Q: At a recent job, I tried to remove this huge glob of ink from the carpet. I think the carpet was nylon. I added my solvent but the spot got bigger. Eventually, it looked OK but not perfect. What could I have done to save me some trouble?
— Max, Richmond, VA
A: Ink is a problem because of a huge hidden reservoir of substance that will spread. You add solvent, the problem gets bigger. What might be a tiny spot to begin with can grow into a headache.
You can continue to add solvent to remove the stain, but then you have the possibility of delamination. Plus, although much of the ink is removed, there is a blue "haze" that remains, and that is tough to remove completely.
So here is what you do, assuming the fiber content is synthetic.
Apply a mixture of 10 percent peroxide (about 40 volume) and ammonia to the ink and around the ink. Saturate the area. Then, apply your dry solvent. As the ink tends to spread, the peroxide mixture acts as a bleach and the spreading ink will virtually disappear before your eyes (usually).
The use of gel solvents also inhibits spreading, but is a little slower in reaction.
A word of caution: Anytime you see ink on carpet or furniture, be sure to communicate the challenges to your customer. Don't inherit a problem.
Q: I'm finding that cleaning the fringes of area rugs is very tough. The fringes seem to stay brown no matter how many times I clean them. What can I do?
— Sandy, Portland, OR
A: Many area rug fringes are cotton, and can be tough to clean. It's one of the challenges you face with area rugs, especially when cleaning on location.
Try misting the fringes with an encapsulation detergent before cleaning. Remember that soil particles that tend to stick to fibers are very small, and the encapsulation effect helps to remove them. Carefully work the encapsulation shampoo into a foam on the fringe.
An application of hydrogen peroxide also helps with the appearance of fringes. You might try applying peroxide before you clean, but especially afterwards. The bleaching effect of the peroxide will remove most if not all of the brown appearance.
Some cleaners find that using sodium percarbonate whitens and brightens the fringe, but the pH is generally too high for natural fibers.
Q: Why am I seeing more and more green cleaning products? I've heard they don't work that well.
— Joe, Raleigh, NC
A: Consumer demand of green cleaning is often the driving force behind the growth of green cleaning product lines. As more of your customers ask about green cleaning, you have to give them what they want… and you need the products.
You might be surprised how well some of these formulated products work. The only way to know for yourself is to try them out.
You will see demand for green cleaning services continue to grow in the future. Just a few years ago, not many had much interest in green cleaning. Times have changed. Don't miss out on a potentially huge money making opportunity.
Have a question for us? Ask at Cleanfax.com/experts or jcross@ntpmedia.com.
