January 2006 Problem
January 27th 2006

What do decorations, a turkey, maybe a goose, cranberry sauce, lots of wine, candles, Christmas trees and sometimes vomit mean to you? To some people it means a very happy Christmas but to the carpet cleaner it often means a major stain problem in January. Hopefully I can take some of the strain out of your new year with some problem solving tips on festive stains. Normal industry standard procedures will apply i.e. (working towards the centre, blotting not rubbing, rinsing out, not over wetting etc.) and pre-test these suggestions before proceeding

Decorations – which can mean unstable dyes coming off damp crepe paper and trampled in. Remove all the paper and rinse with a water based spotter followed by Helpmate Coffee Stain Remover on solution dyed fibres this does not need rinsing and can be boosted with a heat transfer method using an iron over an absorbent cloth if the dye is stubborn to remove.

Turkey/Goose with gravy – Meat extract starch, proteins flours, milk, fats and grease and a variety of seasonings. Apply a water-based spotter or your detergent followed by ammonia/ white vinegar/ enzyme spotter (see vomit for details) blotting between applications then rinse thoroughly.

Cranberry Sauce – Fruit, sugar, tannin, preservatives and sometimes-extra food colouring (containing colouring matter and propylene glycol). Apply Professional Spot Lifter, Acetic Acid, before rinsing with water and applying a good enzyme detergent (see Vomit) and rinsing with water before drying. Any dye stain residue see Candle section Wine or soft drinks – treat with water based spotter Professional Spot Lifter works well then apply acetic acid followed by ammonia. If the wine was old or expensive there is more chance of dye stains, which should be treated as per the decoration dye.

Candles – petroleum, waxes, oils and dyes. After scraping as much as possible apply Dry Fabric Cleaner / P.O.G. /rinse again with Dry Fabric Cleaner. Then treat the colour residue with either Spray n Go Dye Remover or Helpmate Coffee Stain Remover. Brown paper and an iron over the wax can remove most of the waxy residue and then follow procedure as before.

The Christmas tree – the main culprit for water marking under the bucket in January. Rinse out any soil or dirt residue after vacuuming thoroughly then deal with the water mark by spraying a Browning Treatment over the area affected.

Vomit – (food mucus, albumins and acids). Blot out as much as possible with an absorbent cloth or white kitchen paper/ apply RX for Milk Egg and blood a very effective pre mixed enzyme product or mix up a strong solution of your powdered enzyme pre spray with hot water i.e. Enzall or Prekleen Enzyme Soil Lifter/ apply ammonia then blot and then white vinegar or acetic acid followed by a thorough rinse with clean water and blot until dry.

Wishing you a problem solving New Year and lots of happy stain removal results.

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