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"What Caused This Mystery Color Change?"
I recently received a text from the owner of a cleaning company along with the above picture and this question!
"Do You Have Any Idea What Caused The Browning On This Ottoman?"
The first picture itself wasn't very helpful, but in the subsequent conversation, it was revealed that the top of the fabric appeared to have "browned out" the first time the technician had cleaned it, then after it was rinsed with an acidic rinse agent to remove the browning during a second visit, the sides now appeared to have browned, though the top of the ottoman now looked better.
I requested additional pictures, and received this one:
What you likely have noticed is that there is a lighter pink area on the front of edge of the ottoman. That area is where the nap has been brushed in a different direction.
Here's The "REAL" Problem!
The problem was not browning at all!
The reason why the "browning" seemed to disappear in one area and reappear in another was because the nap wasn't set evenly, and because the cleaning technician hadn't explained how the lay of the nap influences the appearance of the fabric before cleaning.
The problem was solved by a third visit where the fabric was rinsed once more, groomed properly, and most importantly the customer was shown how the direction of the nap lay changed the apparent color of the fabric.
The Solution:
1. Inspect and Qualify:
Show your customer how the nap lay of a fabric changes its appearance, and advise them that heavy use areas (such as the tops of arms and cushions) may not appear the same as the rest of the upholstery because of wear. Your customer is not always present when you clean, so be sure to take a series of pictures with your phone, then send them to your customer to examine. Then make sure they send their “ok” and understanding before you proceed.
2. Clean Carefully:
When preconditioning, brush the fabric only in the direction of the nap; when extracting, use your cleaning tool in the same way. Avoid "back and forth" scrubbing strokes.
3. Groom Thoroughly:
Use a grooming brush to restore the nap as close as possible to the fabric's original appearance.
The better you understand the type of fabric that you will be cleaning, the better your chance is of having a successful cleaning outcome the first time. Returning to correct problems costs you money, and even more importantly, customer good will.
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Coming Soon . . .
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Jim Pemberton's
Fabric Pro Upholstery Specialist Workshop
"Specialist" Course With Extensive "Hands On" Training
Class size is very limited for personal attention purposes, so register today.
Please Join Us Here - July 18 - 19, 2025 in Rochester, NY
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