Prepared To Clean 21st Century Fabrics? (NO? - Can lead to expensive claims!)

by Jim Pemberton - Fine Fabric Specialist

“Using 20^th Century cleaning products and processes
for 21^st Century fabrics can lead to expensive claims!”

Consider This Potential Damage Claim from Cleaning Agent Residue:

I recently had a series of photographs shared with me by a leading fine fabric specialist that were not what they seemed to be!

A heavily soiled and stained white natural fiber fabric cushion was brought into
his plant for cleaning. After his well meaning, but a bit too determined technician
completed the job, the cushion had what appeared to be “bleached out” areas
that were snow white instead of the “off white” original color.

“Note the over whitened areas”

My first thought was that his technician used a peroxide based stain remover that
bleached out the fabric, but it was found that instead he had used a product
generally known as a “Haitian Cotton Shampoo” when the owner felt the white
areas, it was found to be stiff, and the residue of the shampoo came off on his fingers.

Dried Shampoo Residue On Fingers

To understand how this happened, how to potentially remedy the problem, and most importantly, prevent the problem in the future, consider this:

Background:
Haitian Cotton/Natural Cotton Shampoo products were introduced in the early 1980's to address a style of fabric using raw cotton fibers in loosely twisted yarns.
Due to the limitations of cleaning chemistry and the way upholstery tools could over wet such fabrics, such product could be used to dry foam clean such fabrics with a fair amount of safety.
Such was the success of this system that, over 40 years later, many cleaners still use this product on any white, natural fiber fabric.

The Problem:
Shampoo products do not easily rinse from fabrics, and Haitian Cotton Shampoos and their reducing agent additives may leave residues that appear to discolor the fabric, and also interfere with the performance of fabric protectors. Even with brushing and vacuuming of the dry residue, and repeated rinsing afterward, total residue removal may be impossible.
In the case of the issue with the cushion pictured above, the fabric is still discolored.
The Solution:
It is long past time to leave Haitian Cotton Shampoo in the 20^th century where it belongs!
Very low moisture cleaning methods, using products specifically designed for fine
fabric upholstery and designer rugs (NOT products used for “encapsulation
cleaning of carpet”) can clean such fabrics safely, effectively, while keeping the
textiles natural appearance and soft texture.
>>> (Severely soiled fabrics that require restorative cleaning can still be cleaned
without the need for inferior shampoo systems as well).
Recommendation:
If you are at all familiar with Very Low Moisture cleaning systems for upholstery,
the use of RCI Brite N Soft will vastly improve your results, and minimize all of the
risks that put this unfortunate cleaner in this difficult place.
If you want to learn about systems to restoratively clean such fabrics
and get outstanding results, join me at my next Fabric Pro Workshop.

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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.

New Date Announced!
March 27 - 28, 2026

How Can You Benefit From This?
Click here for complete class details

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