Upholstery cleaning specialists are often asked to clean fabrics which were long overdue for cleaning years earlier! Both atmospheric pollutants and aged, oxidized stains and soils will dull the colors of both natural and synthetic fiber fabrics, as well as leave an overall brownish discoloration.

This brownish "haze" is most often detectable on light pastel colors, especially on natural fiber velvets. While this condition is difficult, if not impossible to correct with standard cleaning agents and techniques, you will be able to greatly improve, or completely restore, the fabrics appearance with a simple, relatively inexpensive product.

Cleaning additives containing peroxygen compounds (non chlorine bleaches) are available to professional cleaning services. These products remove the stubborn brown staining by breaking the chemical bonds of the stain.

Detergents can only break physical bonds, and therefore are only effective on soils and relatively "fresh" spots and spills. Non-chlorine bleaches have a much gentler effect than chlorine bleaches, and can be used safely on most fabrics and colors.

Using mild oxidizing bleaches will provide the following benefits:

• Faster, more thorough removal of aged, oxidized stains and soils.
   
• A more complete restoration of whites and colors to their original appearance.
   
• A "deodorizing/sanitizing" effect. The oxidizing action that breaks down the  
  chemical bonds in stain also inhibit bacterial growth that leads to organic odors.

For best results, use your oxidizing bleach additive in the following fashion:

1. Pretest the fabric thoroughly. Do not use even these mild bleaches on off-white natural fibers, such as Haitian Cotton; otherwise over-whitening may result! Also avoid the use of these products on wool fibers and fabrics with non-colorfast dyes.
    
2. Apply to the fabric in your upholstery pre-conditioner. Shampoo pre-conditioners will work better than standard pre-spray products to evenly distribute the additive.  Note: Be certain that your additive is chemically compatible with your pre-conditioner.
    
3. Allow 15 to 20 minutes of dwell time. These oxidizing agents work slowly and will have a more dramatic effect if they are allowed to work.
    
4. "Rinse/clean" with hot water and a standard upholstery cleaning detergent.  Both the heat and the mild alkalinity of your rinse will further activate the whitening and brightening effect of the oxidizing agent.

If used properly, these products will assist you to clean and restore fabrics that were previously considered "non-cleanable", and greatly reduce your labor costs.