FAQs - Browning On Sofa

Jim

I recently cleaned a polyurethane/polyester sofa and it ended up getting some browning spots. Here is what I used: Bridgepoint Fabric Prespray mixed with Citrus Solv. I started to clean the sofa and ended up running out of gas. Left to fill up, came back finished cleaning and the next day the customer called back saying there were brown water stains everywhere. What is your professional opinion on how I should reclean this?

Brent
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Hello Brent

The problem will likely be easy to solve, but I'll need a little bit more information first:

1. How did you determine that the sofa was polyurethane/polyester? A label that described such materials describes the filler material, not the face fibers that you clean. Or did you do a burn test? If you haven't, I'd like you to do a burn test just to determine if it contains natural fibers (cotton/linen/wool/silk/rayon). If you aren't sure how to do this, let me know and I'll coach you through it.


2. Describe the type or appearance of the fabric.
   Is it:
   • Solid white or cream?
   
   
   • Printed?
   
   
   • Does it have a woven pattern with several colors? (such as jacquard)
   
   
   • Shiny?


3. Are the brown stains brown throughout or just at the edges? Do they appear randomly or are they more concentrated in areas that might have gotten wetter than others?

Finally, since you use Bridgepoint products, do you have any of the following products:

1. Fabset


2. Coffee Stain Remover


3. Boost All


4. Buff All


5. Fabric Shampoo


6. Stain Zone

You shouldn't need them all, but depending on the final diagnosis you might need some of them.

Jim
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Thanks Jim,

Maybe you could tell me what I need to look for when doing a burn test. I looked at the tag today and there is a hint of cotton mixed in it. Also it is white, and light brown or tan stripes I believe that it’s where I got the fabric a little too wet, I had to leave for about 25 min. (believe me I did not want to do this, but I had to do what I had to do, so this allowed the soap probably to dry and caused the browning, just my opinion). Yes we carry all of the products you listed.

Thanks Jim let me know what you think,
Brent
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Hi Brent

OK, here's what you need to do for the burn test:
Get a small pair of scissors and snip out a slice of fabric from under the skirt or inside of the zipper (there is always a hem or seam allowance that you can take).

The clipping should be the size of a finger nail clipping.

Light the clipping, blow it out, and press the ash between your thumb and finger. If it feels hard, its synthetic (polyester/nylon/olefin/acrylic). If it's natural, it will crumble and leave a black smudge on your finger (cotton/linen/wool/silk/rayon).

The browning makes me think that it's natural.

I'm a little worried that the brown or tan stripes might have bled (bleeding is usually irregular and looks like brown spots) but that's a rare problem with the formula that you used.

Its more likely that you have browning, which is most safely corrected by rinsing the fabric with FabSet at a rate of 2 ounces per gallon, and drying it rapidly. If you can put it in direct sunlight, all the better.

If that doesn't work, mix the Coffee Stain Remover per label directions with hot water, apply to the stained areas, and also put it in the sunlight.

Should that not work, use the Boost All, Buff All, and Fabric Shampoo by diluting them together at label use directions, applying it overall (not just on the brown spots) in the form of a foam, then putting it in the sun to dry (do not rinse).

I am a bit concerned about the Boost All step, as in some fabrics it may over-whiten the material, which is why I recommended that you apply it overall, not just on the stains.

Jim