the air.

I told the customer that there would be no charge..it looked way better than when I started...it just wasn't good enough.

Have any of you guys ran into this before? And what has worked or do you suggest I try next time I have this trouble?

Thanks

Yep, jt and Bob told you right . First time I ever tried I had the exact results you had !! LOL !! The guys on here got me on the right path and helped me get a pair of white Haitian cotton chairs fixed . Came out of a barn and were filthy, stained and a general mess !! Used Oxy Buff and Fab Set . Came out very acceptable after a lot of work . Daughter was very happy and still has the chairs so I guess I'll get the call to clean them again !! LOL !! Actually prompted me to take UFT and learn something about upholstery so it was a "win, win " !!
All the Best, Ed

 

[Prosteam-sonomacounty]

Haitian comments are right on the money.
I've had the same container of Haitian for about 12 years.
Rarely use it because white cotton is so rare these days but when you need it , it's invaluable

 

[bob_rugratz]

110% get a jug. haitian. Use it as excuse. to go fix this. say its a new product. or something like that. whatever. just do not leave it hanging out there with your name on it.

 

[emeraldclean]

Haitian comments are right on the money.
I've had the same container of Haitian for about 12 years.
Rarely use it because white cotton is so rare these days but when you need it , it's invaluable

There was a young buck here in Vegas at the party in Anthony's room that said he cleans Haitian cotton at least once a week.
I was three sheets to the wind.... but called bullshit real quick.
Don't think I cleaned raw cotton for 15-18 years... but when I did , I knew what I was doing.
@Jose Holguin that kid is golden ... mixing up Red Label Scotch and Red Bull.

 

[Royal Man]

I get haitian cotton several times a month.( Some times several a week) I use Cobbs Cotton shampoo and it works very well.

 

[emeraldclean]

I get haitian cotton several times a month.( Some times several a week) I use Cobbs Cotton shampoo and it works very well.

Takes some pics ... Nebraska is known for their beef... haitian cotton .. Ok
Ya take some pics please when you clean your next set.
Unless everyone is still stuck in the 80's there ... I call bullshit

 

[Prosteam-sonomacounty]

Takes some pics ... Nebraska is known for their beef... haitian cotton .. Ok
Ya take some pics please when you clean your next set.
Unless everyone is still stuck in the 80's there ... I call bullshit

Us old timers know about true Haitian and raw cotton.
Grants right on spot. Used to see that shit way too often back 25 years ago but it's EXTREMLY rare these days.
Hey grant, maybe this kid cleans in Haiti

 

[Jose Holguin]

There was a young buck here in Vegas at the party in Anthony's room that said he cleans Haitian cotton at least once a week.
I was three sheets to the wind.... but called bullshit real quick.
Don't think I cleaned raw cotton for 15-18 years... but when I did , I knew what I was doing.
@Jose Holguin that kid is golden ... mixing up Red Label Scotch and Red Bull.

Lol I'm surprised you remember that conversation Grant! Lol

I usually do it with Buchanan Grant but they didn't have it at the store downstairs. Best drink in the world.

 

[carpettom]

I use haition cotton cleaner on any white fabric and always get excellent results using it. I've even used it on white or off white herculon furniture

 

[Magnum Clean]

I wonder if you could use a peroxide based encap prespray? Encapuclean O2 has an acid side PH. You could just agitate it in and then extract with a towel or by just vacuuming it out.. no rinsing and over wetting, and very fast drying.. plus the anti- wicking of the polymer.

 

[Common janitor]

I wonder if you could use a peroxide based encap prespray? Encapuclean O2 has an acid side PH. You could just agitate it in and then extract with a towel or by just vacuuming it out.. no rinsing and over wetting, and very fast drying.. plus the anti- wicking of the polymer.

Read a story on here that this was done on a sofa a guy got a callback on . Sorry I can't recall the cleaners name but I think he did this in NYC . Worked out well I believe . In my case with those chairs I was "up against it " so to speak because of the raw cotton . You may be drying beautifully and the next thing you know a seed hull you pulled closer to the surface will start making a brown to reddish / brown spot or spots !! The backing of the fabric may contain things that make this very difficult as well . It was a great learning experience for me and as Bob suggested the OP should go back and work on the piece till it's right . A hair dryer held at an angle will help him as well preventing some bad effects from over wetting an area . The above gentlemen have given great information and advice .
All the Best, Ed

 

[jhcinc]

Steve Andrews has posted somewhere on here how to use an osr product to fix browning on white cotton. The trick when using Sodium perborate products is to use another product to lower ph like buff all and then dry fast with fans or hair drier.

I have good results with encap green from vacaway which is 7ph for cleaning white cotton -viscose-silk and haitian cotton.
With brown stains I have used LST from chemmaxx which is 5ph and 3% peroxide mix and a hair drier.

Low moisture and repeat cleaning on bad areas is better than flushing fabric and leaving fibers wet more than ten minutes. Low moisture can be done with a vacuum system if you mist fiber and use a lot of vac strokes.

Here is white cotton with feces stain about 2 days old.

 

[emeraldclean]

Lol I'm surprised you remember that conversation Grant! Lol

I usually do it with Buchanan Grant but they didn't have it at the store downstairs. Best drink in the world.

I remember Jose... drunk and high.. I will get by!
Had to set more than one person straight at that upstairs gathering, including the host lol!
Time to hit the tables

 

[emeraldclean]

Us old timers know about true Haitian and raw cotton.
Grants right on spot. Used to see that shit way too often back 25 years ago but it's EXTREMLY rare these days.
Hey grant, maybe this kid cleans in Haiti

Yes and practices voodoo while speaking french.

 

[Common janitor]

Steve Andrews has posted somewhere on here how to use an osr product to fix browning on white cotton. The trick when using Sodium perborate products is to use another product to lower ph like buff all and then dry fast with fans or hair drier.

I have good results with encap green from vacaway which is 7ph for cleaning white cotton -viscose-silk and haitian cotton.
With brown stains I have used LST from chemmaxx which is 5ph and 3% peroxide mix and a hair drier.

Low moisture and repeat cleaning on bad areas is better than flushing fabric and leaving fibers wet more than ten minutes. Low moisture can be done with a vacuum system if you mist fiber and use a lot of vac strokes.

Here is white cotton with feces stain about 2 days old.

Great videos and nice work !! Didn't Interlink quit selling Buff All ? I think OxyBuff replaced it . Anyone know ?
All the Best, Ed