Most articles about water marks (“water stains” “rings”) discuss how sizing that is dissolved by spills or spotting creates stains in the form of a ring that can be challenging to remove.  Most water stains of this type encountered by cleaners are seen on white and light colored fabric.

When water marks occur on dark colored fabrics, however, the cause may be different.

While sizing, cellulose browning, and even soil may still show as a darker ring on dark fabrics, in many cases the material causing the stain is dye!

Many dark colored fabrics are given such deep, dark colors by applying so much dye that not all of it is completely stable within the fibers.  This excess color often crocks (rubs) off of the fabric with normal use, and can stain light colored clothing.

(You may see the same thing occur with new blue jeans or other dark colored clothing if it isn't washed before you wear it for the first time).

With upholstery fabrics that are dyed in this fashion, a spill or localized spotting can cause such unstable dyes to migrate with remaining moisture as it moves outward, and it will leave a water mark afterward.

This dye that is unstable initially will increase in concentration as it accumulates in the “rings” during the final phase of evaporation, and the resulting darker dye stains that form the ring are, unfortunately, VERY color stable as a result!

For this reason, its unlikely that “dark dye water marks” will come out during cleaning.  Bleaching agents might release the dye, but they are more likely to remove the dye around the ring (that is unstable to most any liquid agent, yet alone bleach) and leave an even more obvious dark ring within a larger bleached out area.

When you inspect and qualify an upholstery cleaning job with this problem, be sure to give your customer the following warnings:

1. Most dark colored fabrics lighten somewhat when they are cleaned, especially if soil has been allowed to accumulate and cause further damage to dyes.
2. The presence of dark colored water marks is an indication of dye instability, which means fading is even more likely in over all cleaning, even is bleaching is not used to treat the stains.
3. It is not wise to attempt to treat such stains with specific spotting agents, especially those containing bleach, as it will likely create a more unsightly appearance.  Cleaning MAY remove the stains, especially on synthetic fiber fabrics, but never guarantee that it will.

Be sure to have this understanding written out clearly on your inspection form or invoice.  If you customer is not present, take a picture and send it to their phone or computer so that they can see the problem, and communicate back to you that you are authorized to proceed at their risk.

If you would like guidelines on how to communicate the need for careful inspection before cleaning upholstery fabrics, learn about our Upholstery Condition Inspection Report and also read the reverse side of this unique Guide. I have recently completed updating this Upholstery Condition Inspection Report, which since 1987 has been the only comprehensive such form in our industry. If you would like to check out this form, CLICK HERE. You can download a "proof set" as well as find out the price for bundles of 50 of these valuable 2 part NCR forms.