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Four Big Problems Caused by Tufted Buttons
When examining designer, premium or custom furniture items for cleaning/restoration services that have tufted buttons as a part of the design, you should immediately reconsider the time frame (labor) for processing it!
Tufted buttons create an uneven surface that may be very difficult to clean, in addition to the extra labor costs, consider the additional patience and care that removing moisture and loosened soil will require.
If you are not careful and thoughtlessly work too quickly, following are four big problems that may occur:
1. Water Stains:
If the fabric surrounding the buttons area is allowed to remain wet, the uneven drying in comparison to the flatter sections of the fabric will likely dry with water stains or rings. These can be troubling to remove and may also leave an unattractive appearance.
2. Browning:
Natural fiber fabrics, especially light and white colors, can experience browning in areas that take too long to dry, even if cleaned with products formulated to prevent browning.
3. Color Bleeding:
Fabrics that might otherwise not experience bleeding will sometimes bleed if drying occurs too slowly.
4. Rusted Buttons:
Antique or imported furniture (translate: 'EXPENSIVE') may have metal hidden in the tufted buttons, and the fabric covering the buttons may develop rust stains.
All of these problems can be prevented by this following technique:
1. Vacuum Thoroughly:
Use a brush to loosen imbedded dry soils and vacuum carefully with a crevice tool. (Loose dry soil that becomes wet and is not extracted is a common cause of water marks).
2. Apply Distilled Water:
There is nearly always some variance in the wetting between the tufted areas where the fabric is pushed into the buttons and the remainder of the piece. By applying distilled water first, it will evenly "wet out" the fabric, including the impurities that contribute to water marks during the drying process.
3. Control Moisture:
Use only foam or a light mist of your preconditioner, and avoid flooding the fabric with your cleaning tool during extraction. Water will puddle in the button area, and lead to any of the previously mentioned problems.
4. Extract Thoroughly:
Its unlikely that your cleaning tool will fit easily in to the tufts and crevices present. Instead, extract with a clean dry towel, and remove as much moisture as possible.
Cleaning furniture with tufted buttons will take longer by far than cleaning a piece that doesn't. Adjust your predicted time frame, and of course your price, to allow you to take the time needed to clean these types of fabric constructions safely and well.
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SUMMARY COMMENT:
To our valued eCleanAdvisor members . . .
Every cleaning professional needs to be able to look their customer in the eye and say "I can do this because of my skill and training, but I cannot be responsible for whatever risks that result from factors beyond my control, or the lack of care that the fabric has received prior to this".
Read this linked article for more guidance if you are interested in improving your skills . . .
Click here - INSPECT & QUALIFY YOUR WORK!
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