In the last Clean Tip, I shared the question of a cleaner who had an article of furniture turn brown after cleaning, and how that problem might be better prevented in the future.
Today I'll share the potential remedies for browning in the unlikely (we are hopeful!) event that you encounter browning yourself.
- In some cases, rinsing the fabric with an acidic rinse agent, such as Upholstery Rinse or Fabset, will remove the browning. I prefer rinsing with Dye Stabilizer and Rinse, as it is a pure organic acid that contains no surfactant. This distinction is important, as you should leave as little residue as possible when correcting browning to prevent texture problems.
Even if an acidic rinse does not completely solve the problem, it likely will remove detergent residues that contributed to the browning in the first place, and make subsequent removal procedures more effective. - The next treatment to apply is a reducing agent, such as Coffee Stain Remover or a liquid browning treatment that contain sodium bisulfite. Such products are effective at removing the brown discoloration and few contain surfactants either.
- If reducing agents do not work, rinse the fabric again, dry it quickly, then use an oxidizing agent, such as Boost All. This type of product should be mixed with an upholstery cleaning detergent or shampoo, then rinsed from the fabric with an acidic rinse (Upholstery Rinse/Fabset), and dried rapidly.
Products such as Stain Zone and Stain Magic may also work, but caution should be used, as these products may weaken cellulose fabrics, such as cotton, linen, and rayon.
All browning causes some degree of destruction to the fabric, so it is always undesirable to allow this to happen. The methods that remove browning also cause a degree of damage, though steps one and two (acid rinses and reducers) cause little noticeable damage. Use oxidizing agents only as a last resort, and as said before, avoid browning at all costs.
