FAQs - Chair Turned Pink

Question:

Hey Jim

I just got a call from a customer that I cleaned for yesterday. She says her beige cotton chair turned pink after I cleaned it. I finished with an acid rinse like I was taught to do, so why did this happen to me? Should I just spray it with a stronger solution of acid rinse, or maybe use a strong acid browning treatment?

Answer:

In most cases its safest to rinse cottons and other natural fibers on the acid side. Its great for preventing cellulose browning and color bleeding, both of which are more difficult to correct than your problem, which we hear of only a few times a year.

Here is my comment on your problem . . .

Some of the dyes used in fabric react with acid side cleaners (like your acid rinse) and appear to turn the fabric pink. The simplest solution is to buy household ammonia (not the sudsy or scented kind) and test an area to see if that makes it go away.

Most of the time it will.

If it works, spray the fabric with the ammonia, and within a few minutes the color will revert to normal and the odor will also go away.

In rare occasions, the pink color comes back after the ammonia leaves the fabric. If THAT happens, you have a bit of a tougher job ahead of you.

You'll need to spray the fabric with an alkaline prespray that does not self neutralize in the way that ammonia does. Bridgepoint Avenge Heavy Duty Prespray or either Prochem or Bridgepoint Protein Spotter will work. BUT either can cause color bleeding or fading, so test them carefully.

You then cannot rinse these materials with an acid rinse, or the pink will return. Instead, extract, using a neutral or mildly alkaline product formulated for cleaning upholstery, such as Bridgepoint Avenge Clean Rinse or Prochem Liquid Pro.

This should leave the fabric in a "safe" alkaline condition to prevent the pink haze, BUT might now contribute to "browning". Because of this, speed drying afterward is critical. You should consider packing the tops of the arms and cushions with an absorbent compound, such as Bridgepoint Stain Absorb. This product will absorb moisture and any browning and can be vacuumed away after the fabric is dry.

Jim