10 common upholstery cleaning problems

1. Dye migration

This is a common problem for cleaners who don't pre-test. Common symptoms include dye-bleed and colour fading - which may only become apparent after drying. Strong colours are usually most at risk. But this can easily be avoided with the following test procedure:

Dry Crock Test

Dry crock testing should be done on an exposed fabric face to determine if the piece is fume fading. This is a releasing of the dye due to atmospheric gases and may not be apparent until a dry crock test has been performed.

Using a clean white dry towel, gently rub the fabric on all colours and check for dry crocking. If colour transfer is evident, this is a vacuum only piece.

Particular attention should be paid to the areas of the fabric that come into contact with the body, or direct sunlight.

If no colour transfer is apparent, proceed to the wet crock test.

Wet Crock Test

Lightly moisten a clean white towel with plain water. Gently rub all colours, and check for wet crocking.

If colour transfer is evident, this is a potential dry clean only piece. If no colour transfer is apparent, dry the area with a hair dryer at low heat setting (place your hand on the fabric next to where you are drying so you can feel if it's too hot).

When the test area is dry, check for colour bleeding, colour fading, colour loss, shrinking, or stretching of fabric.

Cleaning Agent Test

In an inconspicuous area, apply the proposed diluted cleaning agent to the fabric. Wait for two minutes and rub with a white towel. Now inspect the towel for dye transfer.

Every cleaning agent you will use should be tested on every colour in the fabric, including the backing - if you can get access to it.

Ideally, you should reproduce the actual cleaning conditions as closely as possible.

For example:

If you will be using heat, you should reproduce the heat during testing. If you are testing a pre-spray, the dwell time should be the same as during cleaning. If it's an extraction agent, it should be applied and then left for the expected drying time - which means several hours later.

But is this realistic?

Most cleaners don't have time to wet the fabric and then wait hours for it to dry - before inspecting the test results. So how can you get around this?

One of the best and safest ways is to clean a cushion back during the survey (after going through the normal cleaning agent test procedure). A spot cleaning machine is very useful for doing this quickly.

You can then inspect after the test clean (when wet) and again before the full clean (when dry). It's a fast way of doing it, and it's a good reproduction of the actual cleaning conditions.

After testing, check the fabric for any problems such as colour bleeding, colour fading, colour loss, shrinking, or stretching (more on shrinking and stretching below). Check the towel for any evidence of dye transfer.

If problems are observed, change to another (lower pH) cleaning agent, or different cleaning process.

If you speed up the drying time by using air movers, you also reduce the risk.

2. Fibre damage

Usually caused by overly aggressive agitation or too much vacuum pressure. If the fabric is delicate or worn, a net curtain laid over the high-risk areas (corners and worn areas) prior to extraction can help protect the fabric.

It's often a good idea to ask the client to sign a disclaimer if the fabric is particularly worn. Be aware too that some fabrics become weaker when wet e.g. Viscose Rayon.

3. Water marks

These are usually caused by uneven drying. To prevent uneven drying, always wet the whole panel being cleaned. Then pass over each area with vac-only strokes with the hand tool (lofting).

Be careful too not to position air movers so close that one area dries a lot faster than another.

4. Solvent rings

These are caused when wet solvent spotter is not adequately flushed out with dry solvent after use. To prevent solvent rings, use the absolute minimum amount of wet solvent required. Never apply wet solvent directly to the fabric. Instead apply using a terry towel.

After using a wet spotter (e.g. Chemspec POG or Prochem Solvex), apply a dry (volatile) solvent, then dry extract with your hand tool. Repeat this several times to remove any wet solvent residues.

Always do this, even if it says 'water-rinseable' on the bottle (I've never found a true wet solvent that easily rinsed out with water alone).

Using a gel based wet solvent (Prochem Liqua Gel or Chemspec Citrus Gel) also helps to prevent solvent rings - but still should be flushed with a dry solvent to remove the residues. Again, use the absolute minimum amount required.

4. Over-wetting

Normally caused by incorrect technique or too much water pressure. If the cushion has a zip, clean a portion of the cushion, unzip and check by feeling inside for water penetration.

Upgrading to an internal jet or CFR hand tool will allow you to clean with less risk of over-wetting. With the CFR tool, you can actually hold it completely stationary at high pressure - and still not over-wet (quite handy sometimes on beading or fiddly bits - that may get damaged with repeated passes).

6. Browning

Usually caused by too high pH cleaning solution and over-wetting. If you neutralise with Prochem Fibre and Fabric Rinse, or Chemspec Textile Rinse during extraction, you shouldn't normally have any problems.

Using Chemspec Haitian Cotton Cleaning Shampoo, or adding Oxibrite (with caution) to the cleaning solution can also prevent browning - or reverse it as it occurs.

Again, speeding up the drying time with air movers also reduces the risk.

7. Shrinkage

In extreme cases this can mean split seams or split fabric.

To test for this, insert two pins and measure the distance apart (about 5 cm should do the trick). Then, spray with cleaning solution and allow to dry. Re-measure the distance; if it's now shorter, change to a different cleaning solution or process.

Shrinkage up to about 5% may be acceptable - but there are lots of variables involved - such as the type of fabric, how tight it is, how old it is, how strong the seams are etc. Proceed with caution.

8. Break down of latex backing

Usually caused by Wet Solvent penetrating through to the latex backing. Too much heat can also cause problems. Always use a solvent gel such as Prochem Citrus Gel or Chemspec Liqua Gel when a latex backing is present - so it sits on the face of the fibre rather than penetrating through.

9. Stretching

Normally caused by too much vacuum pressure - adjust if the fabric is being pulled too much during extraction. Loose fitting fabric doesn't help either - hold it tight by hand as you extract with shorter than normal passes.

10. Upholsterer’s marks

This is where the upholsterer marks the back of the fabric as a guide for cutting. When wet, dye from these marks can migrate and wick through to the face fabric.

All you can really do is check inside the cushions for upholsterer’s marks. If you find any, test for dye migration as above.

Whether staining caused by upholsterer's marks is your responsibility, or the manufacturer's, is a matter of debate.