Stain Removal procedures for use on wool or silk:

Before beginning your stain removal procedure the stained carpet should be thoroughly rinsed cleaned and blotted dry to remove anything that could interfere with the stain removal process.

Protein fibers such as wool and silk are easily damaged by oxidizers and reducers as well as by strong bases or strong acids.  Because of this, careful attention must be given during any stain removal procedure to every detail.

You will find that strong reducing agents can cause the loss of natural color and yellowing of the fiber.  You will find that strong oxidizers will cause color loss as well as fiber degradation.

Unfortunately most of the products that can successfully remove stains are based on reduction and oxidation reactions. So it should be self evident that before attempting stain removal from a customer’s wool carpet be sure you have a waiver from liability. Do not let the customer’s problem become your liability.

Selecting the right product for unknown stains.

You will find that most brown or yellow stains will be some type of organic stain and will respond best to Stain Magic for Wool.

Muted dull red or purple stains are often wine stains (which are also organic in nature) and will respond best to Stain Magic for Wool. Vivid red or pink stains are often food dye, which responds best to Red Relief for Wool.

ORGANIC STAIN REMOVAL FOR WOOL

If you have concluded that the stain you are about to remove is of an organic nature (urine, wine, coffee, etc) you will use Stain Magic for Wool.

Considerations: Many wool carpets are dyed with organic vegetable colors that can bleed and/or fade during your stains removal procedure.

You can stabilize these colors by treating the colored areas you want to protect with  CSS (Color Stabilizer and Souring Agent).

Using an eyedropper, apply CSS to wet just those colored fibers you want to protect. IMPORTANT NOTE: CSS will neutralize Stain Magic for Wool so do not treat the areas you intend to use Stain Magic for Wool with CSS. In some cases you may have to protect unstable dyes knowing that stain removal will not be 100% effective in these areas to prevent bleeding.

Now apply Stain Magic for Wool accurately to the stained fibers wetting ONLY the stain damaged fibers. At this point it is best to allow up to 15 minutes dwell time to see if the stain can be removed without the application of external reaction energy.

If you observe the stain disappearing allow sufficient time for the stain to be removed then proceed with the neutralization and rinsing process.

If you observe improvement but very slow reaction of the stain to your treatment you have two choices.
 

1. You can allow the reaction to proceed for up to 8 hours (or until dry).  In this instance you will probably not be present to rinse and neutralize the treated area at the point where the stain is gone.  But it should be rinsed and neutralized as soon as possible following the treatment.
2. You can add external energy to speed up the stain removal chemical reaction. If this is the action you choose proceed as follows.

A. Carefully dampen only the stained fibers with Stain Magic for Wool solution.
B. Cover the treated fibers with a damp lightweight terry towel folded in half so you have 2 layers of fabric over the stain.
C. Apply steam heat from a steaming iron set at the lowest steam setting.
D. Allow ONLY 3 seconds dwell time before you remove the heat and fold back the towel to inspect the treated area.  Repeat the heat application in 3-second intervals until the stain has been removed.

Note: during this process monitor the fibers for bleaching and/or loss of fiber bulk.  If you observe either of these conditions discontinue your treatment.

1. Rinsing and Neutralizing
2. When you have completed your treatment rinse the treated area using hot water extraction.  Apply CSS to the treated fibers and again hot water extraction rinse the area.  Blot area with a clean white towel to leave as dry as possible.

FOOD DYE STAIN REMOVAL FOR WOOL

1. Thoroughly extraction-rinse the stained area. Follow with multiple vacuum only dry strokes to leave fibers as dry as possible.
2. Mix the Red Relief for Wool using equal portions of solution “A” and “B”.
3. Wet only the stained fibers with the Red Relief for Wool solution.
4. Allow up to 10 minutes dwell time for the stain to disappear or change to a light yellow color.
5. Thoroughly flush and extraction-rinse the stain and surrounding area.  Follow with multiple vacuum only strokes to leave the fibers as dry as possible.
6. If any stain remains repeat steps 2 through 5 (it may be necessary to repeat this procedure up to 4 times for severe stains).
7. Neutralize the area by saturating it with a CSS solution (1 part CSS to 3 parts water).
8. Allow 3-minute dwell time.
9. Extraction-rinse and groom the fibers.
10. Dry area as soon as possible.

Note:  DO NOT attempt this procedure until you have practiced it on scrap carpet.

For Technical Support please call us at (800) 368-1247 or drop us an e-mail.