A note from the CEO. IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing. Dear Stanley Steemer associate,

Transcription

1

2 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing A note from the CEO Dear Stanley Steemer associate, Welcome to the upholstery cleaning class. I hope you find your time here in the class valuable as you continue on your career path with Stanley Steemer. As a professional upholstery cleaning technician you play a valuable role in the growth and success of our company. For many customers, you are the face of Stanley Steemer. The quality of service you provide and the customer s overall experience with you reflects on our entire company. We receive thousands of letters praising our technicians and the wonderful job they do. You are the reason our customers stay with us; you are what sets Stanley Steemer apart from the competition. Because we value you as an employee and as a person, we are committed to providing on-going educational opportunities to help you succeed in your current role and, hopefully, help you continue advancing your career. As a company, we also recognize the importance of having an educated work force as our industry becomes more technologically advanced. These training programs are designed to benefit you as an individual and to secure Stanley Steemer s position as an industry leader. In order for you to succeed individually and for the company to succeed as a whole, I ask you to learn as much as you can while you are in this class, to practice the skills presented, and then put those skills to use on each and every job. If you do this, there s no telling how far you can go. Best wishes, Wesley C. Bates CEO SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-1

3 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing UPHOLSTERY PREFACE Becoming a professional upholstery cleaning technician Being an experienced technician in carpet cleaning does not make you an expert in upholstery cleaning With carpet you are dealing with only a few fibers or blends, and there are only a few basic methods of carpet construction In furniture cleaning, the fibers, blends, and construction of the fabric is much more varied and most upholstery fabrics are blends of more than one fiber. It is important to know the materials inside the cushions to determine the correct cleaning process. The tag attached to the piece will show you what it contains. Unlike carpet, furniture is more delicate and designed for their decorative effect rather than their durability and cleanability. Expensive upholstery fabric is just as prone to bleed, brown, and shrink as any other upholstery fabric. A little added knowledge is required to handle most of today s furniture fabrics. You can clean a fabric successfully without knowing the exact fiber if you follow the basic rules of cleaning, and if you test your cleaning method to be sure that it is safe for that piece. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-2

4 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing UPHOLSTERY CLEANING RULES The four most important rules to remember: Pre-Vacuum Upholstery Upholstery contains dust and dirt that turns to mud when water is added Control your moisture Many cleaning related problems are directly related to over-wetting, so avoid it Use the proper tools and cleaning procedures and you can avoid most of these problems Control your ph Too high of ph can cause bleeding, browning, and other types of problems Usually a mild alkaline is used, and at times a neutral or even an acid chemical may be needed and can be used safely and effectively on virtually all fabrics The ph of a water-based solution refers to its relative alkalinity, acidity or neutrality Speed up your drying Problems occur during the drying step and not right away When you reduce the drying time of the fabric, you reduce the possibility of bleeding, browning, or wicking Use an airmover to assist you in the drying process WHY CLEAN UPHOLSTERY? Can be very profitable Full service versus customer going somewhere else Back door to carpet cleaning (taking business away from our competitors) There is a market/demand for it Less competition Upholstery sales and profitability require technicians to be the EXPERT in the customer s eyes: CORRECT TERMINOLOGY a good working knowledge of the names for the different parts of upholstery is essential in order to communicate with the customer. Credibility will also be increased. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-3

5 Cushion top Cushion Zipper IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing PRE-INSPECTION SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-4

6 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing WHY DO WE DO THEM? Problem Prevention; pre-existing conditions Rapport/Relationship Set customer expectations Determine the correct cleaning method Establish credibility During the pre-inspection, make a reasonable effort to inspect and identify fiber content, and fabric and furniture construction. This helps to ensure cleaning methods and what course of action to take that will not harm the furniture. Proper pre-inspection can provide useful information about dyes, finishes, and construction. While it is not required that technicians be able to identify every fiber type of fabric blends before cleaning, it is important to make the effort. Poor communication = #1 cause of customer dissatisfaction, not quality (Murray Cremer School of Upholstery and Fabric Care, Kleenrite, 1997). The primary causes of client s complaints are due to improper pre-inspection, and not qualifying the pre-existing conditions with the client. Always remember that a problem addressed prior to cleaning is an explanation, but the same problem addressed after cleaning is an excuse (Clean Care Seminar, 1997). There are times when our #1 goal should be to preserve the fabric, color, and texture while getting the fabric as clean as possible is secondary. THE INTERVIEW/VISUAL INSPECTION WITH THE CUSTOMER PRESENT SAMPLE QUESTIONS: How long have you had the upholstery? What types of previous cleaning procedures have been done? (By whom; what method; protector applied) What types of previous spotting procedures have been done? Does the client have any manufacturer s information on the upholstered piece (material/fabric if known) Are there any special or unusual difficulties to be aware of? VISUAL INSPECTION: Is required before beginning the job, to make an attempt to identify the fabric s construction and fiber content, and evaluate and recommend an appropriate cleaning method and procedure. Perform this inspection, always communicating with the customer regarding the cleanability of the fabric. Consumers have a right to expect an itemized listing of services, along with firm prices, before the technician begins work. While technicians may offer added services at additional cost, consumers never should fee pressured to accept anything more than the services they request and authorize. All cleaning, specialty agents and equipment must be used in strict accordance with the manufacturer s recommendations and appropriate safety and environmental regulations. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-5

7 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing Fiber type, upholstery construction, upholstering technique, furniture use and maintenance may present circumstances beyond a technician s control; however, responsible workmanship must be implicit in any work performed. Brittle/frayed fabric (decreased by use, age, and sun exposure)? Any rips or tears? Body oils on the arms, cushions, pillows? Color migration and fading? o Check inside arm and back? o Check concealed fabric (backside of skirt) to determine if sunlight exposure may have caused fading o Previous machine washing may have faded covers Accidental spills or previous cleaning procedures Cushion Shrinkage? (Push seat cushions to one end of platform to determine if a gap exists between the inside arm and cushion) Whenever possible, open the zipper of all upholstered cushions during your pre-inspection. Check for ink marks on the foam, or on the back of the fabric. Also check to see if the foam has begun to deteriorate. During the pre-inspection process, inform the customer of existing water marks and stains, weak or torn seams, existing holes or tears in the fabric, and/or other pre-existing damage. Point out potential problems and anticipate possible outcomes to set realistic customer expectations. Itemize potential problems and have the customer sign a pre-inspection form (Example on page 1-7). Cushions: Zipper working properly? Check foam for any instructional markings? (Plastic should be placed over markings, or wrapped entirely around the foam to prevent bleeding. Remove when cushion is dry.) Check cushion fabric backing for bleeder potential (jacquards brocade, brocatelle, damask, tapestry) Foam deterioration: Foam dust inside cushion or platform? Yellow in color and crumbly? This occurs in older furniture that is made with latex foam. (Plastic can be wrapped around deteriorating foam, then removed after the cushion is dry.) Details: Check for loose/missing buttons? Check frame legs for cracks, scratches, and sturdiness? Pleats (torn, pulled, shrunk, or wrinkled) Skirt and cambric (dust cover) intact? Any holes or cigarette burns? Pet oils on skirt? Air current exposure (soil filtration) Framework: SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-6

8 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing Check platform for watermarks? Check wood trim for scratches, dents, uneven stains? Labels: Only describe the stuffing or filling material, not the upholstery fabric. Cleaning instructions are strictly for manufacturer liability and not necessarily the best method for cleaning. S = Dry Solvent W = Wet Clean W/S = Either X = Vacuum Only Discussion: Have you ever had a W code be a bleeder? Have you ever seen upholstery labeled as an X code, and you know it can be cleaned? Some organizations are trying to create a movement on the part of the upholstery manufacturers to list the fiber types and their percentages. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-7

9 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing Sectional Sofa Loveseat Chair Ottoman Pre-Inspection Check List Pre-existing Condition Pre-existing Condition 1 Arm, Covers 14 Flounce / Skirt 2 Arm, Face 15 Foam Condition 3 Arm, Inside 16 Frame 4 Arm, Outside 17 Kickboard 5 Back, Inside 18 Leg / Casters 6 Back, Outside 19 Missing Parts 7 Backing 20 Platform 8 Buttons 21 Quilting 9 Cambric, Dust Cover 22 Spots / Stains 10 Color Loss / Run 23 Shrinkage 11 Cushion Back 24 Trim / Wood 12 Cushion Boxing 25 Welt / Piping 13 Cushion Seat 26 OTHER Number Description or Detail Note: If any of the above conditions require further explanation, please give details below. Cleaning Date: / / Customer Present: Yes No Cust Name: Cust. Initials: Inspector: Tech. Initials: Prior Cleaning By / Date: Age of Item: yrs. mo. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-8

10 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing TESTING: After the visual inspection, specific tests need to be done in order to determine fabric content, color stability, and possibility of shrinkage. Each piece of furniture can differ in many aspects so it is critical that these tests are completed. Fiber Burn Test (Reference fiber identification chart on page 1-11) To find out what the fiber content of carpet is, use a simple procedure called the burn test. When conducting the burn test use butane lighters, not matches, because the flames are odorless. Different fibers have different characteristics when a burn test is performed. Fibers may be taken from extra material inside the cushion by the zipper, on the backside of the skirt, etc. Take note that many upholstery fabrics are blends of two or more fibers. This is why the burn test is not fool proof. We also need to perform a color fastness test to get in the ballpark, relative to the most appropriate cleaning method. TOOLS Scissors, hemostats, butane lighter, small ashtray for burn testing FIBER TYPE IDENIFICATION The most basic property to know about carpets is they are manufactured from either man-made or natural fibers. Man-Made Fibers are synthetics. Some examples are nylon, polyester, polypropylene (Olefin) and acrylic. Natural Fibers come from cellulosic fibers in plants and the protein fibers in animals (such as sheep or lamb). You will find that natural fibers are more absorbent resulting in more drying time than your synthetic fibers. Some examples are cotton, flax, linen, jute, rayon, silk, and wool. Each type of fiber used in upholstery manufacturing has certain traits, which can make it more or less desirable than others. Observe the following when burning the yarn sample: Flame color and action Smoke Action of burning material Odor Ash shape, color, luster, and consistency Chemical testing Cotton Dissolves in strong acids, i.e. battery acid Wool dissolves in chlorine bleach commonly found in stores and most homes. There are easier ways to determine a wool fiber. Nylon dissolves in formic acid. This may be helpful, but if formic acid spills on nylon, it can be catastrophic. Olefin dissolves in dehydronapthalene. The only carpet fiber that floats on water, other than cellulosics. TOOLS Small dish, appropriate chemical, eye dropper SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-9

11 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing COLOR FASTNESS TESTING Crocking Crocking is a color transfer that occurs through agitation (rubbing). No moisture or solvent is needed to cause this color transfer. With a clean, white cotton towel (dry or slightly damp), rub the fabric, testing each color and any areas that appear to be faded already. If color transfer occurs, the fabric might fade. Also, you might have a bleeder (color migration shifting of color from one area of the fabric to an adjacent area of damp fabric). Lead with our mildest alternative, plus, perform the wet bleeding test. Wet Bleeding Color transfer caused by water, water with detergent, or other water based products. Testing should be done on both sides of the upholstery fabric. If at any time color migration begins, immediately stop testing, and apply heat with a dryer to stop bleeding. Discussion: Color bleeding usually does not occur until the final stages of drying. Therefore, you must wait until the fabric has dried completely to determine the results. With all tests that follow, test with your highest ph product that you will be using. If there is no bleeding on all colors with that product, then, from a ph point of view, bleeding wouldn t be a concern. If you are not sure what ph your products are, then, test with Progest or solution concentrate. For example, Progest tends to be the highest ph product most operations carry. If all colors pass the Progest test, then ph should not be a concern, and you would consider the other variables, relative to bleeding. Testing all agents on all colors is time consuming and not necessary. You can have crocking without bleeding. Crocking minimally means color fading. Bleeding means: If after cleaning the colors migrate into an adjacent area of damp fabric If multiple colors, dye migration from one color into another From the systems perspective today, if there is a bleeder, most operations will either walk or just power vacuum the fabric (sometimes at a reduced cost). Some operations have the customer sign a release form, and clean with a safer method. Finally, some operations use a dry cleaning procedure. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-10

12 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Construction & Testing FIBER IDENTIFICATION CHART FLAME ODOR ASH FIBER Color Action Smoke Smell Luster Shape Color Hardness Cotton, Light to Crumbles, Orange Even None Paper Dull Slender Jute, Linen Dark Gray Very Fine Crumbles to Wool, Silk, Spatters Orange None Hair Dull Irregular Gray-Black a Coarse Fur Out Powder Rayon Yellow Even None Paper Dull Wispy Gray Crumbles Acetate Orange Sputters None Vinegar Dull Bead Black Hard Nylon Olefin Blue Base, Orange Tip Blue Base, Orange Tip Polyester Orange Sputters Even None Celery Shiny Round Rapid, Even None Asphalt Shiny Dense Black Acrylic Orange Sputters Black Sweet, Fruity Burned Meat Round to Oval Tan to Black Tan to Brown Hard Hard Shiny Round Jet Black Hard Dull Irregular, Crusty Dull Black Crumbles, Hard Nub PRACTICAL CHEMICAL TESTS Wool Dissolves completely in % sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) Acetate Dissolved by acetone (nail polish remover) Nylon Dissolved by formic acid (available in spot-dye test kits) Olefin Specific gravity of.91, the only fiber that floats in water. Also, olefin melts at temperatures around 350ºf / 177ºc and most other synthetics melt at approximately 450ºf / 232ºc. Note: In upholstery, fiber identification is often inaccurate due to fiber blends and latex backcoats that confuse odor, smoke and ash configuration. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-11

13 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber Materials Used to Produce Fiber Wool Wool is a protein fiber that comes from the fleece of sheep or lambs. The structure and chemical composition of wool give it some interesting characteristics. It contains about 4% sulfur, which gives wool that distinctive smell when it is wet. Structurally, wool fibers are made up of 3 main components: 1. Epidermis Formed by a layer of tiny, overlapping scales. These scales help to diffuse light, thus cutting down reflection, giving wool a dull appearance. It s also a factor in wool s soil hiding capabilities as particulate soil will hide underneath the scales. 2. Cortex These fibrous cells constitute the bulk of the fiber. epidermis. They lie directly beneath the 3. Medulla The center of the fiber is actually a passageway through which nutrients reached the other parts of the fiber. Worsted Wool To achieve a smooth, finer, softer feeling wool, the fibers are thoroughly combed and carded to produce Worsted Wool. Alkaline sensitive (clean at ph), which may cause bleeding, and fiber degradation to the epidermis or cuticle Chlorine bleach sensitive, will dissolve wool Aggressive agitation can lead to felting Silk The fiber is obtained from the cocoon of the silk worm. It is one of the most beautiful and expensive fabrics there is. Silk is quite possibly the most elegant and most difficult of all the fibers we will be called on to clean. It can stretch up to 20% of its length, which can also be a problem since it will only retract about 2%. It s very absorbent and dyes easily and takes on a wide range of rich colors. As with wool, perspiration can easily damage silk (bacteria from perspiration leads to ammonia, which breaks down fibers causing the fabric to be brittle and split); also causes color loss and watermarks easily. Cotton A staple fiber taken from the seed of the cotton plant. The longer fibers are called lint and are used to produce fabrics. The shorter fibers are called lintners. They are too short to be used for weaving yarns but are used for other purposes such as the manufacture of rayon and acetate fibers. The cotton fiber is flat with a natural twist. The lumen or center of the fiber is hollow, and carries nutrients to the fiber of a living plant. This lumen is one of the main culprits in cotton s high absorbency. It will draw moisture into the fiber and hold it, making drying a longer process. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-12

14 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber Cotton is popular as an upholstery fiber due to its versatility. It can be processed to take on many different looks from the most unrefined Haitian cotton to a very refined, polished or glazed cotton having a shiny finished look to it. When polished cotton is exposed to oily soils and abrasive wear it may lose its glazed finish in the armrest and heavy-use areas over time. Excess alkalinity or moisture can break down the lignin (a sugar-like substance that holds the cellulosic cells together), and create browning. To remove browning: Apply either citric acid or odorless brownout. Be aware that citric acid can attract moisture may resoil more quickly, and dries to a powder - allergy implications. As a last resort, use hydrogen peroxide (3% or more), which is self-neutralizing (completely evaporates). Know that fiber damage may occur. To prevent browning as a result of wet cleaning: Alkalinity closer to neutral (ph level is controlled) Minimum moisture Quicker dry (air movers, sunlight) Excess moisture may cause shrinkage if the fabric is not Sanforized (fabric preshrunk by a patented mechanical process) Linen Is obtained from the stalk or stem of the flax plant and referred to as bast fibers. They are brown, tan, or gray in color and the fiber is from inches in length. Linen has many of the same characteristics as cotton. Brittle (avoid excessive agitation) Moisture can darken the fabric Can be damaged by strong acids and chlorine bleach Linen absorbs stains and spots and are often difficult to remove Mineral Glass (fiberglass) Metallic Few exist today. Mylar is actually metallic film coated with polyester. Man-Made According to the Federal Trade Commission, rayon and acetate fibers are regenerated cellulose or semi-synthetic fibers. Most fiber that is labeled antique silk is actually made of rayon or acetate. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-13

15 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber Rayon A highly absorbent fiber made from cellulose treated with alkali. It is the weakest of all the fibers when it is wet, but regains strength when dry. Rayon was originally billed as poor mans silk because of how well it resemble silk. It is a true synthetic, but it comes from cellulosic material so we must treat it as a natural fiber. Cotton by-products and wood pulp, combined with high alkali, are the basic ingredients that make up rayon which make it about as absorbent as cotton. Browning of rayon and cellulosic fibers are more likely to happen when the fabric is old, the drying time was prolonged, and alkaline residues remained in the fabric after it s been cleaned. Acetate A non-durable fiber made of cellulose. Acetate has low moisture absorbency and is dissolved completely by acetone (fingernail polish remover). Synthetic (fibers made from by-products of the energy business coal, petroleum, and natural gas): Nylon Not as popular in upholstery as in carpet. Nylon is durable and is easily print dyed. It is dissolved completely by formic acid. Polyester Cleans easily, dries quickly and absorbs little moisture. A durable, colorfast synthetic fiber. It is oleophilic (attracts oil) and should be cleaned regularly to prevent permanent staining (yellowing). Most of the microfiber we see today is made of polyester, which is finer than silk. The weight in grams of 9000 meters of microfiber is only 1 denier. Acrylic A colorfast synthetic that is sun and spot resistant and cleans easily. Its fibers are stronger than wool. Since acrylic is a solution dyed fabric, the fibers are seldom affected by normal bleaching techniques. Olefin (polypropylene or Herculon) A popular, durable, extremely colorfast synthetic fiber. This fabric can be bleached safely when using a solution of ½% to 1 % sodium hypochlorite. Olefin is a hydrophobic fiber, inexpensive, cleans well, and is virtually spot and stain proof due to its non-absorbency and solution-dyed qualities. It also is olephilic. When exposed to prolonged sunlight, it may become brittle and fabrics may split when handled or cleaned. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 1-14

16 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber PROCESSING OF FIBER Any fiber will fall into one of two categories: staple or continuous filament. A staple fiber is one of a specific, relatively short length (usually 1 to 12 inches).continuous filament fiber is the second type. This is a fiber that is longer and really without specific length. Synthetic fibers are all continuous filaments when they are made and are often cut into staple lengths before processing. Continuous Filament Fibers Continuous filament synthetic fibers are made by forcing liquid or molten polymer through a showerhead device known as a spinneret. This process is called extrusion. Some of the synthetics originate from esterified cellulose (chemically treated cotton and wood pulp) which are first liquefied, and then extruded Crimp: This can be thought of as extra spring and bulk in a fiber. A microscopic version may look like a spring. Wool has a natural crimp, while synthetics may have crimp added. Both continuous filament and staple fibers may have crimp. The only continuous filament natural fiber is Silk and the fibers can be literally miles long. Synthetics all synthetics begin as continuous filament. Another term that you will hear in connection with fibers is denier. This refers to the thickness or diameter of a fiber in a cross section. A fine denier is a thinner or finer fiber. A wide variety of fibers are currently used in the manufacture of fabrics. These include the various synthetics such as nylon, rayon, polyester, etc., and the natural fibers such as wool, cotton, and silk. Staple Fibers Staple fibers that are natural include cotton, linen (flax), and wool. Cotton appears frequently, and in an almost unlimited variety of grades, weaves, and blends. Once the cotton plant has reached maturity, the cotton is mechanically picked. The raw cotton fiber is then separated from most of the sticks, twigs, and seeds. The initial separation process, or ginning, may remove up to a third of the raw bulk weight in twigs, seeds, and such. Additional ginning may take place before the cotton is baled and sent to the mill, where more of the impurities would be removed and then blend several bales together to provide uniformity in the finished yarn. Carding then straightens the fibers while removing still more foreign matter from the cotton. Combing then removes the shorter fibers and even more impurities. The resulting slivers (or loose masses of fiber) may then be doubled. This involves the blending of several slivers in an effort to obtain uniformity between finished yarns. Roving then draws the sliver out into a long, loosely twisted yarn, which is then tightly twisted during the spinning process. The resulting yarn may then be wound onto a spool, bobbin, or cone. At this point, the yarn is ready for weaving. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 2-1

17 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber WEAVE TYPE CONSIDERATIONS How the fabric is constructed lets us know if it is durable or non-durable. In other words, if it is non-durable a more gentle approach is needed (agitation), so as not to degrade the fabric. Also, gentle grooming would be necessary. Finally, certain weave types tend to be bleeders. Plain Weave Simple over and under interlacing (the strongest of all weaves) Twill Weave Formed by interlacing yarns that form a diagonal (herringbone) pattern. This weave is second in strength to the plain weave. It is characterized by a herringbone pattern formed by the weaving technique used in creating this particular fabric. The twill weave normally will stand up well to most cleaning processes. Denim is a good example of twill weaves. Satin Weave A fabric consisting of float yarns (skips over the surface of a definite number of yarns; four or more), which produce a silky, lustrous sheen on the surface of the satin fabric. Strength and abrasion resistance is sacrificed. Apply agitation with the float yarns only (with the warp direction up and down) not against them. This weave type can cause the upholstery cleaner grief if not handled with care, due to the fact that the float yarns float over four or more of the cross threads, they are much more susceptible to abrasion and damage during cleaning. The direction of the float yarn lay can be easily determined by gently running your hand over the surface of the fabric. Resistance will be met when running cross-wise to the float yarns, while the texture will feel smooth and silky when running in the same direction as the float yarns. Pile Weave (velvet, corduroy) is a type of fabric with a third set of yarns that form a pile. Pile weaves can be made from any fiber type. Crushed velvet has intentional distortions in the pile, set in place with resins or sizing. This crushed effect can be lost due to wear and cleaning. Rather than just two sets of yarns, the warp and the fill yarns, the pile weave uses three sets. The third yarn is used to create a pile or texture on the surface of the fabric. This is referred to as the pile, or face yarn. The corduroy weave runs the pile yarns in the weft direction. The pile yarns are raised rows, and cut to achieve a textured surface. The velvet weave can be utilized using nearly any fiber type. A uniform pile covering the entire surface of the fabric characterizes it. On occasion you may encounter a fabric referred to as crushed velvet. The term, crushed velvet is velvet with an intentionally distorted look created by the manufacturer. This crush is set with resins or sizing that can be removed over time with use, or from cleaning. The sculptured weave raises the pile yarn in complicated patterns (usually floral) in order to achieve a sculptured texture on the surface of the fabric. Whichever of the pile weaves is being made; it is subjected to a high speed brushing during the completion of the manufacturing process. This brushing is known as tigering and accomplishes the lifting and separating of individual pile yarns while removing excess fiber and lint, resulting in a uniform velvety effect. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 2-2

18 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber Jacquard Loom Weave An intricate woven fabric made on a punch-card or computer controlled loom. It is created by a complicated process involving raising individual warp yarns long enough to form the required pattern, then running them under the fabric until needed again. They type of fabric can be normally identified by the negative pattern on the backside. The colors appearing on one side of the fabric at any specific point will be absent at the corresponding point on the opposite side. There are two difficulties involved in cleaning a jacquard weave. First, since individual warp yarns are not anchored to the weft yarns as closely as in the plain weave fabrics, the jacquards are more susceptible to distortion caused by heavy or too aggressive of agitation in cleaning. Seconding is the fact that many manufacturers often tend to compromise fiber colorfastness in favor of brighter or more brilliant colored threads when creating anew jacquard weaves. The result of this compromise is the tendency of certain yarns to bleed color when dampened. This, combined with the nature of the jacquard weave can result in log stripes of color rising to the surface of the fabric. The bleeding is often delayed (sometimes it won t appear until after the entire item has been cleaned), and the effect is permanent. Once the bleeding has started, there is NO Way to stop or retard the color transfer, leaving the operator to stand by and helplessly watch as the effected areas become more and more apparent. The safest course in preventing disaster in this case is positive identification of the fabric type, careful and complete testing, and then proceeding with caution and care. Basket weave -A simple variation of the plain weaves in which the yarns are doubled and woven two at a time rather than singly as in the traditional plain weave. Basket weave along with plain, twill and satin weaves are non-durable fabrics. FIVE BASIC FABRIC TYPES These fabrics will all be encountered by the upholstery cleaner at some point. Knitted Due to problems with dimensional stability (a tendency to shrink or stretch) knitted fabrics are not often used for upholstery purposes. A machine that interlocks successive loops of yarn creates these fabrics. Tufted Fabrics are created by punching yarns through a woven backing material and then using latex adhesive on the reverse side of the fabric to anchor the tufted yarns in place. The face of the fabric may be left looped or cut to create a velvet type effect. As is the case with knitted fabrics, tufting is seldom used on upholstery products. Flocked Involves coating the top of a backing material with a latex adhesive into which nylon fibers are then embedded electro-statically, in an even upright position. The resulting fabric is then cured and may or may not be contact or prints dyed before manufacturing procedures are finished. As a cautionary note on flocked velvets, always exercise extreme caution when using any spotting or cleaning solvent. The latex adhesive is quite easily dissolved, which will cause the face fibers to be permanently distorted or fall out in massive clumps. Flocked velvets should be inspected carefully in the armrest and heavy use areas for fiber loss. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 2-3

19 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Processing Fiber Woven Woven fabrics are by far the most common type of fabric you will come across in cleaning. Weaving can be defined as the systematic interlacing of multiple threads or yearns to form a fabric. Weaving is accomplished on a machine called a Loom. Weaving has been with man throughout history, and has developed a number of variations. The simplest (and as a rule the strongest) of these is the plain weave, or basic over and under configuration of two sets of threads running perpendicularly to each other. Construction of the simple plain weave is based on the warp (vertical) threads and the weft or fill yarns, (horizontal or cross) threads. The weft threads cross the loom in the weaving process, being interlaced with the warp threads. The warp and weft threads (or yarns) tightly interlace, giving each other support, which results in a durable fabric that will stand up well to use, wear, and agitation involved in cleaning. This durability will vary with the nature of the warp and weft yarns used. For example, a strong resistant fiber which has been tightly twisted will provide a much more durable product than will fabric composed of soft un-woven yarns. Haitian cotton provides a good case on this point. The soft nature of the unrefined cotton will not lend itself well to excessive agitation, and can become distorted quickly when normal cleaning techniques are used. It is suggested that these yarns be agitated in the direction of the filling yarns. Novelty yarns These are irregular, uneven, non-uniform diameter yarns made for special textured effects. These are usually made of ply yarns and introduce irregularities such as curls, twists, and loops. They are usually made from synthetic yarns but give the appearance of natural fiber yarns. There are 3 components: a core yarn, an effect yarn, and a binder yarn. The core yarn is fed into a twisting machine where effect yarns are applied, followed by a binder yarn that is then wrapped around the core and effect yarn, binding them all together. The fabric that you will probably recognize the most is chenille. Others include boucle, ratine, slub, nub, knot, spirals, and loop. It is extremely important for the upholstery cleaner to be aware of the nap-lay of the fabric. Always agitate with the lay of the nap or along the yarn s length. Failure to carefully brush and agitate with the nap can cause permanent nap distortion, which will usually result in customer dissatisfaction. The lay of the nap can be determined in the same manner mentioned previously with the satin weave. Gently rub your hand across the surface of the fabric. When running against the nap, a distinct resistance will be felt. The direction that offers the least resistance will be the direction the nap naturally lays. Groom the fabric after cleaning whether it is a natural or a synthetic fiber. NOTE: Utilize the ASCR ready reference upholstery-cleaning guide to aid in fiber/fabric identification. The guide offers great suggestions on how to clean and is a great communication tool to get the customer involved. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 2-4

20 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Fabric Dyeing Many fabric-dyeing techniques are similar to those used in carpet dyeing. Dye problems are very common in upholstery. The multitude of fibers, blends, dye techniques, finishing processes and combinations of these, make it impossible to predict where dye problems will occur. Bleeding, fading, color change and chemical reactions can cause an unsuspecting cleaner a great deal of grief. A procedure that helps stabilize dyes from bleeding when wet cleaning involves using an acid pre-spray and/or rinse, and drying fabrics quickly. It s a good idea to suspect every fabric and know your chemicals and how they may affect dyes. Remember, alkaline tends to release dyes and acids tend to set dyes. Dry solvents usually wont cause color bleeding, but it has been known to happen. Know the basics of light and color. To produce color, a light source and a dye or pigment is needed. Also, we must have fibers that will receive the dye or pigment. Synthetic fibers, while less absorbent than natural fibers, require dye sites, which are irregular amorphous areas. These dye sites allow the pigment to penetrate and attach to the fiber. Color is nothing more than the absorption or reflection of light. For example, black is seen because it absorbs all the light, white is seen because it reflects all the light. Primary Colors There are three primary colors: Red, Yellow, and Blue. With these three colors, plus white (base), it is possible to mix the complete spectrum; that is red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet and an infinite range of variations in these colors. Secondary Colors There are three secondary colors: Orange, Green, and Violet. These are obtained by mixtures of the primary colors: Red and Yellow = Orange Red and Blue = Violet Yellow and Blue = Green. Complimentary Colors Complimentary colors are formed by combinations of primary and secondary colors. Example: Red and Green = Brown. The mixing of complimentary colors, results in a variety of grays, browns, or blacks. Orange and Blue = Dull, Dark Gray. Tertiary Colors When three or more colors are mixed, the resulting color is known as a tertiary color. Hue of a Color The Hue of a color is its balance or percentage of one color to another. The pure hue of green is 50% yellow and 50% blue. In dyeing we talk about the base of a color. Value of a Color The relative lightness or darkness or darkness of a color is its value. At opposite ends of the value scale is white and black. An example of the importance of understanding colors is in the over dying processes. The original color will always affect the color you are dyeing. Because this is true, when you are dyeing, you are creating a Tertiary Color. You are also, most likely, SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 3-1

21 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Fabric Dyeing mixing Complimentary Colors, which if not careful, will dump the color. If you start with a blue carpet and put brown on, it will go to black, in most cases, before it will ever turn brown. The processes of dyeing are based on chemical action and color reaction. There will be surprises even with care and experience. Before you decide to do $100 worth of dyeing on $1,000 worth of carpeting, you better know what is going to happen. The following are different dyeing systems such as: Solution Dyeing Color is added to the liquid state of a synthetic polymer before it is extruded into a fiber. Fiber Dyeing Also known as stock dyeing. The fibers are dyed before they are spun into a yarn. Yarn Dyeing Includes skein dyeing and package dyeing. The yarn is dyed after it has been spun but before it has been made into carpet. Piece Dyeing The fabric is placed in a vat or beck containing the dye bath in which the fabric absorbs the dyes after the weaving process is complete. Continuous Piece Dyeing The carpet is passed as a continuous piece through a dyebath and where the carpet is dyed, set and rinsed in a continuous operation. Injection Dyeing A process in which the carpet is passed under a bank of jets that are computer controlled to inject colors and patterns into the carpet. Foam Dyeing The carpet passes as a continuous piece through a unit that applies dye containing foam to the carpet. The foam is then collapsed and the dye penetrates the carpet. Cross Dyeing A form of dyeing where the fibers are blended or modified to accept or reject different dyestuffs. Resin Dyeing A similar to cross dyeing, but only one type of fiber is used. It is treated differently to accept to repel dyestuff. Union Dyeing Is used when a solid color is desired on a yarn that has fibers that accept dyes differentially. Different dye stuff s are used to achieve one uniform color. Tone-On-Tone Dyeing Two different types of the same fiber are used, but one is less absorbent than the other so that a lighter and darker shade of the same color will result. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 3-2

22 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Fabric Dyeing Space Dyeing A form of yarn dyeing where different colors are placed side by side on the yarn to give a random colored effect in the carpet. Gum-Tak Dyeing A modification of the batik process applied to continuous piece dyeing. A dye resistant resin is applied to the carpet in either a regular or random pattern. The carpet is then dyed. The resin is then removed. The carpet can be used with the resulting pattern or it can be dyed again to achieve a more complex colored pattern. Printing Involves the use of horizontal screens or dye wells, or the use of rotary screens to print a pattern on the carpet. One screen or multiple screens may be used. Heat Transfer Process (HTP) A technique where pre-dyed paper is placed on the carpet and heated to cause the transfer of dye and design to the carpet. Types of Dyes Basic, or Cationic Dyes These are rarely used today. They were originally developed for dyeing protein fibers such as wool and silk, but other dyes have replaced them in common use. Reactive Dyes These are so named because they react with the fiber to form a new compound, or chemical bond. They are used today to dye wool, acrylic and nylon. They have excellent colorfast properties and are known for bright colors. Acid Dyes The original acid dyes were the natural dyes obtained from plants. They synthetic acid dye is linked to molecules of chromium to make them more colorfast when exposed to sunlight and cleaning. These dyes are in very common use today in carpet dyeing. Chrome Dyes Very similar to acid dyes, they work very quickly and are used extensively on wool and nylon. They are, however, relatively sensitive to oxidizing bleaches. Pigment Dyes Since pigments are insoluble, they must either be suspended in the liquid polymer during the manufacturing process (solutions dyeing), or bonded to the surface of the fiber using resins or some other bonding agent. Disperse Dyes They dye particles are held to the surface of the fiber by friction and by strong electrical forces. They are largely unaffected by cleaning solutions and spotting techniques, which can lead to some cleaning problems since compounds containing disperse dye are common in most households, (Mustard and shoe polish are 2 examples). SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 3-3

23 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Fabric Dyeing Fluorescent Dyes or Optical Brighteners (Colorless Dyes) These are used to produce properties in the fabric other than actual color. These are included in certain cleaning compounds and are used to pick up ultra-violet light and make it visible to the human eye. Where the fabric is exposed to direct sunlight or other forms of ultra violet light, these dyes can actually make the color appear to be brighter. Indicator Dyes This is the type of dye that is used on litmus paper (ph paper) that turns different colors at different ph levels. Although this is rare, they have been known to find their way into upholstery. Dyeing techniques Yarn Dyeing or Skein Dyeing This is done after the yarn is spun. This is a very effective method for small batches, but it is hard to match from dye lot to dye lot. It is also fairly expensive due to the extra step of unwinding and rewinding that is necessary. Stock Dyeing Large quantities of fiber stock are dyed before being spun into yarn. The main problem her is uniformity, but this can be overcome by extensive blending. Both yarn dyeing and stock dyeing are done in large vats at elevated temperatures often exceeding 212 degrees (under pressure). This is called heat setting the dyes. You can see that if a dye is properly heat set, then normal cleaning temperatures will not cause any fading or dye loss. Solution Dyeing This process gives a fiber the ultimate in color fastness, since the color is part of the fiber and runs all the way through instead of being only on the surface. This makes the fiber resistant to chemicals, gasses, bleaches and even sunlight. Only synthetics (like acrylic) can be solutiondyed since natural fibers are not manufactured and are never in a liquid state. Once the yarn is woven into a fabric, dyeing will take place in one of the following ways: Piece Dyeing This is dyeing of the entire fabric, usually in a dye beck, with very hot solutions. Print Dyeing Using a wide variety of different machines, print dyeing offers an unlimited variety of patterns on an unlimited variety of fabrics, from the finest cotton chintz to the cheapest flocked velvet. Painting Fabrics can be painted, mechanically or by hand, using pigments and resin binders in oil based paints, watercolor, or acrylic paints. These open a whole new world of potential problems. A worst-case scenario to clean dining chairs of hand painted, satin silk, purchased in person by the customer during a trip to Hong Kong. Testing showed that water-based solutions damaged the silk and solvent solutions dissolved the paint. Any errors would be very costly. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 3-4

24 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Fabric Dyeing MOISTURE TIME ALKALINITY HEAT DYE MIGRATION IS ACCELERATED BY: - Moisture in which dyes may migrate - Alkalinity, especially above Heat, which accelerates chemicals and migrating dyes - Prolonged exposure to moisture (especially alkaline) DYE MIGRATION IS AVOIDED BY: - Dry cleaning - Using neutral or acid cleaning solutions minimizes bleeding potential - Using warm or cool solutions - Minimizing the moisture applied during cleaning - Instituting forced drying procedures. Bleeding potential is eliminated only when the fabric is completely dry The most common areas for over-wetting are the piping, seams, (double fabric thickness), welts, transition areas (arm tops, arm faces, cushion corners), and the crevice area on the platform. Also paper stuffer materials in piping of antique furniture may bleed. Always test for color migration, even if you re confident that no problem exists! Typical problem areas for dye migration are around buttons, piping and transition areas. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 3-5

25 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Upholstery Soil UPHOLSTERY SOIL Although the composition of soil found in carpet and upholstery is similar in many ways, there are some differences as well. The similarities are demonstrated in the three types of soils. Water-soluble (dissolvable) soils This group includes soils that will dissolve in water. Examples of these would include: Beer Tea Fruit Juices Coffee Candy Condiments Chocolate Soft Drinks Wine Sugar Cocktails Salt Many of the food spills and marks from little chocolate covered hands belong to this group of soil. Most of these soils are acidic in nature and are removed mostly through wet cleaning. Dry-solvent-soluble soils This group includes soils that will dissolve in solvents, but not in water. Examples of these would include: Ball Point Pen Ink Varnish Nail Polish Crayon Tar Oil Lipstick Shoe Polish Grease India Ink Wax Gum Dry cleaning solvents dissolve the oily soils that may dry out or oxidize if allowed to remain too long in the upholstery without being neutralized and removed. If this happens, a hard, yellow, lacquer-like film is formed and requires more aggressive chemicals and additional time for its removal. Many professional upholstery cleaners are totally unaware of the presence of oxidized oils, which are heavily concentrated in areas where there is actual body contact with the upholstery. They often mistakenly attribute that dingy appearance, which remains after cleaning, to dye-loss. But with proper pretreatment, oxidized oils can be removed as easily as any other type of soil. Insoluble soils This group includes particulate matter such as skin, hair, ink, clay, sand (disintegrated rock particles), limestone (calcium carbonate), gypsum (plaster of paris), carbon, quartz, (hardened mineral composed of silica), feldspar, and other elements. If not bonded, this type of soil can be vacuumed out. According to a study done by Proctor and Gamble, approximately 79% of the soil in carpet is particulate soil while the balance is mostly water and solvent soluble. With upholstery fabrics the balance will change. Carpet has much of its soil tracked directly from outside while upholstery is mostly soiled from inside the house or building. With upholstery fabric the ratio changes to about 60% particulate with 40% being the soluble types of soil. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 4-1

26 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Upholstery Soil Apparent Soiling This is where the upholstery looks soiled, but it is something other than actual soil. Remember that this is different from excessively soiled fabrics, which may be permanently stained or discolored. Apparent soiling falls into three categories: Shading A term that describes the damage caused by a combination of abrasive particulate soil which is ground into the fibers through wear, and not the shading attributed to pile direction and distortion. The shading caused by the abrasive soil as it grinds into the fiber surfaces and creates scratches and abraded areas is less prominent in upholstery than it is in carpet but should be considered on heavily soiled pieces. Fibers that have been abraded will reflect light differently than unaffected areas. This will often appear to the customer as soiling, when in fact it looks dull and soiled because of decreased light reflection. Shading caused by pile direction is usually more common in velvet upholstery and can easily be explained by viewing the piece from a different direction. Fading A loss of color caused by prolonged contact between dyes and acid soils. Light, especially sunlight, has energy, which can also cause dyes to degrade over an extended time, causing a substantial change in appearance. Care should be taken to recognize the fact that where there is fading present on upholstery there is usually fabric deterioration and weakening. Also realize that most fading will become more apparent after those broken down dyes and soil are flushed from the fabric. Fading is a permanent condition in older upholstery fabric that cleaning never can correct. Wear A reduction in pile height or density as a result of abrasion and abrasive soil cutting down or thinning out individual fibers. To prevent apparent soiling from causing unnecessary complaints, your only defense is to brief the customer on the facts of fiber life, before and after cleaning. Shrinkage Shrinkage is the result of fibers absorbing moisture and swelling. This causes a woven fabric to shrink as the overlapping fibers swell. Luckily most manufactures are taking proper steps to pre-shrink fabrics. Shrinkage is seldom a problem in today s furniture fabrics. If shrinkage does occur it is usually in the cushions. Always inspect the piece first by pushing the cushions to one end and see if there is a gap at the other end. If there is a problem then bring it to the attention of the customer before you begin. Remind the customer that zippers are not there for them to remove the covers to wash them in the washing machine. Cushion covers are never to be removed for cleaning. Not only could the cushions shrink making it difficult to get them back on, but it could damage the latex backing, and it may be difficult to clean the body of the sofa to match the cushions. If you know that the fabric is going to shrink with a wet cleaning process, then it may be advisable to use a dry-solvent or low-moisture process. Very hot water and a small amount of it, combined with quick drying will help prevent shrinkage. Most shrinkage occurs because of over wetting and/or slow drying. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 4-2

27 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Upholstery Soil SOIL SUSPENSION - The four steps in soil suspension (See Chapter 3) Chemical What chemicals to use, how much to use, when to apply, etc. Most upholstery chemicals keep the ph close to the neutral state to guard against problems such as bleeding and browning. They will usually have a higher degree of solvents to compensate for the lack of alkalinity. It is important to use products that are designed to clean upholstery to avoid problems. Heat Reduces surface tension Decreases drying time Increases chemical activity The better the heat, the better and safer you can clean. Heat will not cause shrinkage in upholstered fabrics. Most fibers are preshrunk. Those that are not are more likely to shrink from over-wetting rather than temperature. You will get less color bleeding using hot solutions than if you used cold water. The reason is that a hot solution will help expedite the drying process while cold water will slow it down. Also the cooler the water, the more you have to use getting the fabric clean. Most bleeding takes place during the last stages of drying. For every 18-degree rise in temperature after 118 degrees, the chemical activity does serve to reduce surface tension allowing soil to be more easily removed. Agitation Rake, wand, pressure, bonnet, brush, etc. Reduces dwell time Main purpose for the agitation step is to evenly distribute the chemical into the fabric, and release the soil. The chemical will do most of the work. Only occasionally is it necessary to truly scrub a fabric to actually knock the dirt off. The main tools for agitation on upholstery are horsehair or other soft brushes, an ocean sponge, or a terry cloth towel. Improper agitation can do more harm than good. Use the proper tools and procedures, and you can avoid fiber distortion and other unacceptable situations. Time Amount of time we allow chemical to work In an effort to save time, some cleaners will use dangerous methods or chemicals. Use time to your advantage by giving your chemicals, especially pre-spray, time to work. No upholstery safe chemical works instantaneously, so exercising patience is the best practice. All four components are extremely important when cleaning upholstery. These components, or lack of them, will make or break your job. They will absolutely make your job easier when utilized correctly. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 4-3

28 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Upholstery Soil DRY CLEANING CONSIDERATIONS For those using a true, dry cleaning procedure (contains no water, therefore, strictly solvent based), the following should be considered: Dry solvent cleaning is the safest (damage prevention) of the cleaning methods. This is because damage like bleeding, crocking, shrinkage, and browning are almost always caused by water. Dry solvent cleaning is only able to dissolve solvent soluble soil for extraction. Typically a last resort as a moderate difference in quality is the best that can be expected. Avoid chlorinated solvents potential health risks; dissolve latex backings on fabric. Discussion: If the dry cleaning method will only affect solvent soluble soils, won t water extraction affect water-soluble soils only? No. This would be true if we were just using water, but by using our solution, we can dissolve most water and solvent soluble soils. This breaks all the residue bonds holding the insoluble soil, so that the greatest percentage of soil can be removed. Safety Issues: Machine exhaust should be ventilated. Utilize an air mover to ventilate the room, which helps to prevent fume build up. Researching local laws for the disposal of dry solvents is highly recommended. OSHA regulations require the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), defined as: Goggles Solvent proof gloves Organic vapor respirator SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 4-4

29 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods The Cleaning Pie of Soil Suspension Chemical Action Heat (Temperature) Agitation Time (Dwell) The Five Principles of Cleaning 1. Dry Vacuuming (Dry Soil Removal) 2. Soil Suspension (CHAT) 3. Soil Extraction (Removal of Soil) 4. Grooming (Pile Setting of Carpet) 5. Speed Drying (Airmovers & Ventilation) The Four Fundamentals of Soil Suspension 1. Chemical Action 2. Heat 3. Agitation 4. Time The Illustration above demonstrates the principles used for soil suspension also known as C.H.A.T. The pie is always the same size, but the portions or slices of the pie can and will change depending on the cleaning system and how the technician uses it. The five principles of cleaning as outlined above are the steps involved in properly cleaning upholstery from beginning to end. Throughout the rest of this manual the five principles and CHAT are discussed as they apply to the cleaning systems and procedures of Stanley Steemer. It is recommended that all management and cleaning technicians review a copy of the IICRC S300 (Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Upholstery Cleaning) for further information on standardized industry practices. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-1

30 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods SPOTTING AND CLEANING CHEMICAL AGENTS (Chemical Action) Spotting Agent Terms Explained (also see glossary) Dry Solvents Dry solvents should be used for spotting only not for general cleaning. They are made up of a non-water liquid (hydrocarbons) which are best for oily spot removal and therefore have no ph level. It s important to have proper ventilation when using dry solvents. One of the dangers of using a dry solvent is that it is flammable and is usually stated as Flash Point, the temperature at which the dry solvent vapor of a substance will first ignite when exposed to a flame. VDS (Volatile Dry Solvent) Spotters Volatile Dry Solvent is a dry solvent that evaporates quickly and is for general removal of oil, tar, grease and wax. It is also the solvent of choice for rinsing the non-volatile dry solvents that leave residues. VDS spotters are the first spotters to be used when attempting to safely suspend an unknown spot or stain. These types of stains respond best to nonvolatile dry solvents (NVDS). As a side note, another method used for safely removing wax from upholstered fabrics is to place a towel or absorbent paper over the wax, and iron the towel or paper. NVDS (Non-Volatile Dry Solvent) Spotters Non-Volatile Dry Solvent means it does NOT evaporate quickly and is a chemical used for removing paint, oil, and grease. These types of stains respond best to non-volatile dry solvents (NVDS). Bleaching Agents There are two types of bleaches. Both oxidizing agents and reducing bleaches are considered bleaches, however, to avoid misunderstanding, reducing agents are sometimes called strippers and oxidizing agents will be referred to as bleaches. Oxidizing bleach A chemical that adds oxygen to a dye to remove color - changes the properties of a stain, making the stain invisible by adding oxygen to it. It does not remove the staining substances. In general, oxidizing bleaches have more permanent result and more drastic effects. Oxidizing bleaches are more effective on perspiration. A stain that has not been successfully removed from the fiber by normal spotting techniques or by use of a stripper can, as a last resort, be bleached. When oxygen is added to a material (stains, fugitive dye, etc.) the property of color is changed to an absence of color by the rearrangement of the chemical structure. Very slow oxidation on materials such as metals is what we call rust. Very fast oxidation is fire. In actuality, bleaching is controlled burning. Reducing bleach (Strippers) Spotting agents that reduce stains whether by immersion or on a spotting board are known as a reducing agent. A chemical that also applies to any spotting agent that reduces the degree of color in fabrics or stains such as rust removers is Hypo crystals. Reducing agents take oxygen away from fabrics or stains to make them colorless. It SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-2

31 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods does not remove the staining substance. When using reducing bleach, the stain may in time pick up oxygen from the air, and the stain will reappear. Reducing bleaches are also more effective on dye stains. If you want to accelerate the reaction of a reducing agent use an acid solution and heat. These chemicals should only be used by trained individuals and only after thorough testing. Usually comes in a powder form and is mixed only when needed, as mixed solution will lose strength over time. Oxidizing Agents Sodium Perborate Hydrogen Peroxide Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) Reducing Agents Sodium Bisulfite Sodium Hydrosulfite Titanium Stripper Rules and Cautions when using bleaches Work in a well-ventilated area Lighting should be sufficient to detect slight changes of color Prepare all agents that are necessary, such as a wetting agent, an accelerating agent, and a stopping agent. Remember that strippers should be mixed up fresh each time they are needed. Begin by applying bleaches cold. Only when the bleach is not effective cold should heat be used to accelerate the chemical action. Caution should be taken when heat is added, as all the colors (original as well as fugitive) can be changed. Rinse bleaches, thoroughly Avoid contact with metals (Use cuff of vacuum hose for extraction when rinsing.) Always pre-test in an inconspicuous area. Use accelerators just as they would be used on the staining dye. Be sure to test the area thoroughly to prevent later damage. Pre-test a small area of the staining dye; add accelerators as would be used on the total area, because strippers do not always work on all spots. By testing a small area and receiving a negative reaction, it will allow you to proceed to the next step without wasting time on the whole stain. Use the minimum amount of the chemical necessary. Always work the chemical from the outside in toward the center and avoid spreading the chemicals to adjacent areas: remember to avoid all metals. Do not leave stripper unattended. Although the action may not take place right away, when it does, it could be very rapid, causing dye loss to the original dye, so stay with the action and be ready with the reagent to stop the action. When desired results are obtained, stop action with proper reagents and flush area thoroughly. Know when to say when. Remember that oxidizing bleaches and reducing bleaches are opposite. When one gets into trouble with one type of bleach, using the opposite kind of bleach can sometimes counteract it. By applying a reducing agent (antichlor) to an oxidizing reaction, oxygen will no longer be added to the area and the chemical reaction may be stopped. This procedure doesn t always work if some dyes are badly affected, but it is certainly worth trying. Organize yourself and your chemicals so that there is no possibility of accidentally spilling a container of stripper on the carpet. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-3

32 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Types of Bleaches Hydrogen Peroxide H202 Hydrogen peroxide is the most preferred bleach in use. The difference between water (H 2 0) and hydrogen peroxide (H ) is an extra atom of oxygen that is given off to oxidize material. Hydrogen peroxide will not last long and should be purchased in small quantities. Keep in a cool place away from sunlight. During manufacturing, acid is added to hydrogen peroxide to make it more stable. The addition of a small amount of ammonia (alkalinity) will accelerate its bleaching action. OxiClean is an alkaline cleaner which produces Hydrogen Peroxide when mixed with water. The Hydrogen Peroxide is a clear, colorless, self-neutralizing, oxidizing bleach that should be stored in a dark, cool place, in a dark colored bottle. We compared our normal cleaning and spotting agents with OxiClean and could not see any advantages in using this product. For consumer use, this product may have merit when used on tomato sauce based spills, blood, and other organics. This product must be thoroughly rinsed from the fabric or a heavy powder residue will remain. The hydrogen peroxide produced by this product can bleach fabric and carpet dyes, so pre-testing is critical. Benzoyl Peroxide In the past two years, dozens of products have entered the market containing benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient. This chemical is a very strong oxidizing agent capable of destroying most dyestuffs used in carpet and upholstery. It is also a very effective treatment for acne. Since the Food and Drug Administration approved it for over-the-counter sale, products containing it have been responsible for hundreds of complaints of mysterious yellow spots that appear where apparently no spill has taken place but dye loss is apparent. The spots sometimes seem to appear spontaneously for several reasons. 1. First, relatively high humidity is necessary for the bleaching action to begin; there have been reports of spots growing in size during a single rainy day for this reason. 2. Second, the time between the contact and appearance of the spots could be days, the spill having been forgotten. 3. Third, many of the spots appear to have been brushed onto the carpet, from hands and faces rather than spilled. Most of the creams are difficult to wash off the hands and a simple rinse leaves enough to cause bleaching. These spots begin as orange to yellow as the dye is bleached and progress to lightest yellow as the oxidation proceeds. On blue carpet they may appear slightly pink. In many cases, they exhibit an orange ring or halo, which moves outward as the spot grows. The spot may feel and look chalky from the presence of bentonite (fuller s earth) used in the medication to absorb skin oils. Other textiles such as pillowcases, sheets, towels, upholstery fabrics, and clothing may also be affected. A large fiber producer has researched a number of complaints and found 45% of all spots have been related to benzoyl peroxide. In addition, this chemical is contained in some pet shampoos and mange remedies and may easily come in contact with the carpet and upholstery. Sodium Perborate A white powder that when mixed with water forms hydrogen peroxide, so their uses are similar. Take care to prevent contact with moisture when not in use, or it will lose strength. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-4

33 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Rinse carefully after using this bleach as the alkaline residual can contribute to a browning condition. Sodium Hypochlorite Sodium hypochlorite or chlorine bleach is not normally recommended for on-location use because it will actually destroy protein fibers. Keep away from wool and nylons. Chlorine bleach can be used on cellulosic fibers such as cotton and sometimes works on fugitive dye when others fail. Wools should only be cleaned with cleaners specially formulated for wool. CAUTION: Mixing chlorine bleach with alkaline chemical such as ammonia or strong acid solutions will create a poisonous gas! Chemical Safety Measures It is your responsibility to work in a safe manner and protect yourself and others from potential danger. Accidents cost money in loss of production by the injured worker as well as his co-workers. Be sure that there is proper safety equipment on each truck. Chemical resistant gloves, splash goggles, and first aid kits must always be readily available. Be informed of the hazards of chemicals that you may be exposed to and receive the proper training for the use of those chemicals. MSDS sheets should be present on each chemical used. Information in regards to all cleaning products must be available to anyone who requests it. For this reason a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) must be on every truck. Preventative measures should be taken in regards to flammable substances by keeping a fire extinguisher ready for use. Also, store flammable substances in their original containers and propane tanks should be mounted outside the van. Stanley Steemer Spotting Agents For normal cleaning, our standard cleaning solution is used for upholstery. However, if greater attention is needed to specific areas or spots, then use a spotting agent. Most spotting agents are applied after normal cleaning, where results are not 100%. Use one of the following: Progest (protein based) Progest is an enzyme digester that is used to break down protein stains caused by perspiration, blood, urine, candy, grass, food, egg or milk. Progest has a very high ph. Be sure to perform a color fastness test (especially on upholstery) and remember that the results are not conclusive until the test area is dry. Extreme acidity or alkalinity damage natural enzyme spotters easily. It is also excellent for carpet. However, most of these spots will be removed through normal steam cleaning. Progest is not designed to be used in the solution tank, and can cause irritation of the skin. Spotter: Progest should be used full strength. Apply a small amount of Progest directly to the spot using a clean, white un-starched towel or sponge. Gently work Progest into the problem area from the outside edge toward the center. Allow a dwell time of 5 to 15 minutes. Once the spot has been neutralized, be sure to totally extract Progest with the steam cleaning system. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-5

34 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Stan Tan (tannic acids) Used on coffee and tea stains which are usually referred to as tannin stains. Stan Tan (tannic acid) is also affective on spots caused by beer, liquor, fruit juices, urine, etc. Not effective for petroleum. Most of these spots will be removed through normal steam cleaning. Stan Tan should not be used in the solution tank. Spotter: Stan Tan should be used full strength. Apply a small amount of Stan Tan directly to the spot using a clean, white un-starched towel or sponge. Gently work Stan Tan into the problem area from the outside edge toward the center. Allow a dwell time of 5 to 15 minutes. Once the spot has been neutralized, be sure to totally extract Stan Tan with the steam cleaning system. Stanley Steemer Professional Carpet & Upholstery Spot Remover This product can be sold to the customer or used by the cleaning technician as a generalpurpose spotter on both carpet and most upholstery. It is not meant to be used as a prespray or added to any other cleaning agent. Application: Spray full strength from the spotter bottle directly on the problem area. Allow sufficient time for the spotter to loosen the spot. Using a clean absorbent cloth or a dull flat object, rub the spot from the outside edge toward the center. Clean the area with the cleaning wand or wipe with a damp towel to help remove excess spotter. Provided the spot has not set, lead with our spotter first. Then, if necessary, back into another option. This increases the probability of validating our own product. IPA (rubbing alcohol) IPA has some cleaning properties. As a spotter, it can dissolve some ink stains. It is also used for unclogging of sprayers when the sprayer has not been properly maintained. IPA should not be used in the solution tank. Pre-spray: Not recommended in pre-spray form. Spotter: Alcohol is used full strength. Apply a small amount of Alcohol directly from the spotter bottle to the ink spot. If the ink is removable with IPA it will immediately begin to dissolve. Immediately begin extracting the IPA with a light wand or furniture tool to avoid spreading. Continue the process until all of the ink is removed. Then clean the area with hot water extraction to ensure that all chemical has been removed. Additional vacuum strokes are recommended. Anti-Foam Powder Stanley Steemer Anti-Foam Powder is meant to be applied to the carpet in a powder form. It has some advantages over the liquid de-foamer, and they are: Convenient to handle and store. Easy to apply on carpet. Easy to apply to foam spots. No need to carry an extra sprayer as it is applied as a powder. No need to worry about improper dilution as it is used full strength. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-6

35 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Application: The powder de-foamer should be applied with a shaker bottle, and sprinkled on the carpet at a rate of about one quarter of the application jar per 100 square feet. It should never be mixed with water. Always sprinkle directly on the carpet or upholstery. SPOT REMOVAL Spot removal can be one of the most interesting and exciting parts of your business if done properly. It s a great feeling when you remove a spot that your customer thought was a permanent stain. In spotting it is important to have the correct product and technique. If you have the right product but are not using it properly, you may not be able to remove the stain. If you are doing everything correctly, but do not have the right product, the same results will occur. Whenever you are mixing chemicals for cleaning upholstery always read the label of the container and mix chemicals according to the manufacturer s directions. It is also important, when using spotting chemicals that you thoroughly remove the residue, if not spots may reappear on fabrics after cleaning and drying. General Spotting rules of Spot and Stain Removal Apply water before and after most spotting procedures except for inks. Spot inks on the solvent or dry side. Use Volatile Dry Solvent first, tamp, agitate, and blot. Follow with a Non-Volatile Dry Spotter, agitate and blot. Remove residue by finishing with Volatile Dry Solvent. Ink spots found on upholstery are water soluble, dry solvent soluble and insoluble. Remove obvious spots from the upholstery before shampooing or extracting. Rinse all spotting agents free from the upholstery as these can set up their own stains if left in the fabric. When in doubt concerning loose dyes or sensitive colors or fabrics, it is wise to first test the spotting agent in an inconspicuous area of the upholstery. Bleaches (Oxidizers & Reducers) These play an important role in spotting. It may be necessary to use them in removing the very last traces of stain. This is called spot bleaching. Although spot bleaching may be the only way to remove a stain, it is not always safe. Damage to fabric and loss of color may occur, depending on the fiber and dye. Always test a fabric before using any types of bleach. Professional Spotting Kits Include: carrying case, tray or toolbox: o It must be large enough to hold all chemicals, spotting towels, napping shears, bone scrapers, etc Flip top spotting bottles (16 oz.): o Chemicals, which do not have their own applicator bottle, should be put in manufacturer-approved containers and properly labeled to identify their contents. The flip top eliminates waste and spills and helps control the flow of chemical. Trigger sprayer assembly: o A Trigger sprayer head with adapter to convert any size bottle into a trigger sprayer, may be used with many chemicals when the spot is quite large or when penetration of chemical into the backing, padding or cushion will cause harm. Drop cloth: SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-7

36 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods o Used to prevent evidence of spots and accidental spills or residue from occurring during the spotting process. Absorbent toweling/compound: o Used to extract the spot and the solution used to loosen it. Cotton towels have been the tradition, but some newer paper materials show promise. They are used to blot up the spot, continually shifting to fresh areas or new towels. Q-Tips: o For application of small amounts of chemicals such as rust remover, etc. Ideal for localized and delicate spotting in hard to control areas. Spotting brush: o A short firm brush with a wooden handle primarily used to tamp (tamping) or pound the spotting agent into the carpet. This is the safest tool to use for this process. Bone scraper: o An inert spatula usually made of bone used for agitation and scraping up of excess matter from the surface of the carpet. These are not abrasive and will not damage the fabric. ph paper: o Strips used to test the relative acidity or alkalinity of a spot or water-based spotting solution. Scissors (shears): o Usually a duck bull is used to trim fuzz or sprouts from the surface or to clip samples for testing and on occasion, to trim the surface pile where a stain is on the very tips of the yarn. Many fabrics will develop a condition called pilling. This occurs when the length of fiber breaks and rolls into a little ball. Thus you have small fiber pills all over the fabric. Pilling can be removed with an electric shaver, shears, or pill remover. Providing this service can really set you apart from the rest and demonstrate a higher level of professionalism and customer service. Cotton swabs: o To accurately apply the more dangerous chemicals such as rust removers to small areas. Rubber gloves, safety glasses and organic vapor respirator: o Used when encountering toxic or caustic spotters. Stanley Steemer Cleaning Agents & Pre/Post Spray Downs SS89D Powdered Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner This is the base of our cleaning solution concentrate. It thoroughly cleans all types of carpets and upholstery with ease. The advantages and benefits are: resists soiling cuts labor and time fast-acting and gentle to all forms of fibers, including stain resistant helps remove stubborn stains leaves a pleasant aroma is biodegradable SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-8

37 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Cleaning Powder Concentrate 2X This product cleans more effectively than SS89D. Also, it reduces scale deposits (jets, screens, heat exchangers, etc.) Finally, only half as much is needed. Phosphate Free Powder This is our basic phosphate free cleaning solution concentrate for areas that can not use phosphates in cleaning chemicals. It thoroughly cleans all types of carpets and upholstery. The advantages and benefits are that it resists soiling, fast-acting and gentle to all forms of fibers, including stain resistant carpets. Upholstery Shampoo Cleaning Upholstery Shampoo should be used when steam extraction alone cannot remove the heavily soiled areas and to help prevent over-wetting. Potential areas are the arms, headrest, cushions and skirting. It is safe for use on all fabrics that are colorfast. It is not meant to be used in our machine or pre-sprayed. Avoid freezing. Mix one part shampoo to eight parts warm water. Application: Using sudsing detergent, dip a natural sponge into the shampoo solution. Wring out slightly and work up to damp foam. Rub the moist sponge in a continuous motion at all times, so as to prevent over-wetting an area. It may be necessary to use a brush in conjunction with the sponge application. Use a medium soft bristle brush on the area covered by the damp foam from the sponge. If a damp white foam is not apparent while you are using the brush, you are not cleaning properly. Always test fabrics for color fastness before applying shampoo. After treating with shampoo, lightly clean with a wet vacuum. The fabric will be relatively damp after the wet vacuuming. Haitian Cotton Upholstery Shampoo This product, manufactured by Chemspec, should be used on Haitian and raw cotton fabrics to clean and both prevent and correct browning or when a low moisture acidic product is needed. Its ph is 6.1 when diluted, which will vary with the ph of the local water. Mix one part shampoo to four parts warm water. Application is the same as with upholstery shampoo. Anti-Foam Liquid Anti-foam Liquid is used primarily to break down the foaming action of soaps and detergents. Foam will reduce vacuum by blocking the vacuum hose. Foam will also build up in the dump tank and may go through the vacuum blower. Anti-foam Liquid is difficult to remove from the carpet, and the residual Silicone-based anti-foam attracts soil and should not be directly applied on upholstery. Use Antifoam Powder as your first choice. Anti-Stat (No longer available thru SSI Manufacturing) Anti-Stat is used full strength and should be applied from a pressurized sprayer. Replace the carpet tip with an upholstery spray adapter. Spray the upholstery at approximately the same speed and pressure as protector. To assist your customer we recommend the following: SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-9

38 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Use a good application of carpet & upholstery protector, which will be about 50% as effective as Anti-Stat. Anti-Stat will only last days after application and will promote re-soiling. The protector will reduce static and will keep the upholstery cleaner longer. Odorless Brown-Out Remover Acetic Acid Brown Out is used primarily when carpet or upholstery browns out due to a chemical imbalance or high ph. This can happen when the upholstery is too alkaline. By applying this product to the upholstery, it will reduce the alkaline level and the brown discoloration should disappear. Stanley Steemer Brown-Out Remover This chemical is primarily used for the removal of cellulosic browning and to help prevent color variations in lighter shades of fibers. Brown Out is not to be used as a cleaner, but rather as a neutralizing agent. Warning! Brown Out is not odorless and has a very strong smell, so do not attempt to identify by smell. Also, make sure area of application is well ventilated. Citric Acid Powder Citric Acid is used when an acid condition needs to remain in the upholstery to correct or prevent a problem. Some of these problems are yellowing, reoccurring browning and some chemical reaction spots. ph Factors and Considerations When considering the correct cleaning method (if you want to be safe), consider all of the variables. In most cases moisture, then ph, then heat is the order of importance (from highest probability of creating a problem to lowest probability). Reference the ph chart later in this section for ph considerations when cleaning upholstery. The higher or lower the ph of a chemical, the greater chance for damage and/or discoloration. Many upholstery manufacturers and fiber producers recommend cleaning synthetic fibers with a cleaning solution that has a ph of 10 or less. Also, keep in mind that a technician will use a stronger ph (alkaline) chemical to deal with extreme cleaning conditions such as extremely soiled upholstery. It is always prudent to do thorough testing before proceeding to avoid potential damage and liability. The term ph represents the measurement of acidity, alkalinity or neutrality of a water-based liquid. The key ingredient that must be present to measure ph is water. A ph scale is a progressive scale with numerical values from 0 to 14. The neutral point (neither acidic or alkaline) is the value 7. Neutral is the ph of pure water. Below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline.). The strength of a water-based chemical is determined by its concentration and ph level. This supports the ability for chemicals to clean better by increasing their alkalinity (or raising the ph) and to make bleaches more effective by increasing their acidity (or lowering the ph). As you move away from a ph of 7 in either direction, each number indicates an exponential increase in strength of 10 times. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-10

39 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods For example, a ph of 10 is 10 times as alkaline as a ph of 9, 100 times as alkaline as a ph of 8, and 1,000 times as alkaline as a ph of 7. An Exercise: In terms of ph measurement, if you have a product with a ph of 2 and a product with a ph of 10, which would be considered the stronger chemical? The following are ph-cleaning characteristics: ACID Tends to make fabric feel softer Tends to set dyes and possibly spots to stain Tends to prevent and correct browning ALKALINE Tends to make fabric feel harder Tends to loosen dyes Tends to cause browning SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-11

40 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods ph Scale SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-12

41 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods STANLEY STEEMER PRODUCTS The following information shows the ph of chemicals available thru Stanley Steemer. These are average ph values. The ph may vary slightly depending on the ph of the local water supply and variance of the products ph in concentrate. This sheet can be laminated and carried in the field for reference. Solvent-based products such as Target and Citrus Solvent do not have a related ph. Only aqueous based products have a ph level. PRODUCT ph Range (as used) Cleaning Solution SS Cleaning solution 2X *Commercial Pre-Spray HD *Residential Pre-spray Supershield FT (Dupont) Supershield Plus (Spartan) Teflon Advanced M Scotchgard Brown Out Remover Odorless Brown Out Remover Progest *Whink Rust Stain Remover (hydrofluoric acid) Citric Acid Carpet & Upholstery Spotter Haitian Cotton Cleaner Stan Tan Upholstery Shampoo All Deodorizers... (same as water) *Erusticator... less than 1.0 * Denotes that the product is not recommended on upholstery. Chemicals not listed here would be dry solvents and would not have a ph level associated with them unless mixed with water. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-13

42 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods There is increased risk with using alkalines, so why do we use them? The typical ph of most water-soluble soils found in upholstery and drapery fabrics fall between 4-6 (slightly acidic). The principle opposites attract also applies to ph. Since most of the soils we encounter are acids, the best chemical to clean with is an alkaline chemical. Most of your carpet and upholstery cleaning detergents are alkaline. You can test ph of a chemical with a dye indicator such as Litmus paper or ph test strips. HEAT or TEMPERATURE (The use of Heat in Cleaning) Temperature considerations: Heat accelerates chemicals. Also, heat by itself can cause dyes to migrate. This is known as the RULE OF 18. For each increase of 18 F above 118 F, the chemical reaction or activity doubles. Stated more simply, chemical reactions will happen twice as fast at 136 F as they will at 118 F. Heat only becomes a factor if your ph is too high. The hotter the better is the industry motto. It is the only factor that has many advantages while having no disadvantages. Heat will: Clean better, because of increased chemical reaction. Drying takes place more rapidly, as hot water evaporates more quickly. Decrease surface tension, therefore having surfactant like attributes. As surface tension is lowered, cleaning solutions are able to penetrate deeper into a fabric. Boost the performance of lower ph level chemicals. Reduces the amount of agitation that can cause fiber damage. AGITATION Agitation is used at various times through the cleaning process to Uniformly distribute and work in pre-treatments to emulsify soils Create frictional heat that increases chemical activity Distribute post treatments uniformly to improve efficacy Agitation is accomplished using various tools, methods, and procedures during the cleaning process. The tools used to clean upholstery would include hand brushes, towels, brooms or grooming tools, and spray jets using water pressure. Improper agitation methods and procedures or lack of detergent lubrication could cause damage and/or distortion of upholstery fibers which could lead to customer dissatisfaction. Stanley Steemer cleaning methods and procedures will be discussed in detail later in this manual. TIME Time is a factor in many ways where the cleaning business is concerned. These factors include a balance between length of service calls, dwell time of chemicals, meter time (cleaning time), and how long it takes to dry if using a wet method of cleaning. Moisture considerations would include: Pre (amount of moisture we use to clean) Post (how long it takes to dry) SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-14

43 IICRC Carpet Cleaning Technician Choosing Cleaning Methods Stanley Steemer Upholstery Cleaning Options Method of Cleaning Heat (Temp) ph Level Moisture (In/Out) Steam Cleaning w/ Upholstery Wand Greatest Greatest Greatest Mist & Vac w/ Wand Upholstery Wand Less Same Less Upholstery Shampoo (Foam Only) Less or Equal Less Less Pre-spray SS Spotter / Rinse w/ Wand Less or Equal Less Less of Equal Haitian Cotton Cleaner (Foam Only) Less or Equal Less Less or Equal Power Vac w/ Wand Only N/A N/A N/A The methods above give the professional cleaner sufficient options to be able to safely clean any type of upholstery they encounter. The key is to set the customers expectations and gain their approval by having them choose the most soiled area of the piece, then showing that area to gain approval. Depending on the previous condition, it will not always be possible to achieve a like new appearance. Over stepping the safe limits will not make it look new, but can cause damage that can lead to liability. Proper pre-testing and good communication with the customer will lead to a satisfactory outcome for the customer and you. If you are unfamiliar with any of the methods described, it is advised that you seek hands-on training from your instructor and/or management before attempting the method in the customer home. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 5-15

44 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines UPHOLSTERY CLEANING GUIDELINES STEP 1 CUSTOMER INVOLVEMENT Involve the customer in the pre-inspection whenever possible. If you have a customer standing over you shoulder, it is usually because you did not do a proper job of explaining your services to them. The consumer is more likely to go with a professional cleaner that takes the time to explain the process as opposed to a guy who walks in, looks around for a few minutes and belts out, it ll be $200. Remember to treat the customer s furniture, as you would want yours treated. STEP 2 UTILIZE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY AND PERFORM A PRE-INSPECTION: Interview Questions Visual Inspection (Check List) & Documentation Testing Fiber burn test/practical chemical tests (to get you in the ballpark) Color fastness test (crocking or bleeding) Other considerations o Moisture o Temperature o Agitation The largest percentage of problems that arise when cleaning upholstery could have been prevented had the cleaner tested the piece prior to cleaning it. Pre-testing of upholstery may reveal potential dye bleeding, if the fabric blends may restrict cleaning results, and most important which cleaning agent to use on the fabric. Always pre-test the fabrics extensively prior to cleaning - even when you are confident that no problems exist. RECOMMENDATION: Use the ASCR ready reference upholstery guide to aid in fiber/fabric identification. This will help you in selecting the correct cleaning method. STEP 3 DETERMINE CATEGORY Deciding the cleaning category is very important in cleaning upholstery. What may be the best method may not be the safest, and vice versa. The safest method may not be the best for soil removal. The number one goal in upholstery cleaning is to remove as much soil as possible, without changing the color or texture. Manufacturer s cleaning codes that are sometimes attached to the deck of the furniture give you a cleaning category by which to clean. Give little credibility to these manufacturer liability codes, the professional should still determine the proper cleaning procedure based on knowledge. The Cleaning Codes are: W Clean only with water based chemicals S Clean only with solvent based dry chemicals W/S Clean with either water or solvent based chemicals X Use neither wet nor dry chemicals, vacuum only! SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-1

45 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines STEP 4 SET UP OPTIONS Use a large, absorbent blanket, such as furniture blanket (make sure it is colorfast) to protect flooring. Move furniture, utilizing furniture glides, to the center of the room or move other items away (avoid over spray; show you care). STEP 5 PRE-VACUUM The majority of soil can be removed through dry soil vacuuming. As the saying goes, It is easier to remove dust than mud. Dry soil is relatively easy to remove by vacuuming, but if left in the fabric until the solutions are applied, it becomes mud. Dry vacuuming should always be your first step. If the dry soil is impacted or bound to the fabric it may be necessary to loosen it by pre-grooming with a gentle brush before vacuuming. For fabric safety the first principle of cleaning is dry soil removal. If this step is not preformed it will make cleaning of the furniture more difficult and time consuming, and is likely to set you up for a recleaning (courtesy call). STEP 6 PRE-TREATMENT (if necessary, heavily soiled): Before pretreatments and/or cleaning, with cushions removed, evenly spray a light mist onto the platform and extract any excess puddling to avoid staining or water marking the deck. One of the most important steps in the cleaning process is to pre-treat for wet side cleaning. Pre-treatments have all the necessary ingredients to emulsify and suspend the majority of soils found in upholstery. Upholstery shampoo, spotter, Progest, or cleaning solution are the typical pre-treatments used by Stanley Steemer on upholstery. Apply evenly over the section you are working on with a light mist first followed by heavier spray in the most soiled areas. This will prevent uneven cleaning and the possibility of streaks. Allow 3-5 minutes of dwell time to emulsify oils and suspend soil for removal. Remember that the pre-spray should not dry before extracting or the soil will redeposit on the fiber. Pre-spray for the dry cleaning method is the same procedure as wet cleaning. Dwell time is also helpful for this procedure but do not let the solvents dry before the agitation step. STEP 7 AGITATE This step consists of either working in the pre-treatments or adding additional chemical to aid in cleaning. Surprisingly the agitation step is not as much to scrub the dirt off the fibers as it is to help break surface tension and work the chemicals into the soil so they can do their job. Following pre-spraying: Use the horsehair or other soft brush and gently work the pre-treatment into the fabric Use heavier scrubbing action if the fabric is heavily soiled and dimensionally stable, but to careful to not distort the fabric In the process SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-2

46 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines It would be best to use a terry cloth towel for some of the agitation. This will serve a double purpose: It adds the necessary agitation to work the chemical in It gives you an important step for removing some of the soil through absorption Scrub Formula Agitation Scrub formulas (also known as Dry Foam Cleaning) are very effective when additional preconditioning chemicals are needed. They are carried in a foamy shampoo base, which allows for control of the moisture being added to the fabric by letting you develop either dry foam or wet foam. Through the agitation and when the cleaning is complete, the piece will be fairly dry. The dense fill horsehair brush, and the natural ocean sponge are two tools for applying these formulas. Where there is not a concern for excess moisture use the horsehair or other soft brush. It provides excellent agitation, but will also pass on a fair amount of water on the fabric when the brush is first applied to the fabric. When using the brush, whip the foam in a bucket first and then try to apply the rich foam only but do not over agitate a delicate fabric. Older fabrics or sun rot fabric can begin to fray or fall apart. A piece of window screening can be placed over the fabric while you are cleaning to avoid further damage. Haitian cotton fabrics (minimally processed cotton) should be agitated primarily in the direction of the weft yarns (this is the prominent direction of the face yarns.) Caution is also necessary on velvet fabrics or those with a pile. Brush only in the direction of the nap or fiber distortion could result. The natural sponge is an excellent tool for applying the scrub formulas when control of moisture and gentleness are required. Work the sponge into the concentrated sudsing detergent solution to develop a rich dry foam and then apply to the fabric using back and forth overlapping strokes. Spread the foam evenly and lightly dampen the fabric. This process is best used for fabrics such as Haitian cotton, cotton canvas, and potential bleeders. A follow up step with a dry towel will sometimes be useful. This method is also the wet portion of the dry wet dry method. After performing the initial dry extraction then wet clean using the neutral scrub formula with a natural sponge, followed by another dry extraction. Every system and formulation requires extraction, whether it is a wet formula rinse, a dry solvent rinse, a dry vacuuming step, or a dry towel. Wet vacuuming will remove excess moisture from fabrics and is crucial in all wet cleaning methods. Extraction also removes the soil from the fabric. A wet extraction may use several different formulas, which can be tied to three basic areas: Neutral extraction, alkaline or boosted extraction, and acidic extraction. The extraction process, when using water, should be done with as hot of water as possible. Hot water adds safety to your cleaning. Most browning and bleeding occurs in the drying stage. Anything you can do to speed up the drying and lessen the amount of water used will be to your benefit. Heat is possible your most important ally. Your upholstery cleaning equipment should be designed so you can use a small flow of very hot water combined with a potent but safe chemical. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-3

47 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines STEP 8 CHOOSE A CLEANING METHOD When contemplating which method to use, take the customer into consideration. You may want to dry-clean (if available) if the customer is reluctant to have you use water on the fabric. If it is heavily soiled, then explain the disadvantages of dry cleaning and direct the customer toward a wet process. One advantage of the dry process is that you will not have to spend much time in grooming. A simple brushing to set the direction will usually be adequate. Water can cause distortion in velvets, so when agitating velvet, always work in the direction of the original pile lie. When extracting, do so in the same direction, especially on natural fiber velvets. HOT WATER EXTRACTION A cleaning method that quickly flushes the most suspended soil. Also referred to as Steam Cleaning, or even a restorative cleaning method. This is the best and most efficient method of cleaning carpet and upholstery. The Stanley Steemer process uses a safe, non-toxic solution, which is injected under pressure down to the base of the carpet fibers. Then a powerful vacuuming process immediately extracts out the liquefied dirt, and any previous residues. The Stanley Steemer process does not leave any sticky residue that attracts dirt later, provided the flow meter is not altered and proper mixtures of water and solution are used. The carpet and/or upholstery is left as clean as possible and only damp to the touch. WHAT ARE OUR CLEANING METHOD OPTIONS? UPHOLSTERY TOOL WITH CLEANING SOLUTION Most moisture in; greatest temperature; most agitation Rinse/extract (solution, water or acid rinse) Vacuum (moisture removal): o Against cushion and fabric o Lofting (fabric only) = through extraction, separating the fabric from the cushion or batting. Particular attention to seams, piping, buttons, arms, and face, corners, double fabric areas (quilted, etc.). Quilted fabric is made of 3 layers that are sewed together in a stitched pattern, creating raised areas. During the extraction process, use slightly overlapping strokes and move the tool at a speed where you can see the fabric coming clean without over-wetting the cushion. Use a chop stroke (using a carpet wand) for heavily soiled areas however; this may add additional moisture to the fabric and add to the drying time. Follow the extraction with a dry vacuum pass to remove excess moisture and soil and to avoid over-wetting. Be careful with the seams, piping, crevices, buttons, etc. These are the places most likely to experience over-wetting and the resulting problems. Many upholstered buttons have metal inside and special care should be taken to avoid rust. A quality crevice tool may be necessary to reach some of these hard to reach places. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-4

48 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines MIST AND VACUUM Less moisture in; less temperature; less agitation Clean Vacuum Neutralize and Condition When misting the fabric make sure that it is evenly distributed and thoroughly wet, but not puddling. Do not allow dwell time; extract the moisture before it has a chance to soak deeply into the cushion. A light mist of an acid neutralizer when necessary to avoid browning on natural fabrics. Use odorless brown-out (lower ph to minimize bleeding potential). Odorless brown-out (acetic acid) is primarily used on carpets and upholstery to remove or avoid browning due to chemical imbalance (high alkalinity/ph). It also will neutralize any remaining alkaline residues that could possibly promote re-soiling. UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO Least amount of moisture in; least amount of temperature Work to foam and apply with sponge (foam only) Rinse (based on fabric type): Water Acidified solution (odorless brown-out) Vacuum Most technicians rinse shampoo with our solution. You would be defeating the purpose of using a lower ph product by rinsing with solution (a higher ph). One might question using shampoo in the first place. Therefore, when using shampoo, rinse with either water or an acidified solution to avoid the higher ph. HAITIAN COTTON UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO Special product for Haitian cotton or raw cotton products Whip solution to a foam Apply foam with sponge to a small area Per the manufacturer, wipe with clean white cloth or extract only (no rinse) or, if you do rinse, rinse with water by misting with a spray bottle or power sprayer. Extract with upholstery tool Use air movers/blowers POWER VACUUM Vacuum only, with no use of sprays or chemicals Check with management on pricing policy SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-5

49 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines STEP 9 CLEANING THE PLATFORM The platform, deck or bedding is the horizontal surface upon which the cushions rest. The fabric is often prone to show rings from solvent or water. When cleaning the platform, you should dampen the entire surface evenly before cleaning to avoid causing these rings. Often times, the platform is not colorfast. This makes it the worst possible surface for cleaning the cushions. Many professional cleaners have had the sad experience of cleaning a cushion on the platform to find that the dye from the platform transferred onto the cushion. Cushions should be cleaned on a drop cloth or special worktable especially if being cleaning on location. Once cushions are cleaned, place the damp cushions together in an inverted V on Kraft (or colorfast) paper or drop cloth with as little of the cushions touching as possible. Do not put cushions back on the platform/deck/bedding until the fabric is dry, as this fabric tends to be a bleeder. Never lean the cushions against wood surfaces or any surface that may mark the upholstery. STEP 10 FABRIC PROTECTION & DEODORIZATION Protection and deodorization is a great service to the customer and is very profitable for the cleaner. With fabrics as sensitive as they are, it is always a good idea to apply a quality protector to provide resistance to all different types of soils. STEP 11 FINISHING (Grooming) Apply Protector and/or Deodorizer first. Nap grooming (while still damp) SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CLEANING VELVETS Described as a pile weave, or a raised pile that will require grooming To ensure no pile distortion occurs, grooming should be completed on each section of the piece immediately after cleaning The grooming step is primarily for velvet fabrics, but is called for on all fabrics Most velvets fall into a delicate category of fabrics because they require extra handling Velvets are manufactured with synthetics as well as natural fibers and you may find that some velvets may not require any grooming, and can be cleaned using standard cleaning formulas If using a water-based solution and if the pile is a natural or synthetic fiber, it will require grooming after cleaning If you do not set and groom the velvet directly after cleaning it may set itself as you left it and you will not like the results. After cleaning each cushion, take the time to groom it and place it so as not to mark fabric in any way. Use a brass velvet brush or carding brush for this grooming procedure. Be aware that even slight finger marks will show. If grooming flocked velvet, keep in mind that over-aggression with the carding brush may cause irreversible damage. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-6

50 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines Groom the velvet lying down; do not try to stand the velvet up while still wet or you will have fabric that looks like a terry cloth towel. By using very hot water and the correct chemicals, you will leave the velvet with only a slightly stiff feel. Dry the piece with an airmover and do the fluffing while you are there. The fluffing process will take your brass velvet brush or carding brush, working sideways first and gradually work directly against the pile in an opposite direction. STEP 12 FINISHING INSPECTION Always perform a post cleaning inspection. This gives you a chance to touch up areas that may not have come out. Ask the customer to examine your results before taking your equipment out This saves you from having to come back for a courtesy call (redo). The major cause of customer complaints is improper communication and/or pre-qualification with the customer. If the customer asks, you should be very willing to touch up the area in questions. If the spot does not respond, advise them that further aggression could cause damage to the fabric. Know when it s time to stop. STEP 13 DRY THE FURNITURE Home (HVAC and Fans) Ventilation of humidity Airmovers (across the fabric, not at it this can force moisture into the backing) Sunlight How quickly furniture dries will depend on how wet it was in the first place. This step is perhaps the most important of all the fabric safety. Slow drying leads to problems such as browning and color bleeding. Remember that most problems occur during the drying stage, not during the cleaning stage. Your main effort should be getting the cushions dried first, which is most of your work and where the most potential for problems exist. Other soiled areas should be given special attention during the drying process as well. There is no substitute for a high volume air mover. Use them! CLEANING TERMINOLOGY Watch how you say it! AVOID Acid Faded Dirty Filthy/Very Dirty Vacuum Wet Chemicals PREFERRED Neutralize or ph Balancing Color Loss Soiled Heavily Soiled Extract Damp or Slightly Moist Cleaning Agents SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-7

51 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines You want to be viewed as the expert through use of proper terminology, so the customer continues to call us back, and tells others through word of mouth. Before leaving the home, share the following upholstery tips: Flip and rotate cushions will prolong the life and proper shape of the cushion by allowing it to wear evenly. Arm sleeves and backing covers. Damp dusting as part of regular maintenance. By keeping the customer aware of the soil condition as it advances, they will be more likely to schedule a cleaning when it is needed, instead of when it s overdue. Inform the customer of the destructive nature of soil that is not regularly removed from upholstered fabrics. Recommend that furniture subject to normal soiling should be cleaned every months so it will last longer. Deteriorating foam If discovered during the pre-inspection, point it out, then wrap it in a plastic bag. Plastic will help support the fabric (foam helps support the seams) and keep the cushion debris from damaging the fabric. Be sure and point out that this is a temporary fix and that the foam should be replaced. Improperly supported fabric can tear, split, or wear more readily, causing expensive re-upholstering. Furniture Condition Report use with discretion. Realizing it is not legally binding, the report is sometimes used to reinforce previous customer communication (not replace it). Those that use it feel the customer will tend to be more reasonable for things outside of our control, such as permanent discoloration or staining to fabric due to excessive soiling. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-8

52 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines FURNITURE CONDITION REPORT Customer: Item: Condition: Of course we guarantee our workmanship when cleaning your upholstery and drapery fabrics! Unfortunately, many furniture manufacturers give little consideration to the fact that their product eventually will need cleaning. Obviously, we cannot be responsible for unforeseeable manufacturer or use-related problems, such as: shrinkage, fugitive dyes, instructional markings on fabrics, unseen yarns that might bleed, browning, texture change, fabrics weakened by age, or permanent discoloration or stains due to excessive soiling. Our guarantee is to give you state-of-the-art expertise and workmanship, combined with effective results consistent with the cleaning situation we encounter. Although we make every effort to avoid even the manufacturer-related problems, we d appreciate your signature indicating that you understand that there are risks involved that are beyond our control, and that you are having the listed item(s) cleaned with these risks in mind. This is not a disclaimer for responsible workmanship! Date Customer Signature Company Representative SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-9

53 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines UPHOLSTERY CLEANING AGENTS AVAILABLE IN THE INDUSTRY For normal cleaning, a standard cleaning solution is applied. However, the main reason for using specialized chemicals and procedures for upholstery cleaning is to avoid problems. Carpet chemicals will probably do a good job of cleaning, but they are designed for carpet not upholstery. Upholstery is a much more delicate and must be treated differently to avoid cleaning related disasters. The methods and types of chemicals that are discussed in this section are not necessarily used by Stanley Steemer operations. This information is being presented for educational purposes in the event that you would need to know what previous methods might have been used or for purposes of dealing with a special situation. Always consult your management before deviating from our normal methods of cleaning. Two basic concepts of upholstery cleaning center on: Dry cleaning or solvent Wet cleaning or water-base cleaning The following are the chemicals used as they relate to the 2 basic concepts. Dry Solvent Cleaning Chemicals (Not used by all operations) The standard products used in dry cleaning or solvent cleaning. Solvent Based Cleaning Compound Blended compounds of volatile chlorinated and aliphatic solvents, such as odorless mineral spirits. The reason for blending is to take advantage of the good points of each type of solvent. Some allow more dwell time on the fabric to allow the cleaner time to work before the solvents dry. Some products add a higher degree of solvency to achieve better cleaning as well as speed up the dry time of the slower drying solvents. Most of these products can be safely heated to approximately 120 degrees F, to aid in the cleaning process, though they may still need a solvent additive of some kind to achieve the best results. Cleaning Additives As surfactants and additives must be added to water to make it an effective cleaner, so must these chemicals be added to solvent compounds to enhance their cleaning capabilities. Solvent additives These co-solvents can be added safely to most cleaning formulas, giving added grease cutting abilities. Citrus or Delimonene products are used as an additive in wet side cleaning as it is in Dry cleaning. Citrus Solvent or Delimonene Products Citrus products are derived from the essential oils and solvents of citrus fruits. They usually contain surfactants that will act as a cleaning booster by breaking surface tension, as well as make these products miscible in water. They are biodegradable, safe for the environment, and contain no chlorinated solvents, no alkalines, and are 100% free from caustics or acids. This product is added to the solvent compound or to a pre-spray and get a tremendous cleaning boost that will help cut through body oils that build up on the arms and head rest. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-10

54 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines Dry Solvent Cleaning Pre-conditioner Dry solvent upholstery pre-sprays are formulated with a combination of effective solvents and may be used to pre-condition upholstery and drapes before dry or wet cleaning processes. These products may be applied with either a spray applicator or with a light towel wiping with agitation. Dry solvent upholstery pre-sprays will boost the cleaning ability of dry cleaning applications considerably, and when used prior to water base cleaning, will break down oily based soils found on upholstered arms and headrests. They are the safest solution for removing most body oil from fabric and have their biggest use with oil-based soils. Water-based soils, such as watermarks or rings, are almost never removed with dry solvents. When using a dry cleaning process, it is important to communicate with the customer. Although dry cleaning is often the safest method it may not always be the best. Dry cleaning a heavily soiled sofa will produce moderate results, at best. You may need to clean on the wet side, or use a dry-wet-dry combination to achieve the best results. Allow the customer to help in making these decisions and that the customer is well aware of the risks. Odor Neutralizer Odor neutralizers will help to destroy odors founding cleaning such as body odors, smoke, and some pet odors, as well as, aid in eliminating the sometimes-strong vapor odors associated with solvents. Dry Solvent Cleaning Safety Issues Dry solvents can be dangerous! As long as you realize this fact, chances are you will never have a negative experience when using properly formulated solvents. It is most important to stick with a reliable supplier and follow the suggestions below. Circulation Build-up of solvent fumes in other areas of the house or building should be avoided. If possible, during the time you are cleaning, it would be advisable to turn off any circulating heating or cooling systems that could possibly carry fumes into another room. Ventilation Before you begin your job, make sure you have positive ventilation to carry the fumes back outside. This is usually best accomplished with air movers blowing out a door or window. You should also direct the exhaust from your machine to the outside by means of an exhaust hose. Using the proper tools and safety equipment will reduce your exposure to the volatile organic compounds (VOC s) given off by solvents. You need to pay attention to the T.L.V. Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Found on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Its number represents the amount of airborne exposure (parts per/million) in relationship to the volume of air in a closed environment. The criteria to register a number are over an 8-hour day, 40-hour week with constant exposure. Therefore, this information does not give a technician complete information on their risk, but should be considered along with strict heed to the safety and handling precautions also on the MSDS sheets. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-11

55 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines Pets Take the time to mention to the customer that even though the chemicals are not toxic (when used properly) they can be somewhat irritating to breathe. Suggest they locate themselves in another room and take their pets such as birds, dogs, and cats, as well as the children. Birds are very sensitive to dry solvent vapors. Dry Solvent Heating Raising the temperature of dry solvent is an effective way to increase the cleaning ability. Never use an immersion heater. As a general rule dry solvents sold for use in our industry can be safely heated to a maximum of 120 degrees F. Any higher temperature than this constitutes a fire hazard. Use of an immersion heater risks heating the solvent to its flash point (the temperature at which the solvent will ignite if exposed to an ignition source). The heating of solvents should be done with a specially designed heat exchange system. If you choose to warm your solvent, use your own simple double boiler system by setting as gallon of solvent into a pail of warm water. This will usually bring the temperature up to at least room temperature Equipment Equipment used that is not designed for solvents can be very hazardous. Some solvents and solvent additives will dissolve or destroy rubber. Using equipment designed for water base cleaning only could result in an internal leak, which under the correct circumstance would signify a fire. Be sure equipment is properly fitted and that all gaskets, hoses, and fittings are tight and functioning properly. Never plug your machine into an outlet closer than 10 feet from the machine or the article you are cleaning. This could create a fire hazard due to the possibility of a spark igniting concentrated dry solvent fumes. All machines should be checked for proper plug fixtures and that they are properly grounded. This will help prevent sparks and electric shocks. Smoking Not even an option! Some of the chemicals used for dry cleaning are flammable. Others will not burn, but when exposed to heat they decompose into a poisonous gas. A nice drag of solvent going through a cigarette could cause some extreme discomfort. Never dry clean in a room where there is an open flame or combustion source such as a furnace or stove. Even though it would be very difficult to cause a fire, you must consider the possibility. Respirator The use of an OSHA approved organic vapor respirator with filters approved for the solvents you are using is a must. There is some debate as to whether the solvent residues will build up in your system over time. It just makes sense to use personal protection equipment designed for use with specific solvents. Avoid breathing solvent fumes and wear gloves that are solvent resistant rather than exposing your skin to solvent. The solvents will readily remove the oils from your hands, and some will also be absorbed into the skin. Drying Do not leave your cleaning job until the furniture is mostly dry. The less solvent remaining in the fabric when you leave the better. The use of drying fans can aid your drying procedure just as it does in wet cleaning. Another reason for drying before leaving is the negative effect that strong solvent smell may have on public relations if left to linger long after you have left. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-12

56 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines Disposal Do not discard your solvents down the toilet or down the front gutter. The solvent waste should be taken back to your shop and stored in a drum until disposed of in accordance with applicable government ordinances. Cities normally have approved dumpsite. Most dry solvent compounds are suitable for reuse if soil is allowed to settle out and the compound is filtered. Stabilizing Back Coating Many fabrics are coated with a layer of latex to give body and stability. It is important to know that these backings can be damaged by excessive exposure to dry cleaning solvents. Storage Proper storage of dry solvents is essential. Some are flammable. Others are environmentally hazardous. Store these chemicals only in containers that are approved by the manufacturer. Wet Side Cleaning Chemicals The greatest percentage of upholstery cleaning can efficiently be cleaned with one of the wet cleaning methods. Although wet-cleaning methods can produce more problems than dry solvent methods, they will also produce the most spectacular results. Do not ignore fabriccovered walls and partitions. These are usually synthetic and respond well to wet cleaning. Neutral Shampoo A quality neutral shampoo is one of the most important and versatile products you can have in your upholstery-cleaning arsenal. They can be used in wet cleaning procedures in a wet shampoo method, as well as dry foam when very low moisture is needed. They are aggressive neutral ph cleaning products that are very good at breaking down soils and oils though they are very safe for most fabrics. These products add extra lubrication in cleaning to protect the fabric during agitation and the removal of soil. Neutral Extraction Liquid Used in the machine, these products serve as the rinse agent to flush away suspended soils. They typically have a neutral ph and are safe to use on most wet cleanable fabrics. These products contain special surfactants; water softeners, co-solvents, corrosion inhibitors and some contain optical brighteners. They are used in the final extraction stage of cleaning. They will not leave a re-soiling residue when used as directed, and will leave a soft hand to most upholstery. Upholstery Pre-spray These are usually slightly alkaline products that give tremendous soil emulsification while being safe on most fabrics. There are products that range from a neutral ph to slightly over 10, like you find in some of your ammoniated pre-sprays used for the most heavily soiled synthetics. They usually contain a special blend of solvents that make it easier to break up the abundance of oil-based soils such as body oils that are found in upholstery. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-13

57 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Cleaning Guidelines Alkaline builders Where fabrics are durable and safe from problems caused by alkalinity, alkaline builders add significant cleaning ability, especially against oil soils. Many of these products contain oxygen bleach that enhances color and brightens whites, without the use of fluorescent dyes or optical brighteners. Ideal for use on heavily soiled synthetics, or when combined with a buffering agent, can be used on delicate cottons. ph Neutralizer Buffering agents are used to control, maintain, and lower the ph of a given chemical formula. These products can be added to most wet formulas to lower the ph while still maintaining the cleaning effectiveness. Acid Neutralizer and Rinse Usually the safest when cleaning on the water based side to leave the fabric in a slightly acid state. This reduces the chance of bleeding, browning, and other problems. In addition, these acid rinses may be used to correct browning or yellowing problems that may have already occurred. Odor neutralizers These products are designed to leave a pleasant fragrance during and after the cleaning. Most of these products can be added to your cleaning chemicals, or sprayed directly onto the fabric. These are a good idea considering the side range of odors you will encounter in cleaning furniture. Special Agent Chemicals For removal of specific types of staining material not normally removed with the standard spotting chemicals. When using one of these specialty products, always remember to follow label directions, pretest in an inconspicuous area, and always use the appropriate safety equipment. Red Stain Remover A specialty chemical used to remove acid dyes found in items such as Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Hawaiian Punch, and other foods. Used with the heat transfer system using an iron and white towel. Rust Remover Dilute hydrofluoric acid solution for treating rust spots and comes in an applicator bottle, which is thrown away after use. Should never be rebottled by a cleaner and is always used with caution as damage to hands and glass may result. Rust is not removed, but turned into a colorless compound. The solution always works if the spot is actually rust. Newer and safer products are available today such as oxalic acid, hydrofluoric acid, ammonium bi-fluoride, and non-acid formulations. As with all strong chemicals, they attack skin rapidly without the person realizing it, so when used rust removers should be thoroughly neutralized and rinsed after use. Always follow instructions on label. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 6-14

58 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers Types of Protectors When looking at the different types of fabric protectors on the market, it is important to keep in mind that manufactures are not likely to divulge the contents of their protector. You may find some catch phrases that can be confusing when trying to decipher what type of protector you are using. Words like polymer, copolymer, hydrocarbon, aliphatic, chlorinated and even metal cross-linked have been used to describe fabric protectors. These words do have some relationship to protectors, but you really only need to have an understanding of the three basic types of fabric protectors. Protectors are chemicals that are applied to in order to increase the ability to withstand soiling and absorption of soils. The three types we will discuss are: o Colloidal Silica s o Silicones o Fluorochemicals Colloidal Silica Silica occurs in nature as sand and quartz. It is manufactured as a colorless crystal for its fabric protection properties. The silica protector fills the fabric with colorless, clean soil, so there is no available space for actual soil particles, but does not adhere to the fibers. When enough of the silica is present, it does not make removal of soil easier, but each vacuuming removes some of the silica, so protection will decrease rapidly. Also, silica does not provide protection against liquid soiling. Fibers protected with silica can actually be abraded and damaged by the silica, just as it would by nature s silica, sand. Protectors made from colloidal silica are the oldest of the soil retardant products. They were first introduced in the early 1950's. They provide good dry soil performance over short periods of time, but have no oil or water repellency at all. In addition, colloidal silica generally detracts from the luster of carpet and upholstery and may give a harsh hand to the fiber. The only real advantage of colloidal silica is its low cost. Most colloidal silica s come in a concentrated form and is dilutable with water. Once diluted they are non-toxic and safe on most surfaces not harmed by water. If over-spray is present on other surfaces it can usually be wiped off with a damp towel while it is still in liquid form. Advantages of silica are: o Very inexpensive for the contractor (cleaning company) o Assists in removal of dry soiling Disadvantages of silica are: o Protection is easily removed by vacuuming o No protection against liquid soiling o Can damage fibers as dirt would The next two types of protector are both polymers. A polymer is a type of resin, or plastic. The difference between silicone and fluorochemicals is the chemical formula and their characteristics. Silicone and fluorochemicals protect a fiber the same way, by filling in the imperfections on the fiber much the same way that car wax fills in imperfections in paint. Imperfections on natural fibers occur as part of their construction. Imperfections on synthetic fibers have been purposely designed into the fiber during the manufacturing process to allow areas for dyes to bond. These areas on synthetic fibers are called dye sites. Other areas of SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-1

59 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers imperfections, on both natural and synthetic fibers, are caused by scratches and damage from soil and wear. Do not confused protector and stain resistancy which are acid dye resistors applied to fibers before the protector to improve the release of stains from synthetics. Silicone Silicone is a polymer that is derived from petroleum products. It has excellent adhesion characteristics and is difficult to remove once it is applied. Silicone is excellent at preventing water, and water based liquids from penetrating into the fiber. Unfortunately, because silicone is a petroleum product, it attracts other petroleum products, like skin or hair oils. Silicone offers no protection against oily soils and actually bonds with the soil, making it more difficult to remove. Silicone is also slightly "sticky", so it attracts dry soil, which will bond with the silicone, making dry soil removal more difficult. Also, silicone will alter the flame retardant rating of fabric and carpets. Silicone for fabric treatments found a place in the dry cleaning industry before they were ever used on furniture or carpets as a protector. Raincoats and parkas were treated with silicones to impart water resistance. This product worked quite well for this application because it allowed the fabric to breath while delivering a certain amount of water proofing. The obvious water repelling features of the silicone attracted interest from the carpet and upholstery industry. The product then came into use as a fabric protector, although the only real value of the silicone is its water repellency. Products based upon silicones form a water-repellent coating on the fiber. But even though they are good water repellents, silicone finishes have no resistance to oily substances, and consequently, they frequently show poor dry soil performance. In fact, they often attract some types of soil and result in carpet and upholstery that appears dirtier than one without a protective finish. The bottom line is, silicones provide no protection from dry particulate soil or oily type soils and should not be applied to any carpet or upholstery since they void fiber producer warranties and can promote rapid resoiling, even though they may help fibers resist water-based spots. Advantages of silicone are: o Excellent water based repellency o Very strong bonding ability Disadvantages of silicone are: o Attracts soil o Provides no protection against and bonds with oily soil o Produces oxygen during a fire Fluorochemicals Because of their structure, fluorochemicals bond very well to fibers, and do not have the "sticky" texture of silicones. Fluorine is a very reactive element, but when it once reacts or combines with something it becomes very stable or non-reactive. They, also, provide protection against water and oil based liquids, and assist in dry soil removal. Even though fluorochemicals bond extremely well, their protection decreases over time with traffic and use. By lowering the surface energy of the fibers, fluorochemicals form a slippery protective coating on the fibers that help keep soil, oil and water-based stains from adhering. It acts like the nonstick coatings on cooking utensils causing soil, oil and water all to slip off the fiber. These coatings were the basis for the fourth generation fibers and are the most durable of all the SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-2

60 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers protectors on the market today. It provides outstanding dry soil resistance and resistance to wet soil as well as very good resistance to both water and oil-based liquids. Soil tends to not adhere to fibers treated with fluorochemicals and can usually be vacuumed away. Treated fabrics will give an opportunity to remove spills before they become fully absorbed into the fiber, which is known as repellency. The Fluorochemicals will work in basically two ways. When a Fluorochemical product is applied it will disperse and wick to cover all of the fiber surfaces as long as it is applied properly. The coverage is spread throughout the fabric and the dirt and stain repellency will work even at the base of a carpet as long as the product is there. The Fluorochemicals also impart a high degree of surface tension. This surface tension is created by an electrical charge that will hold a liquid on the surface of the fiber. The surface tension can easily be broken by physically forcing the liquid into the fabric or if the liquid is dropped onto the surface from a distance it will usually break the surface tension. A liquid spill on a treated fabric is more easily removed if spotted immediately. As a bonus, soil release is greatly improved when re-cleaning fluorochemically treated carpet and upholstery. Advantages of fluorochemicals are: o Inhibits penetrating of water and oil based liquids o Enhances dry soil removal o Excellent wear resistancy Disadvantages of fluorochemicals are: o High quality fluorochemicals can be more expensive than other types Fluorochemicals available from Stanley Steemer Distribution DuPont Teflon Advanced Carpet & Upholstery Protector DuPont Teflon Advanced Carpet & Upholstery Protector is a water-based fluorochemical, which provides resistance to soiling. Teflon Advanced contains no solvents, is nonflammable, leaves no offensive odor, and can be safely handled. Dilution: One part Teflon Advanced to 6 parts water. The diluted shelf life is dependent on the water hardness in your area. Therefore, if you have any diluted product left over at the end of the day, keep in a separate container and use the next day. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. Clean-Up: Do not store diluted protector in spray equipment. Thoroughly clean spray equipment and check valve with clean water at the end of each day. Failure to do so will result in clogged equipment and spray nozzle. Also, run warm water (IPA if needed) through sprayer and nozzle (tips) nightly to avoid buildup. Storage: Prevent protector concentrate or diluted product from freezing. Supershield FT Carpet & Upholstery Protector by DuPont Supershield FT Carpet & Upholstery Protector manufactured for Stanley Steemer by DuPont is a water-based fluorochemical, which provides resistance to soiling. Supershield FT SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-3

61 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers contains no solvents, is non-flammable, leaves no offensive odor, and can be safely handled. Dilution: One part Supershield FT to 6 parts water. The diluted shelf life is dependent on the water hardness in your area. Therefore, if you have any diluted product left over at the end of the day, keep in a separate container and use the next day. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. Clean-Up: Do not store diluted protector in spray equipment. Thoroughly clean spray equipment and check valve with clean water at the end of each day. Failure to do so will result in clogged equipment and spray nozzle. Also, run warm water (IPA if needed) through sprayer and nozzle (tips) nightly to avoid buildup. Storage: Prevent protector concentrate or diluted product from freezing. Supershield Plus Carpet & Upholstery Protector by Spartan Chemical Supershield Plus Carpet & Upholstery Protector manufactured for Stanley Steemer by Spartan Chemical is a water-based fluorochemical, which provides resistance to soiling. Supershield Plus contains no solvents, is non-flammable, leaves no offensive odor, and can be safely handled. Dilution: One part Supershield Plus to 6 parts water. The diluted shelf life is dependent on the water hardness in your area. Therefore, if you have any diluted product left over at the end of the day, keep in a separate container and use the next day. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. Clean-Up: Do not store diluted protector in spray equipment. Thoroughly clean spray equipment and check valve with clean water at the end of each day. Failure to do so will result in clogged equipment and spray nozzle. Also, run warm water (IPA if needed) through sprayer and nozzle (tips) nightly to avoid buildup. Storage: Prevent protector concentrate or diluted product from freezing. Three final thoughts: 1. In back to back spray down applications (protector and deodorizer), protector should be applied before deodorizer, as it will better adhere to the fabric. However, back to back applications should be minimized (only in the event of severe odor problems), as drying time drastically increases. 2. Do not premix protector with deodorizer. Both products are meant to be mixed in their purest form (with water). Mixing them together dilutes them incorrectly, and more importantly, destabilizes the protector. 3. An air mover must be used. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-4

62 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers Deodorizers available from Stanley Steemer Distribution Citra Scent Floral Scent Lemon Lime Scent Stanley Steemer Manufacturing carries three different masking agents (Cover-up, fragrance or scent). They are Citra, Floral and Lemon Lime Scent. They are a fragrance or perfume. They can be used by themselves to add a pleasant scent during cleaning, or they can be combined with Odor Zorb or Sani-T-10. Dilution: Mix two ounces of the fragrance to one gallon of water. The same amount can be added to Odor Zorb or Sani-T-10 after dilution. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. Odor Zorb Odor Zorb is a concentrated deodorizing agent that has the ability to encapsulate most malodors (cooking odors, pet odors, or any other unwanted odor) upon contact. Odor Zorb is unscented, which makes it an excellent product for people who are allergic to fragrances. For those people who want a fragrance, you may add one of three fragrances supplied by Stanley Steemer: Citra Scent, Lemon Lime or Floral. This product is safe for stain resistant carpet. Odor Zorb does not destroy the odor source. Odor-Zorb has a molecular structure capable of encapsulating odor molecules. The process of odor elimination occurs rapidly upon contact of the active components with the odor source. Odor-Zorb must contact and encapsulate the entire odor source to be effective in odor reduction. The malodor is encapsulated, so that the volatile portion cannot escape into the air. A high ph level, a low ph level, heat or abrasion may release the odor after application. Therefore, to eliminate the odor source, use Odor Out or Odor Out Plus. If you cannot keep the carpet wet long enough for Odor Out or Odor Out Plus to eliminate the odor source, use Odor Zorb. Dilution: Mix two ounces to one gallon of water. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. Storage: Shelf life of the Odor Zorb is indefinite in both concentrated and diluted form. Odor Out Odor Out uses a natural bacterial enzyme action to digest organic odor sources such as vomit, feces, urine, milk, skunk, etc. Odor Out is a blend of synergistic naturally occurring bacteria cultures in a spore form (the resting stage of bacteria, not metabolizing, not reproducing). The spores are suspended in a water medium containing wetting agents, a growth inhibitor, and a tropical fruit scent to mask odors during the digestion of organic materials. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-5

63 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers Odor Out is supplied in 2 forms: A concentrate, which must be diluted (1-7) before application, and a ready to use product, (for consumer use). Both forms have an inhibitor, which prevents the spores from changing from the resting state to the actively reproducing, metabolizing (vegetative) state. Either dilution or introduction of organic material can start the change of a bacterial spore into an actively metabolizing and reproducing bacterium. Odors typically are caused by certain foreign (harmful, odor causing) bacteria that actively digest organics. Odors are products of metabolism such as Methane Gas, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Sulfur dioxide. These bacteria, when in the active state, with moisture but no organic food source present, call still produce metabolism by-products that have a bad odor. Odor Out does not attack, or directly affect these odor-causing bacteria. The bacteria cultures in Odor Out are very aggressive and will reproduce much faster than the odor causing bacteria. The bacteria in Odor Out rapidly digest the food source. When the food source is gone, and moisture is no longer present, the odor will be minimized or eliminated. Odor Out is only effective if it contacts the odor source. In the case with urine, it is usually in the upholstery padding, and it is the odor s source. Therefore, the padding would need to be replaced in most cases. Dilution: One part Odor Out to 7 parts water (48 oz. to 2 ½ gallons of water). Mix only enough to use for that day. If there is some diluted Odor Out at the end of the day leave in a sealed container and use the next day. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. Odor Out must contact the contaminated area to be effective. After an application of Odor Out, the treated area must remain moist for the bacterial enzyme to completely digest the odor source. 24 hours minimum dwell time, but 48 hours is preferred. Up to 72 hours may be required in severe cases. Storage: Shelf life of the Odor Out is one year in the concentrate form. After dilution the product should be used in 24 hours. Odor Out Plus Odor Out Plus (bacterial enzyme with odor neutralizer) is extremely effective in dealing with odors from vomit, urine, feces, milk, blood, etc. To expedite the odor reduction process, this product is essentially the same as Odor Out but has an encapsulating agent in the formula. Since the bacteria cultures in Odor Out are in the spore form, (the inactive or resting stage) they are not harmed by the encapsulant. An inhibitor keeps these bacterial cultures in spore form before dilution. After dilution, the inhibitors are still effective, but the introduction of organic matter can initiate the change from spore form to actively growing and reproducing bacteria. Due to possible airborne contamination and evaporation the inhibiting system may become less effective after dilution. Therefore the diluted shelf life should only be considered to be 24 hours. When Odor Out Plus is applied to an organic substance contaminated with foreign odor producing bacteria, the odors produced are chemically bound by the encapsulating SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-6

64 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers media to prevent the release of foul odors. The bacteria in Odor Out Plus now become active, reproduce, and digest the remaining organics to minimize re-occurrence of bad odors. If using a deodorizer, which is only an encapsulant, the foul odors will not be produced, but this leaves a food source for more bacteria to re-enter and multiply. The bacteria cultures in Odor Out Plus will develop and reproduce in this area, and minimize the availability of a food source. Shelf life of the Odor Out Plus is one year in the concentrate form. Odor Out Plus will not harm stain resistant carpeting and will not void most warranties. It may speed the odor reduction process, but complete digestion of the organic food source will not be completed any faster than when Odor Out is used. Odor Out Plus quickly neutralizes odors, and leaves a fresh, clean scent (talc-like) on treated areas. Antibacterial agents assist in reduction of pathogens in carpet and upholstery. An encapsulant provides immediate relief from offending odors. Natural bacterial enzymes remove organic odor sources to prevent re-occurrence of objectionable odors. Dilution: Mix 1 part Odor Out Plus with 14 parts water for normal overall application. Mix 1 part Odor Out Plus with 7 parts water for spot application on severe odor problems. Application: Using a Stanley Steemer battery sprayer or a B & G pump sprayer fitted with a 5001 tip, spray the diluted product at a pressure of 40 psi. Hold the nozzle from the upholstery and apply the product overlapping each stroke by ½ a stroke. After the product has been applied, groom the protector into the upholstery. After an application of Odor Out Plus, the treated area must remain moist for the bacterial enzyme to completely digest the odor source. 24 hours minimum dwell time, but 48 hours is preferred. Up to 72 hours may be required in severe cases. Test for color change (in an inconspicuous area) before using on upholstery. Storage: Shelf life of the Odor Out Plus is one year in the concentrate form. After dilution the product should be used in 24 hours. DEODORIZER SELECTION CONSIDERATIONS Selection of the appropriate deodorizer for a specific application can be highly subjective, based on customer s desires and other related factors. Consider the following: 1. If there is a moisture problem, the moisture problem must be minimized or eliminated before satisfactory deodorization can be accomplished. 2. Customers expect rapid drying after hot water extraction. Digestive Agents (Odor Out Plus) are not effective in this short moisture period. The only benefit would be from the masking agent in the product. 3. Many odors, such as smoke, cooking odors, pet odors, etc., have penetrated walls, drapes, and upholstery, and will not be totally eliminated by deodorizing just the upholstery. 4. If the most appropriate deodorizer has been selected and applied, and the odor persists; it can be assumed that the deodorizer did not contact the total odor source. More effort should be taken to find the odor source before reapplication. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-7

65 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Protectors & Deodorizers 5. If a post application of deodorizer is necessary, and a protector is to be applied, the protector should be applied first. (This situation should be avoided if possible for rapid upholstery drying.) 6. If members of the household have allergies, deodorizers containing fragrances should usually not be used. DEODORIZER RECOMMENDATIONS Urine: For urine problems, using a Black Light and Moisture Sensor aids towards quality. The black light helps to isolate urine on the carpet face and upholstery (walls, baseboards). The moisture sensor isolates urine or dried salts that hold moisture under the carpet face. Use Odor Out Plus to provide the least expensive maintenance option. To increase our potential to eliminate odor, we must contact all affected areas. Skunk: Use the enzyme products if long drying time can be tolerated. These products will resolve the odor source. Use Odor-Zorb or Odor Out Plus for faster odor control by encapsulation with the same treatment procedures as urine. Dilute concentrates using ½ the normal amount of water. This odor penetrates walls, draperies, furniture, etc., so deodorization may not be complete. If you are called to a home where a dog or other pet has been sprayed by a skunk and entered the home follow these procedures: 1.) Do not make any promises of odor elimination. The skunk odor (which is butyl mercaptain) is volatile and is absorbed by carpet, upholstery, draperies, and to a lesser degree by wall coverings and other painted surfaces. 2.) We can improve the odor problem by cleaning the carpet and upholstery and applying Odor Out Plus to resolve the odor source. 3.) An application of a solution of Ascorbic Acid or Erythorbic Acid after cleaning will assist in odor removal. We do not stock these acids due to the very limited demand. Other acids such as citric or acetic are helpful, but not as effective. 4.) Odor Zorb may be used as a deodorizer if other products are not available. o Pet odor o Cooking odor o Smoking Smoke damage: Generally this is an airborne, pervasive odor, but usually Odor Out Plus or Odor-Zorb treatment of the area will give temporary results. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 7-8

66 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Leather Cleaning LEATHER FINISHING FOR UPHOLSTERY In the leather furniture industry there are many different types of finishes, color tones, and styles. Some types of finishes and color tones make it almost impossible to do a small, localized leather repair. The only alternative is a complete color restoration. It is even possible to change an aniline or nubuck to a protected leather. The task is not hard, but a technician would need the proper training, products and equipment to do the job correctly. Coloring Leather Pigmented leathers: This is the most common leather and the finish is made by leather paint, an opaque color leather dye. Solid color leathers are the easiest to repair and color match. On two-tone color, they must match the lighter color first and then apply the darker color over top. Aniline and Nubuck leathers: The color is achieved by using transparent leather dyes. This allows the natural markings of the hide to show through the finish. Aniline is the most expensive finish and has excellent softness. The Nubuck finish is achieved when the leather surface is brushed up to impart a soft feel. Anytime a leather repair is done on aniline or nubuck leather, it is hard to conceal the repair or make it less noticeable to the eye. Both leather types require special transparent leather dyes to color large areas. When making a small repair, they can use leather dye colorant to disguise the repair. In some cases, where there is large color loss from wear, sun fading, or damage, a complete color restoration must be done. Types of Leather Finishes Solid Color This is the most common and easiest to color match for small leather repairs. On large leather repairs or leather restoration, they can match or use a similar color to enhance the present color. Two-Tones This finish is a second color either sprayed lightly or hand wiped over the original color. Each method gives a distinct appearance to the leather. Metallic/Pearlized These finishes utilize metal flakes to reflect light and change the sheen of the leather. This can be done over any pigmented leather to give a special appearance. Transparent This finish is found on aniline and nubuck leather. The transparent leather dyes allow the natural marking and grain of the leather to show through. This finish is hand wiped or lightly sprayed over the leather. For sun fading, hand wiping the dye mix with leather protectant is done for restoration. Semi-Aniline or Hybrid In some cases, manufacturers have taken aniline leather and applied a light coat or hand-wiped a pigment dye or metallic finish over the surface. This gives the leather the characteristics of a pigmented leather. Usually this is done to help cover some type of imperfection in the leather. Wax & Oil Finishes These finishes are found on a very small percentage of leather goods. The leather is treated with a wax or oil. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 8-1

67 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Leather Cleaning LEATHER IDENIFICATION Protected (Top Coated / Painted / Pigmented) This is the most common leather type used in furniture, approximately 95% of the market. This leather has a uniform appearance and color. The leather has an intense color and a definite pattern (grain). You cannot see any natural leather markings through the top coatings, because a pigmented leather paint coat is applied to the surface. It is then sealed with a durable finish. Properly maintained, this finish will provide years of cleaning ability and durability. The identifying characteristics are: Uniform color and grain patterns Does not scratch easily Water drops will not change color Aniline Aniline leathers are top quality natural leathers in which the actual surface grain markings of the true leather (hide) are visible. They have very little or no protective treatments applied. Natural leathers can be classified as natural, pure, or unprotected and are usually colored with a transparent leather dye. A variety of clear finishes such as oil, wax, nitrocellulose and urethane protective coatings, which do not inhibit the softness or breathing of leather, are applied to the surface. These finishes allow the natural leather markings to show through the finish. Aniline leathers require different cleaning procedures than protected leather due to its porous nature. Also aniline leather furniture is prone to sun fading. NuBuck (Suede) These are natural Aniline leathers that have been surface brushed or buffed on the grain side of the leather creating a nap and leaving a texture similar to velvet, which are the softest of all leathers to the touch. Usually nubuck has a natural finish, but may have a light protective coat and a transparent leather dye for color. This process increases the leathers surface exposure making it extremely absorbent to body oils and soil, and difficult to clean effectively. The identifying characteristics are Very soft to the touch Will scratch or scuff very easily Water drops will darken the leather but it usually returns to its original color after drying Vinyl This is a man-made fabric of plastic and cloth. You can identify vinyl by its highly uniform grain pattern. The surface will have a slick feel to it. The backside of the vinyl is lined with a cloth/fabric backing. If you have any cracks or cuts, you can see the fabric backing, which is usually white in color. In order to clean and restore leather, the very first thing that you need to do is identify if it is leather, and if so what type it is. The three basic categories of leather, and one man-made fabric, you need to be aware of are: Protected Aniline NuBuck Vinyl Protected leather has an opaque "paint" finish as opposed to a transparent dye for aniline leathers. This gives aniline leathers a more "natural" finish. The characteristic nap of nubuck makes this type of leather easy to identify. The good news for you is that about 95% of SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 8-2

68 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Leather Cleaning upholstered furniture is protected leather or vinyl. This is good news because the leather cleaner that Stanley Steemer uses should only be used on protected leather or vinyl. This means that you should not attempt cleaning the leather upholstery if testing shows it to be aniline or nubuck. To Identify Protected Leather: Lightly scratch the surface in an inconspicuous area. If the color of the leather does not change it is Protected leather. The surface of the leather typically has a sheen to it. To Identify Aniline Leather: Lightly scratch the surface in an inconspicuous area. If the scratch leaves a lighter color, it may be Aniline or NuBuck. To further determine whether it is Aniline you need to wet a finger and rub it into the leather; if it darkens slightly but dries invisibly then it is Aniline leather. To Identify NuBuck Leather: Lightly scratch the surface in an inconspicuous area. If the scratch leaves a lighter color, it may be Aniline or NuBuck. To further determine whether it is NuBuck you need to wet your finger and rub it into the surface in an inconspicuous area; if it darkens and dries to a darker shade then it is NuBuck. The surface of NuBuck leather is like velvet so if you move your hand across the surface it should leave shading traces. To Identify Vinyl: Vinyl usually appears to be protected leather at first glance. The best way to inspect is to unzip a cushion and examine the backing. If it is a woven material, usually white in color, then it is vinyl. Also, depending on the thickness of the product, vinyl will stretch a lot more than leather will. Be careful here as some customers may be under the impression that they purchased leather furniture and will not accept that they have been fooled. If they insist that its leather, then it is leather and you can clean it using the leather cleaner. APPLYING STANLEY STEEMER LEATHER CLEANER As with all agents, apply a small amount to a clean white towel on an inconspicuous area, to see if color transfer occurs to the towel. If it does, allow it to dry, to see if there is a noticeable difference in appearance (fading). If so, bring it to the customer s attention to determine your next move. Directions for Testing with Stanley Steemer Leather Cleaner 1.) Shake the leather cleaner well before opening 2.) Pour out a small amount of the leather cleaner onto a soft cloth 3.) Apply it to a small inconspicuous area by rubbing onto the surface 4.) Wipe with a dry soft cloth over the area of application 5.) Wait for the area to dry (you can use a warm blow dryer) If the color or appearance of the leather doesn t change the leather can be cleaned. If the color or appearance of the leather does change, do not clean. Directions for Cleaning Leather with Stanley Steemer Leather Cleaner 1.) Shake the leather cleaner well before opening 2.) Pour a small amount of leather cleaner onto a soft cloth 3.) Apply it to the furniture in circular motion with the soft cloth 4.) Use a soft brush or horse hair brush to gently work the leather cleaner into the leather 5.) Continue steps 2-4 until finished 6.) Wipe and buff with a clean and dry soft cloth over all the entire area of application SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 8-3

69 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms This glossary is based on industry terms as defined in the IICRC S300 (Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Upholstery Cleaning). [ A ] abraded yarns - Continuous filament man-made yarns in which filaments have been cut or abraded at intervals and given additional twist to produce a certain degree of hairiness, so as to simulate the character of staple yarns. Abraded yarns are usually plied or twisted with other yarns. abrasion - The wearing away of a solid surface or coating material by friction. abrasion resistance: 1. The ability of a solid surface or coating material to resist abrasive wear. 2. The ability of a fabric to withstand surface wear, rubbing, chafing and other friction forces. abrasive wear - Wearing away the surface pile by friction or use generated by use. See also "shading, wear" absorb - To take or draw within, usually resulting in a physical change of the absorbing material. absorbent compound ("powder") cleaning A minimum moisture method used to clean moisture sensitive or non-colorfast fabrics. absorbent pad cleaning - A minimum moisture method of cleaning in which, following dry soil removal (vacuuming), detergent solutions are sprayed onto the fabric and onto an absorbent pad or "bonnet" made of cotton, rayon or combination thereof. The bonnet absorbs soil from the fabric as cleaning progresses. When one side of the bonnet becomes soil saturated, it is turned over and cleaning continues. When both sides of the bonnet become soil saturated, the bonnet is exchanged for a clean one; or the bonnet is rinsed before work continues. absorption: 1. The property of a fiber, yarn or fabric or other material which enables it to attract and hold gases or liquids within its pores by capillary, osmotic, solvent or chemical action. See "adsorption" 2. To take a substance into the body through surfaces such as the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or skin, and ultimately into body fluids or tissues. acetate - A low-cost, man-made (regenerated cellulose or cellulose acetate) fiber made by treating wood pulp with acetic acid, acetic anhydride and acetone, to produce a viscous, honey-colored liquid, which is extruded and hardened to form filaments. Acetate has good sun resistance and low moisture absorbency (dries rapidly, resists shrinkage), and is used in upholstery fabric, particularly as a blended fiber, and in lamp shades. It is easily abraded and weakened by strong solutions of alkalis, acids and oxidizing bleaches. Acetate is dissolved completely by acetone found in some nail polish removers. Where not less than 92% of the hydroxyl groups are acetylated, the term triacetate may be used as a generic description of the fiber. Triacetate is not produced in the U.S. because of environmental concerns. See also "rayon". acetic acid - A volatile, colorless, pungent liquid acid (C2H4O2) that is the chief acid of white vinegar (5% acetic, ph 3) and is used in the synthesis of acetate fiber. Many acid spotters are composed of 5 to 7% acetic acid. See also "glacial acetic" acetone - A volatile, flammable dry solvent (C3H60) used primarily to dissolve synthetic resins, such as nail polish, airplane glue, acrylic paint, etc. Acetone dissolves acetate fiber instantly! acid - Any chemical that undergoes dissociation in water with the formation of hydrogen ions. Its properties include the ability to react with bases or alkalis to form "salts." Acids have a bitter or sour taste and may cause severe skin burns. Acids turn litmus paper red and have ph values that are less than seven (7) on the ph scale. When fatty acids (organic) react with alkalis, a simple soap is formed. Many soils are acid in nature and thus, are more easily removed with alkaline solutions. acid dyes - Negatively charged coloring material used primarily on nylon fibers. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-1

70 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms acid washed -The process of altering dyes in fabrics by washing them with chemicals. Acrilan - Registered trademark of Monsanto (Solutia) for acrylic fiber. acrylic - A synthetic, thermoplastic, staple fiber that contains at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units. It is used primarily in clothing, blankets and upholstery fabrics. Basic building blocks for acrylic are natural gas and air. Like wool, acrylic has good bulking and insulating properties. As an upholstery fabric (usually latex backed) it performs very well and even resists damage from oxidizing bleaches, and dilute alkalis and acids. Common trade names include Acrilan, Creslan, Orion and Zefran. active ingredient - Those components of a compound or solution that enable it to perform a specific function, as opposed to inert ingredients that serve as fillers or extenders. For example, in most chlorine bleach solutions the active ingredient (5.25%) is sodium hypochlorite, while the inert ingredient (74.75%) is water. adsorbent - A material capable of adsorption. aesthetics - In textiles, properties perceived by touch and sight, such as the hand, color, luster, drape and texture of fabrics and garments. agent - An ingredient that causes activity or reactions to take place (e.g., a cleaning agent causes cleaning to occur). agitation - see "soil suspension principle" air entangling (also air-interlacing or commingling) - A system for producing yarn from BCF singles (primarily polypropylene or nylon), in which fibers are entangled by alternating jets of pressurized air. alcohol - A class of colorless, volatile, flammable, organic dry solvents containing one or more hydroxyl groups (OH). Alcohols are used as cosolvents in some cleaning or spotting compounds. The alcohols commonly used in light duty and liquid laundry detergents are isopropanol or ethanol (ethyl alcohol). In detergents, they control Viscosity, act as solvents for other ingredients, and provide resistance to freezing temperatures encountered in shipping, storage and use. Alcohols (isopropyl and ethyl) also may be used in a 60-90% concentration for disinfecting. aliphatic solvent - A non-polar dry solvent classification that includes solvents produced by refining petroleum products (e.g., odorless mineral spirits). alkali - Any soluble chemical substance that forms soluble soaps when mixed with fatty acids. Alkalis also are referred to as "bases," and they may cause severe skin burns. Alkalis turn litmus paper blue and have ph values that are above seven (7). alkaline builders (salts) - Chemical agents that are added to surfactants to enhance cleaning ability. Many alkaline builders (e.g., trisodium phosphate, sodium carbonate, sodium metasilicate, sodium tripolyphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.) are used alone or with surfactants to increase "detergency" in fabric and hard surface cleaning compounds. alkalinity - The property of water-soluble substances that causes the concentration of hydroxyl ions (OH-) in waterbased solutions to be higher than the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). Soap is mildly alkaline and detergents may be formulated with any desired degree of alkalinity. Denotes values above (but not including) 7 on the ph scale. See "alkaline builders" alpaca - A member of the camel family that is native to the high Andean regions of southern Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. alumina trihydrate - A chemical additive in SBR latex compounds that provides improved flame retardancy to fabrthemics, thus allowing it to conform to ASTM standards for flame spread. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-2

71 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms American Furniture Manufacturers' Association (AFMA) - A voluntary association of furniture manufacturers dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the furniture industry, and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of furniture manufacturers. ammonia - An alkaline gas composed of nitrogen and hydrogen to form ammonium hydroxide (NH3). Most ammoniated solutions used for spotting are 5-7%, while household ammonia (sudsing) is in a 5-10% range. Since ammonia is a gas suspended in water, it provides excellent alkalinity, while drying residue free and neutral in ph. Ammonia is included in some hard surface cleaner formulations to assist in degreasing, wax stripping and general soil removal. amyl acetate - An organic dry solvent (C7H1402 that is usually blended with other dry solvents and fatty acids to make non-volatile dry solvent (NVDS or POG) spotters. Amyl acetate is slower acting than acetone, but it is effective in removing similar types of spot contaminants; e.g., nail polish, acrylic paint, and airplane glue. Amyl acetate is safe to use on acetate fiber. angora - The soft hair of the Angora goat, native to Anatolia and Turkey, often called mohair. anhydrous - Free from or containing no water. aniline dye - In general, the term refers to an organic dye; however, it means an oily, poisonous, liquid amine, C6H5NH2, obtained chiefly by the reduction of nitrobenzene and used chiefly in making dyes. aniline dyed leather - Full grain leather colored with nontoxic aniline dye, rather than pigments or other opaque materials. Aniline dyes completely penetrate the hide so that color is uniform on both sides. Aniline Plus - Leather that has been aniline dyed and slightly pigmented with a clear top coat to ensure more even color consistency and protection against spills and stains. Also, this is known as Semi-aniline. animal dander - Tiny scales of shed animal skin. animal fibers - A term used to distinguish protein or natural fibers obtained from animals. Examples include: alpaca, angora, goat hair, camel hair, cashmere, cow hair, horse hair, fur, mohair, rabbit hair, silk, vicuna, etc. anion - Negatively charged ion. anionic surfactant - A surface active agent usually derived from reacting aliphatic hydrocarbons and alkalis to form a salt, and in which detergency and other properties depend in part on the negatively charged ion of the molecule. Anionic surfactants are sensitive to water hardness, and are particularly effective in emulsifying oily soils and in suspending particulates. Anionic surfactants are used widely in high-sudsing detergents. antichlor - A chemical used to neutralize chlorine bleach; e.g., reducers such as sodium bisulfite or sodium hydrosulfite. antique finish - Full-grain leather that generally is hand rubbed with black dye after the base coat has dried. This technique is used to bring out the natural markings in the hide and highlight the grain. antique satin A satin fabric with slubs in the yarns that appear to be irregularities. see "weaving (upholstery)" antistatic - The ability of a fabric or additive to disperse electrostatic charges and prevent the buildup of static electricity within textile fabrics (primarily nylon or wool). appearance - A description of a substance at normal room temperature and atmospheric conditions. Appearance may include the color, size, and consistency of a material. appearance retention - The ability of a fabric to retain its original aesthetics, color and construction integrity. applique - A decoration or design made separately, then embroidered, pasted, or sewn on a fabric. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-3

72 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms attached back - Upholstery style in which the back padding is in the form of a lightweight, non-woven material, into which various filling materials are placed. automobile leather - see "upholstery leather" [ B ] back coat - Adhesive applied to the back side of woven goods. The back coat serves to add strength and stability to the weave, while increasing its stiffness ("hand," or feel). backerboard - A low cost material that provides additional strength when installed behind thin surface materials. balanced - A term that describes cloth with the same size yarn and the same number of ends and picks in the warp and filling. base - see "alkali" basic finish - Treatment or process that alters or improves the surface appearance, function or texture of a fabric; e.g., mercerizing, calendering, glazing, moiré, shearing, cropping, embossing, sanding or beetling. basket weave - Two or more warp and weft yarns running parallel, which are woven as a plain weave. It is not as durable as a plain weave. bast fiber - a strong, woody fiber (e.g., hemp, jute, cotton, linen, ramie, sisal, pineapple) obtained from the phloem of higher plants and used in making cord, mats and yarns for woven fabrics. Cotton is a seed fiber; linen and hemp are stalk fibers, and pineapple is a leaf fiber. batch dyeing - A dye process in which textiles, usually from kg by weight, are loaded into a dyeing machine and dyed together. batik - Hand-printed material, colored by dipping into dyes of various hues. Portions of the fabric, which do not accept color, are made resistant by treating them with wax or other substances. batt - Fibers in a sheet form used in the manufacture of non-woven textile fabrics. BCF - see "Bulked Continuous Filament" beam: 1. Large horizontal cylinder or spool holding warp yarns that are ready to be fed into a weaving loom. Woven fabric may be wound onto a beam as it is made. 2. A large spool used to feed many face yarns (usually colored BCF) to a tufting or fusion bonding machine. See also "creel" beck - A vessel used in "batch dyeing" a loop of fabric or carpet (with ends sewn together) in "rope" or open-width form. The beck consists primarily of a large tank and a cylindrical reel that advances or rotates the fabric during dyeing. Dye becks may be operated at atmospheric pressure, or they may be pressurized to obtain elevated temperature (around 225 F / 107 C). See "dyeing" belly - Leather terminology indicating that part of a hide from the underside of an animal. bengaline - A densely woven fabric that originated in Bengal, India, with warp singles yarns, and heavier yarns forming ribs that are spaced at intervals running in the weft direction. It may be made of rayon, acetate, nylon, silk, cotton, wool or blends. It is often sized for increased stiffness. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-4

73 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms benzoyl peroxide - A bleaching agent (C14H10O4) commonly used in acne medications, adult fade creams and other cosmetics, which can progressively remove color from some fabrics. Its bleaching effect is often accelerated by moisture and/or heat. BHT -see "butylated hydroxy toluene" bicomponent (biconstituent) fiber - A fiber formed by spinning and joining two different polymers, such as nylon and polyester, simultaneously from one spinneret. birdseye - Cotton or linen cloth with a small geometric pattern that has a center dot resembling a bird's eye, which is woven on a dobby loom, often with filling yarns that are heavier and loosely twisted. bleach - A cleaning, sanitizing and color removing material that functions through a chemical reaction called oxidation. Bleaches often are used with detergents, or by themselves to break chemical, rather than physical bonds, as detergents do. Common bleaches used in cleaning are sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach), hydrogen peroxide, and sodium perborate, which converts to hydrogen peroxide when mixed with water. See also "oxidizing agent; reducing agent; sodium hypochlorite; hydrogen peroxide" bleeding - The migration or transfer of dyes within or from wet fabric, usually due to improper dyeing (fixing), from the use of poor dyestuffs, or from exposure to high-ph chemicals. Fabrics that bleed when wet may stain fabrics that come in contact with them; or color may be transferred from one portion of a multi-colored fabric to another. Also, floor tile (particularly asphalt) may bleed from an excessive concentration of floor stripper solution. blend - A mixture of two or more fibers in a yarn or fabric, or two or more yarns types in a fabric. Blends are used to achieve color mixtures, such as heathers, unusual dyeing variations or better performance. blending - Mixing batches or bales of staple fiber (often repeatedly) before they are carded, drafted, and spun into yarn. Blending is necessary for consistency in the final yarn and is a critical step to avoid streaks in a manufactured fabric. blue (in the blue) -Leather terminology applied to hides or skins that have been chrome-tanned, but not finished. body - The firm, full feel of a fabric. See also "hand" bolster - A loose pillow. bonded fabric Two fabrics that are permanently joined, usually a face fabric and a lining. Woven or knitted fabric from its urethane foam or backing material. bonnet cleaning - see "absorbent pad cleaning" border (boxing) - The 3-4" wide piece of fabric that surrounds many cushions on upholstered furniture, often bounded by piping. See also "piping" boucle - A flat, irregular-surfaced fabric, woven or knitted from twisted boucle yarns made of natural or synthetic fibers, which have small loops or curls; from French, "boucle," meaning "buckled" or "ringed." bow - Stretching into a curve: (see "skew"). Curvature of a textile fabric with respect to, or across the direction of manufacture. box cushion - A cushion construction in which two pieces of convoluted foam or wrap are glued to a center foam core. Also, a cushion construction where the top and bottom fabric panels are sewn with a fabric boxing around the perimeter. box pleat - A pleat formed by folding fabric back on itself, then folding back again in the opposite direction. It creates a partially hidden fabric panel. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-5

74 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms braid - Any material made from textile fibers and used for binding or trim. It usually comes in widths up to 3 to 4 inches, and may be woven round or tubular, or plaited flat. breaking strength - Maximum stretch that can be applied to a fiber, yarn or fabric before it breaks or separates. It is expressed as "pounds of force" applied to a standard sized specimen in an ASTM Grab Test. brightener - see "optical brightener" broadcloth - A tight, plain-woven lustrous cotton or cotton-blended fabric made with a crosswise rib, which are finer than those of poplin. brocade - A woven fabric in which raised patterns or engraved effects are created using heavy yarn tufts on a ground of lighter yarns, usually with the same color. Brocade upholstery fabric is woven on a jacquard loom and is characterized by low relief floral patterns and figures. They are often seen on period furniture or on antiques. Fibers used may include cotton, silk, rayon, acetate, metallic, nylon, and blends. The name brocade is derived from French, meaning "to ornament." brocatelle - A tightly woven, elaborate fabric produced on a Jacquard loom. It is a variation on brocade fabrics, in which the warp pattern stands in high relief from the background yarns, often forming "floats" as in a satin weave. The tight weave and "high relief' pattern distinguishes it from a brocade. browning - A yellow, red or brownish discoloration formed when cellulose, particularly jute with a high (24%) lignin content, is degraded in the presence of moisture. It results from overwetting cellulose, especially with hot alkaline solutions for prolonged periods (i.e., overwetting during cleaning followed by improper drying). Dissolved cellulosic components (lignin, beta-glucose) wick to the surface of fabrics where they remain when their water-based carrier evaporates. Browning is usually corrected with mild solutions of acetic or citric acid, or a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide (3%). buffer - Any substance in a solution that is capable of neutralizing both acids and bases, thereby maintaining the original ph of the solution when either acid or alkali is added. builder - A material used to enhance the cleaning efficiency of a detergent. This is accomplished either by sequestration, i.e. holding hardness minerals in solution, by precipitation, or by ion exchange. Builders also supply alkalinity, prevent suspended soils from redepositing during cleaning and emulsify oily or greasy soils. see "alkaline builder" built detergent - A cleaning product that contains both surfactants and alkaline builders. bulked continuous filament (BCF) - An abbreviated term used to identify yarns made of fibers that are extruded, drawn, crimped and gathered with other continuous filaments to make BCF yarn for fabric manufacture. bulking - Processing yarn, usually by mechanical means, to fluff it up and give more coverage with the same weight; also known as crimping, texturizing, and lofting. burlap - A coarse, canvas-iike fabric (sometimes called "gunny") usually made of jute, but it can be made of cotton or hemp. Burlap is used primarily in making sacks or bags, but it may be used in furniture, draperies and wall coverings. burn testing - A method used to identify fibers by observing the resulting flame (color, action, smoke), odor and ash (color, shape, hardness). Burn testing may not always be sufficiently accurate for conclusive determination of fiber content. burr: 1. A rough or prickly seed that becomes entangled in wool, and must be removed after shearing during the initial stages of carding. 2. An irregular, usually sharp spur that may develop on cleaning tools, which may damage SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-6

75 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms yarns or fabric if not removed prior to cleaning. butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) - A chemical agent (C1sH240) that serves as an ultraviolet inhibitor and antioxidizing compound when blended in polymer solutions. It is often used when forming polypropylene fibers (slit-film or spun polypropylene yarns). BHT was removed from most synthetic backing materials in 1985 when "yellowing" of face yarns was attributed to its presence. BHT may also be found in fabric adhesives and cushion, and in some back coating materials. butyl - see "ethylene glycol monobutyl ether" or "propylene glycol monobutyl ether" Butyl Cellosolve - A volatile, water-miscible dry solvent from the glycol classification that is used frequently in preconditioning and degreasing products. see "ethylene glycol monobutyl ether" [ C ] cabled yarn - Yarn formed by twisting together two or more plied yarns. This term is commonly used to describe relative large yarns of two or more plies. CAD - computer aided design. A tool used by textile designers and stylists that enables them to use a computer to design and color fabrics electronically. The CAD process speeds product development. calendering - Passing cloths between one or more rollers, or calenders, usually with carefully controlled heat and pressure, to produce a variety of surface effects or textures in fabrics. Calender finishes include moiré, glazed, friction, chased or water-marked. calorific - The heat generating property of light, especially sunlight, which accelerates chemical degradation of fabrics or dyes. See also "actinic" cambric - Originally, a thin white linen fabric, but today the term refers to any plain-woven (cotton or cotton/polyester), relatively inexpensive fabric used primarily for linings or coverings on upholstered furniture (e.g., platform covering, skirt liner, cushion cover). camelback - A sofa or chair with a serpentine line at the top back, that creates a "camel hump" effect. canvas Cotton, linen, or synthetic fabric made with an even weave in heavy and firm weights for sails, upholstery, awning covers, and industrial purposes. card - A machine used in the processing of staple yarns. Its functions are to separate, align (parallel) and deliver staple fibers in a "sliver" form. This machine incorporates large, counter rotating drums that are covered with "carding fabric" (many projecting wire teeth) for this important function in yarn spinning. carding - The process of passing fibers between rollers with steel wires to help align them. Carding opens and aligns staple fibers in a parallel configuration to produce uniform, constant density slivers for delivery to yarn spinning frames. Carding also helps remove impurities and unusable (short) fibers from natural fiber stock (cotton, wool). carrier - A product added to a dye bath to promote the dyeing of hydrophobic man-made fibers and characterized by affinity for, and ability to swell, the fiber. catalyst - A substance that initiates a chemical reaction and allows it to continue under less than favorable conditions. cation - Positively charged ion. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-7

76 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms cationic dyeable - Nylon polymer that has been modified chemically to make the fiber receptive to cationic (basic) dye. Cationic dyeable yarns are used in conjunction with acid dyeable yarns to create multicolor graphic patterns in piece dyeing. cationic surfactant - A surface active agent in which detergency and other properties depend in part on the positively charged ion of the molecule. Cationic surfactants are marginal cleaners; but they have other properties that allow them to perform effectively as disinfectants, antimicrobials, antistatic compounds, etc. The most common cationic surfactants are known as quaternary ammonium chloride compounds, such as alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. These are widely used as disinfecting and sanitizing products. cattlehide leathers - Leathers made from the hides of cows, steers, and bulls. caustic - The property of a chemical (usually a base) that enables it to burn, corrode, dissolve or eat away other substances. When the term caustic is used alone, it usually refers to sodium hydroxide, which is used in manufacturing hard soap. It also refers to caustic potash (potassium hydroxide), which is used in manufacturing soft soap. see "alkali," and "sodium, potassium hydroxide caustic soda - see "sodium hydroxide" cc - cubic centimeter - A volume measurement in the metric system that is equal in capacity to one milliliter (ml), or approximately 20 drops. There are 16.4 cc in one cubic inch of air volume. cellulose - A polysaccharide of glucose units that is the basic building block of plant cells (See also "cotton; jute"). Also used as a basic raw material in the manufacture of rayon and acetate. About 96% of cotton fiber is cellulose. cellulose acetate - Filaments spun from acetic acid ester of cellulose, which have been solidified from a spinning solution when pumped through a spinneret. cellulosic browning - see "browning" cfm - see "cubic feet per minute" chaise lounge -A double or couch chair. chemical resistance The ability of a fiber, fabric, or material to resist the damaging or staining effects of various categories of chemicals; e.g., acids, alkalis, oxidizers, dry solvents, or other chemical agents. chenille - A pile fabric made by sewing rows of surface yarns in a fur or caterpillar form through strong, plain-woven cotton backing. In upholstery fabrics, pile yarns are usually cut, rather than loop, and may be made of cotton, wool, rayon, or silk. chevron - Herringbone weaves or prints in zig-zag stripes. chintz - Plain woven, usually printed, cotton, polyester, rayon or blended fabric treated with durable or non-durable resins, and glazed or set with hot rollers or heat curing. Also known as "glazed" or "polished" cotton, chintz has a high-gloss appearance. The non-durable glaze is usually made of wax and starch compounds set with hot rollers; while the durable glaze consists of urea or melamine resins that are applied and heat cured. The glazed finish may be dulled with abrasive use, body oils, or aggressive cleaning. chlorinated solvent - An organic, non-polar dry solvent that contains chlorine atoms (e.g.,perchloroethylene, trichlorethylene, l' 1, 1-trichloro-ethane). chlorine bleach - Strong oxidizing agents that have one or more chlorine atoms in their molecular makeup. Liquid chlorine bleach products for home use (e.g., Clorox, Purex ) are normally 5.25% solutions of sodium hypochlorite (NaCIO); 6% in Canada (Javex ). Chlorine bleach also may be found in bathroom cleansers, dish washing compounds, and powdered laundry detergents (potassium or sodium dichloroisocyanurate). Chlorine bleach should not be used with silk, wool, chlorine sensitive dyes and on certain stains, such as rust, which it can set. In a 1/2-1% SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-8

77 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms solution (mixed 1 :9 or 1 :4), chlorine bleach is an effective germicide. The addition of ammonia or acids to chlorine bleach liberates toxic chlorine gas. chrome tanned - Leather tanned with chromium salts, resulting in soft mellow upholstery leather. circling - Rings or spots resulting from uneven wetting, or from "wicking" of moisture into home decor fabrics (upholstery, draperies) from damp carpet. circular knit - Weft-knit fabric made on a circular needle-bed knitting machine, which creates material in a tubular form. Space dyeing uses circular knit material, applying dyes with rollers at intervals. see "space dyeing" cisele - A form of velvet with a distinct pattern formed by contrasting cut and uncut loops of yarn. citric acid - An organic acid (C6H807) used in cleaning, primarily to neutralize alkalinity, and prevent or correct browning, yellowing or general discolorations resulting from cellulose degradation, or chemical reaction discolorations. cleanability - The ability of a textile fabric to release soil and stains without damage to the fiber, color or backings when cleaned using appropriate processes. cleanability codes - see "colorfastness codes" cleaning - The traditional activity of removing contaminants, pollutants and undesired substances from an environment or surface to reduce damage or harm to human health or valuable materials. Cleaning is the process of locating, identifying, containing, removing and properly disposing of unwanted substances from an environment or material. cleat - Any strip of material attached to the surface of another material to strengthen, support or secure a third material. coated fabric - Fabrics that have been coated with a substance to make them longer lasting or resistant to water or other liquids. Coating substances or materials might include: oil, pyroxylin, rubber, resins, melamines, and plastics. Coated fabrics include imitation leathers. coir (kore) - a stiff coarse fiber from the outer husk of a coconut. colloidal alumina - The basic ingredient for several anti-static treatments. See also "colloidal silica" colloidal silica - A basic ingredient for particle soil retardants. color breakdown - A situation in which incorrect dyeing methods or defective dyes cause a color change over a period of time. colorfastness - The ability of a fiber or fabric containing dyestuffs or pigment to resist breakdown according to manufacturer and government test standards, under ultraviolet light exposure, wet crocking, dry crocking, cleaning, or atmospheric contaminants. colorfastness codes - An ASTM labeling system used by furniture manufacturers to assist consumers in determining colorfastness to spotting/cleaning agents. In essence, the codes are: "W" "S" "W-S" "X" Dyes are stable to water-based spotters/cleaners Dyes are stable to dry solvent-based spotters/cleaners Dyes are stable to either water or dry solvent-based spotters/cleaners Dyes are not stable in either water or dry solvent-based spotters/cleaners These codes have evolved into a cleaning designation system: "W" meaning wet clean; "S" meaning dry solvent clean; "W-S" meaning clean with water or dry solvents, and "X" meaning vacuum only. These codes in no way suggest that careful testing and evaluation on the part of the cleaning technician is not required. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-9

78 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms color matching - The proper coordination of color hues and shade depth. Critical to color matching are: the light under which colors are compared; the surface texture of the object being cleaned and the surface luster of the object being matched. color remover - Reducing agents that are sufficiently reactive to remove color or stains from textile fabrics without destroying the textiles themselves. combination fabric - Fabric that uses combination yarns. combination yarn - Yarn that is composed of two or more yarns having different fibers (blended), or different twist levels; i.e., one yarn may have a high twist; the other, little or no twist (e.g., frieze). combing - Removing short fibers -those less than 1 ¼ -and impurities from staple that has been carded. Combed yarn is superior to carded yarn in that there are fewer short fibers to make the yarn appear "hairy." see "pin drafting" combustible - Able to catch fire and burn. According to DOT combustible materials have a flashpoint between 141 and 200 F (60-93 C). see "flammablity" commodity yarn - Yarn that is not warranted by the manufacturer to have special attributes or value. Generally, it is less expensive than branded yarn. compound - A combination of substances, which results in a reaction that forms a new substance that differs from either of its components. concentrate - The undiluted form of a product that is normally mixed with water. concentration - The relative amount of a substance when combined or mixed with other substances. Examples: 2 ppm hydrogen sulfide in air, or a 50% caustic solution. conditioning - Bringing a textile sample to moisture equilibrium within a specified atmosphere, prior to performing certain tests. construction: 1. The method by which fabric (e.g., tufted, woven, bonded carpet or upholstery) is manufactured. 2. The sum of a fabric's components, including fiber type, total density, method of dyeing, etc. continuous dyeing - see "dyeing" continuous filament - Continuous strand of synthetic fiber extruded, drawn, crimped and bundled with other continuous filament fibers to make yarn directly from the extruder, without the need for spinning, as is required by all natural (or synthetic staple) fibers. Any synthetic fiber may be made in a continuous filament form, and silk is the only "natural" fiber that may be loosely termed "continuous filament." corded fabric - One in which there is a discernable filling-rib in the material; e.g., bengaline, grosgrain, Ottoman, poplin, taffeta. corduroy - A raised, cut-pile fabric formed with one warp and two filling rows, that form ribs or wales that run lengthwise. One of the two filling rows interweaves with the warp chain to form a base or "ground" fabric, while the other attaches with some warp yarns but floats over three or four others. After weaving, the float yarns are cut, and the pile is brushed ("tigering") to form the velvet-like cords. Older corduroys were made of cotton, but today, they may be made of cotton, polyester, acrylic, or blends. core-spun yarn - A compound structure consisting of a readily separable core surrounded by fiber, and suitable for use as a yarn. corrected grain - Leather on which the outer surface of the grain has been lightly removed by sanding. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-10

79 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms cotton - A soft, white, naturally twisted vegetable (cellulosic) fiber, dating back to 3000 B.C., obtained from the seed of the cotton plant. When processed (ginned, carded, combed), cotton fiber consists of 95-99% cellulose and 1-5% binding gum called lignin. Cotton is highly absorbent and is easily dyed and printed with a variety of colors and designs. It wrinkles easily and is flammable and susceptible to attack by mildew. It is frequently encountered in upholstery fabrics as the sole or blended fiber. Upholstery and other cotton fabrics may be mercerized (increases strength and luster), Sanforized (reduces shrinkage), glazed (chintz), or treated for flame, wrinkle or stain resistance. "Cotton" also is the term used for thread or fabric made from cotton. cotton count - The numbering system based on length and weight, originally used for cotton yarns and now employed for most staple yarns. It is based on a unit length of 840 yards, and the count of the yarn is equal to the number of 840 yard skeins required to weigh one pound. Under this system, the higher the cotton count number, the finer the yarn. A three's cotton count that has been two-plied is written 3.0/2 c.c. cotton linters - Short fiber stock ( < ") that is used to make absorbent cotton, rayon, celluloid and other products from the short fibers that remain on the cotton seed after ginning. cotton, long staple - Cotton fiber not less than 1 " long, usually considered premium grade. count (cloth, fabric count) - The number of ends and picks per inch in a woven fabric, or the number of wale loops and course loops per inch in knitted fabric. course - The row of stitches across a knitted fabric, which corresponds to the weft or filling in woven goods. cover - The outer fabric on upholstered furniture. cowhide leather - A term applied specifically to leather made from hides of cows, although it also is generally used to designate any leather tanned from hides of animals of the bovine species. creasing - The formation of folds, wrinkles or ridges in textile materials, especially those which adversely affect the appearance or performance of the material during use (following manufacture or installation). see "wrinkles" creel - A frame or rack that holds hundreds (thousands) of cones of yarn. The yarn is fed from the creel through plastic tubing to the needles of a tufting machine. crepe - A variety of lightweight fabrics characterized by a crinkly surface that is obtained either by use of hard twist yarns, chemical treatments, weave, construction, or some form of embossing or surface treatment. cretonne - A plain, twill or satin weave made of twisted, round yarns and usually printed with large designs. It usually contains some foreign matter that adds to the natural appearance of the finished weave. Today, it may be made of cotton, silk, polyester, rayon, linen, or blends of fibers. Wet cleaning may cause crocking or bleeding of dyes. crewel - A plain woven fabric base (usually cotton) with a raised surface design, usually created with bulky wool yarns, embroidered into the base fabric. crimp - A non-linear configuration (waviness) in fiber, such as sawtooth, zig-zag, or random curl relative to the fiber axis. crimping (bulking, texturizing) - Processing yarn, usually by heat and mechanical pressure, to fix a wavy texture and increase bulk and coverage. Crimping also aids in holding staple yarns together. crocking - Term used to describe the wet or dry transfer of excess color, rubbing off as the result of improper dye penetration or fixation, the use of improper dyes or dyeing methods, or insufficient washing (rinsing) and treatment after dye application. Generally, dyes are transferred from the crocking fabric or material to another fabric or surface. Crocking is easily detected by wiping a clean, white cloth over an unused portion of the fabric (avoids soil transfer) times. Samples are required for confirmation of crocking. cross-dyed - Multicolored effect produced in fabric with fibers having different dye affinities. see "dyeing" SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-11

80 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms crosslinked polymer - Long chain, complex chemical polymer molecules which have crosswise connections with other polymers; e.g., crosslinked adhesives, plastics, etc. cross section - The shape of an individual filament when cut at right angles to its axis. crushed leather - Leather, which has had the natural grain accentuated during manufacture by plating, boarding, or other processes; artificially grained. crushed velvet - A pile weave with intentional distortion in the face yarn. The crushed effect is set with resins or sizing, which can be removed with use or with cleaning. crush marks (roll crush) - Bands of flattened pile usually running across the width of rolled, pile fabrics, such as velvet upholstery. Crush marks develop when fabrics are rolled while fibers are hot, or, most likely, when subjected to excessive weight or heat during shipping or storage. Generally, crush marks or bands become lighter and narrower, and closer together as they progress toward the center of the roll. See also "bands" crust - Leather that has been tanned, dyed, and dried, but not finished. cut - A length of fabric. cut velvet - Velvet, made on a Jacquard loom, which has a cut-out pattern. [ D ] Dacron -A registered trademark of DuPont for polyester. damask - A figured, reversible woven fabric made on a Jacquard loom. Introduced to the Western world by Marco Polo in the 13th century, it was named from Damascus, the center of fabric trade between the East and West. It is characterized by float yarns running in both the warp and filling direction to form different portions of the satin design. When the fabric is reversed, the satin designs formed by warp and filler yarns are reversed. It is distinguished from a brocade, which is not reversible, nor is it as lustrous. deck (platform) - The top layer of the seat area upon which loose cushions are placed. deflected needle - see "needle deflection" defloculation - In cleaning, this term refers to separation of soil from a surface on which it is deposited, normally accomplished with detergent action. defoamer - A liquid or powdered material (usually silicone based) that suppresses or inhibits the formation of foam during cleaning (especially hot water extraction). degrade: 1. To impair with respect to some physical property of a material (e.g., texture, color, surface properties). 2. To reduce a chemical in terms of complexity. To break down into simpler compounds. degreaser - An aggressive detergent compound or dry solvent designed to be used primarily on heavy, oily soils. Degreasing activity is usually achieved by adding alkaline builders or dry solvents to basic surfactants. delustered fiber (yarns) - Subduing or dulling the natural luster of synthetic fibers (primarily) by the addition of pigment (titanium dioxide), or by physical means. Fiber producers' designations of such fibers include: dull, semidull and semi-bright, with bright fibers being non-delustered. denier: 1. fiber -The weight in grams of 9000 meters of filament. Generally, the lower the denier, the finer the fiber. The higher the denier, the coarser the fiber. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-12

81 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms 2. yarn -Fiber denier multiplied by the number of fibers comprising the yarn. denim - A twill weave fabric made of coarse, highly twisted yarns, and calendared to provide a flat smooth finish. Most denim is made of cotton fiber, occasionally blended with polyester. detergent - A cleaning agent. Usually, the term detergent refers to a prepared compound that may include surfactants, builders, dry solvents, softeners, brighteners, fragrances, etc. but does not include true soap. see "anionic, cationic, detergency, nonionic" differential dyeing - Fibers having different dye affinities (dye variant fibers) are mixed together to produce multicolor textiles from a single dyeing. digester - An enzyme used to break down complex protein molecules that cause stains or odor. digestion -The biochemical decomposition of organic matter. dilute - Making a substance less concentrated by the addition of gas or liquid. dilution ratio - The ratio at which a cleaning agent is diluted in water for its recommended effective use, often expressed as a number such as 1:128, referring to parts of chemical dissolved in parts of water (e.g., 1:128 = 1 part chemical to 128 parts water). dimensional stability - The ability of a textile to retain or maintain its size and shape when subjected to mechanical action, changes in ambient humidity and/or temperature, or when soaked with water and dried. In fabrics, dimensional stability also may be achieved by the application of a back coat. dirt -see "soil" discoloration - A condition in which existing dye structures have been altered or removed. disperse dye - An organic dye originally used for acetate, but today, finding wide use in dyeing some nylon, acrylic and, especially, polyester fibers. Although disperse dyes are not soluble in water (like pigment), they are supplied in a finely ground form that will disperse in water. Disperse dyes are held onto fiber surfaces by friction and strong electrical forces and, for the most part, are unaffected by cleaning and many color removing agents. dispersing agent - A wetting agent (detergent or other chemical) that accelerates the uniform diffusion of dye molecules throughout a dye bath. distortion - Any of several alterations in the appearance of textile surfaces. d'limonene - A dry solvent (C10H16) with a citrus fragrance that is used in some preconditioning and spotting agents to aid in emulsifiying oils. dobby loom - A type of loom on which small, geometric figures can be woven in as a regular pattern. It differs from a plain loom in that it may have up to 32 harnesses and a pattern chain. do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaning Cleaning accomplished by non-professional fabric owners. dope dyed -see "solution dying" double-cloth construction - A fabric made with a plain or twill weave, or in combinations of weaves. Two cloths are woven on the loom at the same time, with one being made on top of the other, sometimes linked together by binder yarns. Double-cloth constructions may have a plain-weave face, a twill-weave back, and a satin-weave stitching arrangement. down (goose) - Stuffer material made from the feathers of geese. drawing: SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-13

82 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms 1. Stretching synthetic fiber immediately after extrusion in order to align and strengthen polymer molecules. It is during drawing that fibers polymer molecules are oriented so that they have greater tensile strength. 2. Elongation of sliver (combed staple fiber strands) in the yarn spinning process, prior to being twisted into yarn singles. drawing in - Process of drawing in warp yarns from the warp beam, through heddle eyes of the harness frame, and then through the reed splits of the reed of the loom. A plan is followed so that the actual weave from design paper is produced in the woven cloth. drop match - A pattern that continues across the fabric diagonally or at a 45 angle to the edge of a seam. Also see "match" drum dyed - A dyeing process in which leather is immersed in dye and tumbled in a rotating drum, thus ensuring maximum dye penetration. dry cleaning - A cleaning process in which organic solvents, such as chlorinated or aliphatic hydrocarbons and a dry solvent compatible detergent, are used as the cleaning medium, rather than water. dry foam cleaning - A minimum-moisture cleaning method in which, following dry soil removal (vacuuming), a dense foam is produced within a dry foam machine through mechanical aeration of liquid detergent. The foam is distributed via brush action. As the machine moves over the fabric, foam is applied, it is agitated for soil suspension, and the excess foam (along with suspended soil) is extracted by means of a wet vacuum, often incorporated into the same machine. dry rot - The slow, progressive deteriorating effect of microorganisms (fungi) over a period of time under minimummoisture conditions on organic (especially cellulosic) textile fibers. Eventually, dry rot causes a loss of strength and fabric integrity. dry solvent - A non-water liquid (hydrocarbon) that has an ability to dissolve oils, greases, etc. dry soil removal principle -see "principles of cleaning" duck - A closely woven, heavy material that is one of the most durable fabrics made. The term actually covers a wide range of fabrics. dust cover - An inexpensive spun or plain woven fabric that covers the bottom of upholstered furniture or box springs. Originally made of non-colorfast cotton cambric, most of today's dust covers are made of spun polypropylene. see "Typar " dwell time - see "soil suspension principle" dye - A soluble, color absorbing/reflecting material. Dyes differ in: their resistance to sunlight, perspiration, cleaning agents, atmospheric gases; their solubility; their affinity for differing fibers; and their method of application. See also "pigment" dye band - see "band" dye beck - A large, cylindrical vat into which rolls of fabric are submerged for piece (batch) dyeing. dye blocker -Napthalated phenolic compounds that block dye sites on nylon fibers to prevent staining by acid dyes. see "acid dye blocker" dyeing - The process of coloring materials, or impregnating fibers with dye-stuffs (chemical dye) or pigment (reflective particles). Dye application may be plain (single colored fibers or yarns), tonal (different colored fibers or yarns but no distinct pattern), or patterned (a readily defined area of two or more colors, or of single colors present in areas of different structure or texture in a predetermined pattern). dye level defects - Uneven application of dyes cross a fabric's width. see "bands" SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-14

83 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms dye site - An irregular, electrically charged area on the surface of a fiber which has an affinity for dye. dye streak - Relatively long, narrow variations in color running in a lengthwise direction and usually associated with continuous dyeing. Dye streaks may be caused by defective or partially blocked applicator jets, something rubbing over the fabric during continuous dyeing, or even creases or folds in the fabric during continuous dyeing or rope beck dyeing (length or diagonal streaks). see "streak" dyestuff - A water-soluble or insoluble, highly-colored substance that is capable of permanent physical or chemical attachment to textile fibers, generally having an affinity for a specific fiber type. Most dyestuffs are applied from water-based solutions. The primary types of dyestuff are: pigment, reactive, vat, naphthol, and disperse. see "dye types" [ E ] elasticity - The ability of a textile fiber to "recover" when released from tension or stretch. electrostatic flocking - see "flocking" elongation - An increase in length or deformation of a fiber, measured as a percentage of the original length, resulting from stretching. embossed leather - Hides or skins finished with designs stamped on by etched, engraved, or electrotyped plates or rollers. Embossing is used extensively on fancy pocketbook leather, upholstery and bag leathers, as well as splits and on shoe upper leather. Embossed designs may be an imitation of the natural grain of different animal skins, or designs of an artificial nature. embossing: 1. A surface effect achieved on fabric by passing cloth through a series of engraved rollers that use heat and pressure to produce figures or designs on the fabric's surface. 2. Impressing a pattern onto the surface of a hide to create a motif or texture. A very even and uniform pattern is created, possibly to disguise natural defects or blemishes, or to create visually exciting designs. embroidery - Ornamental needlework, produced by hand or machine, that consists of designs worked on fabric in silk, cotton, metalized or other threads. emulsification - The process of dispersing one liquid into another liquid with which it is immiscible; the action of breaking up fats, oils and other lipids into small particles that remain suspended within a cleaning solution until extraction may be accomplished. emulsion - Two or more liquids that do not dissolve in each other but are held in suspension, one in the other. A colloidal dispersion of one liquid within another (usually lipids or oils in water) without forming a compound or solution; e.g., milk is animal fat emulsified in water. see "emulsification" end: 1. An individual warp yarn in woven fabric. 2. An individual pile yarn in tufted fabric. 3. A roll end or short length (remnant) of fabric. see "remnant" end-on-end - Woven fabric with two colors alternating in the warp direction, usually one in color and the other white. engineered pattern - Fabric with more than one type of pattern repeated over the length of the fabric. epidermis: 1. The outer epithelial layer of a skin. The epidermis is the nonsensitive, nonvascular layer that covers the dermis. 2. The outer layer of overlapping scales on the surface of wool fiber. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-15

84 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms exhaustion - The process of dye molecules leaving a dye liquor completely and becoming fixed on fiber dye sites. In theory at least, when dyes are completely exhausted and properly fixed on fibers, the resulting effluent should be colorless. extraction cleaning - see "hot water extraction; steam cleaning" extrusion - The process of forcing (pumping) the liquefied raw materials (polymers) that make up fibers through a spinnerette to form filaments when cooled and/or dried. The cross section of the fiber is determined by the shape of the spinnerette opening. [ F ] fabric - In the broadest sense, any woven, knitted, plaited, braided, felted, tufted, or non-woven material made of fibers or yarns. fabric marker - A marker of all pattern parts, laid out for use in cutting fabric for upholstered furniture. fabric pattern direction: 1. Parallel to the selvage applies to any fabric whose design, stripe, plaid, or stria direction is perpendicular to the selvage. 2. Perpendicular to the selvage will apply to any fabric whose design, stripe, plaid, or stria direction is perpendicular to the selvage. Occasionally, there will be an exception to the above guidelines, in that the fabric cutting direction will be specified opposite to that of the fabric pattern direction; e.g., a stripe with parallel fabric pattern direction cut perpendicular to the selvage to obtain a horizontal application. fabric softener - An additive (usually cationic) that provides fabrics with a softer "hand" or feel. Fabric softeners also reduce static electricity build-up in fabrics. fabric protector - Materials that enhance the performance of fibers or fabrics, especially in the area of soil/stain retardancy/repellency. face (fiber, yarn) -Those fibers (yarns) extending above the primary backing or base fabric. see "pile" fadeometer - A laboratory testing device used to determine the amount of color loss a fabric has sustained, after being subjected to a xenon arc lamp (simulated sunlight) for a specified number of hours. fading - Gradual, irreversible loss of color intensity, usually due to exposure to light (actinic radiation, especially direct sunlight); or from contact between dyes and various soils or oxidizing gases (ozone); or fumes from certain liquids (oxides of nitrogen, sodium hypochlorite), etc. Fading may occur locally or throughout a fabric, depending on exposure to outside agents and airflow. Windows and the general orientation of the structure may be a contributing factor, since the greatest potential for sun fading is from a Southwest exposure with the least being from a north or northwest exposure. fake fur - Fake, simulated or man-made furs are fabrics that appear to be animal skins. Most are woven or knitted fabrics made of mohair, wool, rayon, acrylic, and blends of fibers. fastness - The property of a dye which allows it to retain its color when the dyed textile is exposed to light, abrasion, atmospheric gases, cleaning or other color destroying agents (e.g., lightfastness, washfastness). Dyestuff, fiber type and dyeing method all influence the ability of colored textiles to withstand the effects of color destroying agents. fatliquoring - The process of replacing the oils that have been leached from the hide during processing. fat wrinkle - Natural wrinkles in leather grain that are a part of its unique beauty. These are only visible in top-grain leathers. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-16

85 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms felting - The tendency of wool fibers to intertangle and mat when subjected to excessive traffic or agitation. fiber - A generic term for any natural or synthetic strand or filament that is strong enough to be used in thread or yarn in the manufacture of a textile product. Important properties of fibers include elasticity, fineness, uniformity, durability, soil resistance and luster. fiber characteristics: 1. chemical -Includes reaction to bleaches, dyes, light, heat, metallic salts, fungi, oxidizing agents, reducers, acids, alkalies, water, swelling capacity, etc. 2. physical - Includes abrasion resistance, capillarity, penetrability, cohesion, color, composition, conductivity of heat, crimp, diameter, fineness, elasticity, elongation, breaking point, flexibility, hygroscopy, length, luster, appearance, resiliency, tensile strength, texture, twist, wearability, etc. filament - A single strand of fiber, natural or synthetic. Natural fiber filaments must be spun into yarns, and synthetic filaments may be extruded directly into yarn form. see "BCF; staple" filling pile fabric - Cloth formed by floating extra picks on the surface of goods. The floats are cut in or out of the loom to form the tufts of pile; e.g., corduroy. The filling-pile yarn on the surface of the fabric does not always have to be cut. filling yarn (also "weft" and "stutter") - Yarns that are interlaced with warp yarns to form a woven fabric; also, called the "pick" or "filling pick," and often confused with "woof," the English term for warp. The filling yarn goes from side to side (selvage to selvage). fineness - A characteristic of fibers referring to the thickness measured in microns, centimeters or fractions of an inch. Fineness does much to determine the end use of a fiber. finish - A term that describes treatment of a fabric to impart a desired surface effect calendered, embossed, lacquered, napped, mercerized, Sanforized, etc. Some add luster; some create a dull effect. They often contribute to the feel or "hand" of a fabric. finishing: 1. The end-processes through which fabric passes following construction and dyeing, in preparation for marketing and use by consumers. Finishing may include back coating, curing, application of chemical additives (protectors), shearing, inspection, cutting, rolling, wrapping, storage, etc. 2. In leather, any processing performed after the initial dyeing, such as: buffing, embossing, flame proofing, milling, spraying, waterproofing, waxing, etc. fireproofing - According to the FTC, for a fabric to be classified as fireproof, it must resist fire or flames 100%. If merely treated to prevent the spread of flames, the term used is "fire resistant. fire-rated - A rating (F.R.R.) given to a specific material after laboratory tests. The term applies to finished structural systems. fire retardant - A chemical agent or finish that makes fabrics retard or resist burning. flame retardancy - see "alumina trihydrate" flammability - The ability of a material to ignite easily and burn rapidly. This term is used to classify certain liquids on the basis of their flash point. see "flammable liquid, gas, solid" flat knit - weft knit fabric made on a flat-bed knitting frame with needles in a straight line, as distinguished from a tubular fabric made on a circular frame. flax - A slender, erect plant cultivated for its bast fiber, used in making linen. see "linen" fleece - Wool shorn from sheep or any animal whose fur is classified as wool. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-17

86 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms flexibility -The ability of a material to bend without breaking. Flexibility varies with temperature. float - Yarns that rise and pass over two or more adjacent warp yarns, to form a satin weave or other effect. flock - Short fibers attached to a fabric surface with adhesive. flocked velvet - A fabric made by electrostatically implanting short pieces of nylon fiber into an adhesive coating on a plain woven cotton, polyester or combination base fabric. The final fabric simulates a velvet weave, although it isn't as durable. Flocked velvets are easily damaged by abrasive wear and exposure to dry solvents {wet clean only). Oily soils in armrest areas eventually damage the adhesive resulting in fiber loss. flocking - A textile construction technique in which short, or chopped fiber ("flock") is implanted or adhered to a latex precoated backing fabric, usually by electrostatic processes. Fabric constructed by this method is a short-pile material with a velvety texture that has a primary backing only. flounce - A ruffle or strip of fabric running along the base of upholstered furniture that is attached (usually stapled) to the frame by the flounce's the upper edge only. fluffing (shedding): 1. Appearance of loose individual fibers or fiber fragments, usually on the surface of new fabric, which are left after manufacture; not a defect, but a characteristic that disappears (within six months or less) after fabric is used and vacuumed. See also "fuzzing" 2. Back brushing velvet pile upholstery fabric with a velvet finishing or "carding" brush following cleaning and drying, to separate fibers and restore a soft texture. fluorescent whitening agent - see "optical brightener" fiuorochemical soil/stain repellent Fabric protectors that serve as soil retardants, and as water and oil-based stain repellents at the same time. see "fabric protectors" formic acid - An colorless, pungent, fuming liquid organic acid (CH2O2), which, in concentrated form, is used to identify nylon fiber (particularly in yarn blends) by completely dissolving a small sample or tuft. formula - The conventional scientific designation for a material {e.g., the chemical formula for water is H2O; sulfuric acid is H2SO4; sulfur dioxide is SO2; etc.). FR - see "flame retardant" frames (creel) - Racks at back of the Wilton loom holding spools from which yarns are fed into the loom. Each frame holds separate colors; thus, 3-frame Wilton has three colors in the design. fraying - The loss of yarn from a fabric edge or from a backing material; or a loss of the backing material itself. frieze (pronounced "free-zay") - A coarse pile plain or jacquard weave, with rough, fuzzy face yarns. It is durable and wears well. Originally made of wool, today's frieze may be made of a variety of natural, synthetic or blended fibers. fringe - decorative trim used in place of piping or skirts on upholstered furniture. FRR - "fire resistance rating" A measure of the ability of a finished structural system to withstand fire. full aniline - Leather that has received its color from dyes and also from a topical stain, wax and/or water repellent. full drop pattern - A pattern repeat in which one of two identical patterns placed side by side is positioned a full pattern lower than the other. full grain - The outer layer taken from the hair side, with only the hair and surface debris removed. Also, it is referred to as "full top grain." SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-18

87 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms fume - Airborne dispersion of irritating smoke, vapor or gas particles suspended in air. The minute solid particles may arise from the heating of a solid material, or the evaporation of a liquid. fume fading - Loss of fabric color due to atmospheric gases passing over or through fibers for prolonged periods and reacting with dyes. Although fume fading may be accelerated by the heat associated with sunlight (calorific property), it is different in that it may occur in areas where sunlight does not contact the fabric. Ozone pollution and nitrogen dioxide fumes from gas furnaces are the primary contributors to fume fading. fundamentals of cleaning: (see "soil suspension principle") 1. chemical action (preconditioner/cleaner application) 2. temperature (to excite chemical molecules and speed activity in suspending soil) 3. agitation (for maximum distribution of cleaning agents) 4. time ("dwell" time required for cleaning agents to fully suspend soils) furniture condition report form - a form used to list conditions that may adversely affect the outcome of the cleaning procedure. It is filled out by the technician during the inspection and signed by the customer prior to the beginning of the cleaning. FWA - see "fluorescent whitening agent" [ G ] gauge (gage) - The number of knitting needles in 1 ½ " of the needle bed or cylinder on certain machines. gauge row - Rows of tufts across the width of the fabric, perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction of manufacture. Also known as "tuft" or "loop" row. gimp -Scroll-type decorative finishing material used to cover tacks, staples and unfinished edges of upholstery and add interest to the piece. glacial acetic acid - A 98% pure form of acetic acid (solidifies at 56 F/13.3 C), used in the production of acetate fiber. In the context of spotting, glacial acetic must be diluted to a 5-7% concentration (1:19 or 1:13). Glacial acetic is extremely hazardous (toxic fumes, severe skin burns) and should not be used without special training, PPE and under carefully controlled conditions. see "acetic acid" glazing - Finish that provides luster, sheen, shine, or polish to some fabrics. It is accomplished by friction calendering. Chintz is an example of a glazed fabric. gloss - The sheen, shine or reflectivity of a surface, based on the type of material or finishes used. glossing - A progressive and irreversible increase in the luster of a use surface, due to the deformation of fiber cross sections resulting from mechanical action (abrasion). glycol solvent - A dry solvent classification. Glycol solvents are fairly miscible in water and they have a particular affinity for dissolving animal and vegetable oils. Therefore, they are found in many cleaning compounds (preconditioners or traffic lane pretreatment). grain - A reference to the outer or hair side of a hide or skin. Grain also refers to the pattern of the outer surface after the hair or wool and epidermal tissues have been removed. grained leather - Leather on which the original, natural grain has been highlighted by a finishing process. gray goods - see "greige goods" gray scale - A standard of comparison developed by the AATCC using degrees of color change ranging from 5 (no change) to 1 (severe change). SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-19

88 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms greige goods (Pronounced "gray" goods) Term designating undyed (usually off-white), unfinished fabric just off the weaving loom. The term "greige goods" is normally associated with continuous or beck (batch) dyeing processes. grooming - The process of nap setting following cleaning and after treatment (e.g., fabric protector) application. ground color - Background color against which the top colors create the pattern or figure in the top design. [ H ] hairiness - The extension of fibers above the normal level of the use surface or pile or textile fabrics. Hairiness usually is not removed by brushing or vacuuming. Haitian cotton - An off-white, usually undyed, plain-woven, latex backed upholstery fabric made of 100% cotton warp threads and bulky, minimally twisted cotton weft yarns. The weft yarns are made of minimally processed cotton fiber that is ginned and carded to remove some impurities (seed, stem and leaf fragments), but not pin-drafted or combed to remove all of them. The result is impurities in the weft yarns with a high lignin content, which brown easily when subjected to normal cleaning. Seldom dyed, Haitian cotton fabrics have a soft, natural look preferred for casual decorating. half drop-match - see "match" hand - The tactile qualities (feel) of a fabric; e.g., softness, firmness, elasticity, fineness, resilience, and other qualities perceived by touch. hand antiqued (hand rubbing) - The process in which skilled craftsmen hand rub a contrasting color into the surface of the leather to accentuate the natural grain or embossing. hand buffed - Upholstery leather on which the top grain has been lightly buffed to remove the top of the hair follicles. hank - A skein of reeled yarn. harness - The frame on a loom which holds the heddles and moves them up and down to form the shed through which the shuttle passes during the insertion of weft yarns in weaving. heather - A subtle, multi-colored effect produced by commingling yarns or spinning blended fibers of different colors together. see "moresque; barber pole" heat-setting - Stabilizing yarn twist to ensure no change in size or shape; the process of batch heat-setting yarn in an autoclave, or continuous heat-setting in Superba or Suessen units using super-heated steam and pressure. heat transfer printing (HTP) - The technique of printing fabrics by transferring a printed design from paper to fabric using heat and pressure. HTP is used primarily on knitted or flocked fabrics. heddle - A series of vertical cords or wires on a loom, each of which has, in the middle, a loop or eye which holds an individual warp end. There are two heddle frames on a typical loom, each carrying a set of warp yarns. These frames are mounted in the harness and rise and fall alternately to form the shed through which the weft shuttle passes during weaving. hemp - A plant native to central Asia, which grows from 4-12 feet high and is retted to produce fiber used rarely in specialized fabrics. Herculon - Hercules Chemical Corporations trade name for olefin or polypropylene. see "olefin" SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-20

89 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms herringbone twill - A broken twill weave giving a zig-zag effect by alternating the direction of the twill weaving process, i.e., chevron. hides - Pelts of large animals, almost always meaning cattle, in contrast to "skins,» which refer to the pelt of young or small animals. high pile - Pile in upholstery fabric that is more than 1/8" in height. hot water extraction - A restorative method of cleaning that begins with dry soil removal (vacuuming) followed by preconditioning (detergent application to heavily soiled areas, with agitation for even distribution, and dwell time of minutes). Then, hot water (from F/49-83 C) from a holding tank or heating coil incorporated into the cleaning unit (often combined with detergent) is injected under pressures ranging from psi. Suspended soil is removed from fabrics through a combination of the flushing action of injected solutions, coupled with wet vacuuming (3-11"Hg). Excess solution and suspended soil is collected within a waste water recovery tank or disposal system. hue - The amount or intensity of a color that allows it to be classified as pink, red, blue, green, etc. hydrofluoric acid - An inorganic acid (HF) primarily used in the cleaning industry to remove rust stains. hydrogen peroxide - H 2 O 2 ; An antiseptic, and an oxidizing bleach normally used in a three percent (3%) solution primarily for spotting and browning correction. In solutions >3%, hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant. hygroscopic - A material that readily absorbs and retains moisture or water vapor from air. see "humectant" hypochlorite - The active bleaching and disinfecting ingredient in liquid chlorine bleach. see "sodium hypochlorite" [ I ] IICRC - see "Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification" imitation leather - Materials made and finished to resemble leather. Included are coated fabrics, rubber and rubber compositions, and plastic materials. imperfects - see "seconds" indentation force deflection (IFD) -The load, expressed in pounds per cubic foot, that is required to compress four-inch thick urethane foam cushion material 25% of its original thickness. in-plant cleaning - Any cleaning process in which upholstery is brought into a plant facility for cleaning, as opposed to cleaning "on-iocation" in homes or businesses. insoluble - Not capable of being dissolved in a liquid. Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, Inc. (IICRC) - A non-profit organization owned by trade associations throughout North America, which is responsible for setting standards and providing certification for the professional inspection, cleaning and restoration service industries: (360) ; FAX ; iicrc@ez.net ( intensity - The brightness or dullness of a color. International Gray Scale - A standard of comparison to rate degrees of color change from 5 (no change) to 1 (severe change). ion - A molecule-sized particle that has either a positive or negative charge. irregulars - see "seconds" SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-21

90 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms iridescent fabrics - Fabrics that show varying tints and hues as light strikes them from differing angles. [ J ] jacquard - An intricate woven fabric, usually with floral design (tapestry, brocade, brocatelle, damask), produced on a complicated, punch-card controlled Wilton loom. The system was invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in jaspe - Drapery or upholstery fabric that has a series of faint stripes formed by light, medium and dark yarns of a particular color. jute - A plant thought to be native to India and the far East. This bast fiber (76% cellulose, 24% lignin) is obtained from fibrous materials located just below the outer bark of the jute plant. Jute is harvested, shredded, stream-retted, cleaned and spun into yarn. jute browning - see "browning" [ K ] kickboard - On upholstered furniture, the lower portion of the frame that extends across the front, and behind the skirt. knit gauge - the actual number of needles in 1½ inches in a knitting machine. The higher the gauge, the finer the fabric. knitting - A manufacturing process in which yarns are interlaced in a series of connected loops with three sets of knitting needles. This is a popular process for making clothing or upholstery fabrics. [ L ] lame - Brocade, brocatelle or damask fabric in which laminated metallic threads or yarns are interspersed throughout the weave. The metallic threads may be copper, gold or silver, or Mylar (plastic coated aluminum). laminate - To join layers by means of an adhesive, heat bonding, or other means. latex - A viscous, milky emulsion of rubbery liquid found in several seed plants (milkweed, rubber tree, poppy). Latex is used to lock yarns or tufts into place in fabrics. latexing - The application of latex back coatings. lay - see "pile lay" leather - A hide or skin that has been tanned into a non-perishable material, either with or without the hair removed. Leather also is made from a hide or skin that has been split into layers before or after tanning. But if the tanned hide or skin is disintegrated into fibrous particles, either mechanically and/or chemically, or into small pieces or powders, and then, with or without the combination of binding agent, is made into sheets or forms, such materials are not leather. Leather may have surface coatings of a reasonable amount, but beyond this, the resulting product shall be described as a laminate or composite. The term "laminated leather" should not be used if the leather content is less than two-thirds of the total thickness. leveling agent: 1. A substance added to coatings which allows it to flow evenly in application and to help prevent "puddling." 2. A substance added to a dye bath to allow dyes to fix uniformly throughout a textile with no streaks. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-22

91 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms light fastness - The degree of resistance of dyed textile materials to the color-destroying influence of sunlight. At least two methods of testing are in use: exposure to sunlight, either direct or under glass, and accelerated testing in a laboratory apparatus equipped with any of several types of artificial light sources. light reflectivity - The percentage of the total light falling upon an object or surface that is reflected back to the viewer's eye. Reflectivity is dependent primarily on the color (hue) and shade of a surface. lignin - A reddish-brown binding gum forming, and cementing together the cell walls of cellulose comprising jute, linen or cotton fiber. Lignin is easily dissolved in the prolonged presence of alkaline cleaning solutions. Lignin comprises about 1% of fully processed cotton fiber and about 24% of jute fiber. liming - The process of removing hair from a raw hide through by using chemicals. limonene - see "d'limonene" linen - A natural fiber obtained from retting the stems of flax plants. Linen is a strong, light weight, absorbent, somewhat expensive fabric. It is brittle and wrinkles easily. It is easily damaged by strong acids and mildew, and dyes are prone to crocking (rubbing off). see "retting" lofting - Brushing pile weave upholstery fabrics after cleaning against the pile lay to lift and separate individual fibers and produce a soft, even texture. loom - A complicated weaving machine that is designed to efficiently interlace warp, weft and sometimes pile yarns to form woven textiles. love seat - A small sofa or sleeper that accommodates two people. low end - Goods having minimal face yarn per yard; the opposite of "high end" goods. luster - The brightness or reflectivity of fibers, yarns or fabric. The ability of a fiber to reflect light or sheen is determined by several factors including: its modification ratio, cross section and delustrants used. Luster is judged in terms of bright, semi-bright, semi-dull or dull. [ M ] maintenance cleaning - This includes routine procedures such as vacuuming, attending to spots and polishing surfaces as required. Maintenance helps to keep the furnishings in a more attractive and healthy state, while preventing premature wear. manmade fibers - A term that loosely describes all manmade textile fibers, whether cellulose based or not. match - The frequency with which a pattern repeats and matches with an adjacent pattern in a printed fabric. Examples include: Set Match-the figure producing the parallel bands (example: 36 inches wide by 24 inches long) of pattern down the entire length of fabric matches straight across from side to side. Drop Match-The pattern in an adjacent band drops (e.g., 24 inches) before repeating. Half-Drop Match-The figure matches midway on the design; i.e., it drops 12 inches before repeating. Quarter-Drop Match-The figure matches one-quarter of the length of the repeat on the side of an adjacent pattern: i.e., pattern drops 6 inches before repeating. matched pattern -Furniture upholstered so the pattern is matched on the back, seat cushions, and rail of the piece. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Document that chemical manufacturers must supply with their hazardous products to describe the chemical's general properties, its hazards, and how to safely use, handle and store it. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-23

92 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms matelasse - A double-woven or compound fabric with a puckered or quilted surface appearance. It can be made of cotton, nylon, acetate, polyester, rayon, silk, wool or blends of fibers. Increased puckering (shrinkage) is often encountered while wet cleaning. medium buffs - Leather term formerly called "special machine buffs." see "upholstery leather" medulla - The inner or central portion of a plant or animal fiber. See also "lumen" mercerizing - a process developed by chemist, John Mercer in 1844, for treating cotton fabric with controlled alkalinity (cold, strong sodium hydroxide) to increase dye affinity, strength and luster. metallic fiber - A manufactured fiber composed of metal, plastic-coated metal, metal-coated plastic, or a core completely covered by metal. In upholstery, metallic fiber is used to create decorative effects. metamerism - Variations in the color of a fabric under differing lighting sources, when compared to a master sample of the same apparent color; i.e., sunlight versus incandescent light. A metamerism results when a shade of color in a fabric sample is matched by using dye components that are chemically different from those used in the master sample. migration: 1. Gradual movement of moisture, usually on a horizontal plane, as it is absorbed by materials outward from its source or point of origin. See also "wicking" 2. The movement or leveling out of dye molecules on fiber stock, yarn or greige goods during dyeing. mildew resistant - Fabric treated to make it resistant to fungi; e.g., mold and mildew. milling - The process in which tanned hides are tumbled in rotating drums, using a combination of heat and a misting of water to soften the hand or enhance the grain. mixture - Any combination of two or more chemicals, if the combination is not, in whole or part, the result of chemical reaction (in which a "compound" is formed). modacrylic -An acrylic fiber comprised of 35-85% acrylonitrile units, that tends to be more flame resistant than acrylic. modulus - The measure of elasticity or stretching fabrics. mohair - The long, lustrous, strong hair of an Angora goat. moiré -An upholstery or drapery fabric made from embossing a "wood grained" or "watermarked" design on a ribbed weave, using engraved rollers, pressure and heat. Fibers used in moiré fabrics usually include silk, cotton, rayon, acetate and nylon. molecule - The smallest unit into which a substance can be divided and still retain its chemical identity, e.g., a single molecule of water is H2O, and if reduced further, it no longer would be water. Molecules are made up of combinations of atoms; e.g., atomic oxygen is 0, a single atom, whereas molecular oxygen is O2, a component of air, or 03, ozone gas. monofilament - A single filament that is large and strong enough to be used directly as a yarn for making textiles through any established process. moresque - Plied yarn made of different colored yarn singles, twisted or plied together, to form one multicolored yarn, usually of contrasting colors. see "barber pole" motif - A dominant feature or theme in a fabric. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-24

93 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms multifilament yarns - Yarns made of many filaments which are simultaneously extruded (usually through the same spinnerette). After extrusion and drawing, the hot fibers are mechanically crimped to create bulk, and then twisted together to form a yarn; thus BCF, or bulked continuous filament, yarn is made. muslin - Term used for a variety of cotton fabrics based on finish, weight, etc. MSDS - see "Material Safety Data Sheet" mylar - A polyester film impregnated with metallic (aluminum) particles, or used to cover metallic yarn. [ N ] nap - The surface of a textile comprised of pile yarns extending above the primary backing. See also "pile" nap brush - see "grooming" nap lay -see pile lay nap reversal -see pile reversal" nap setting -see pile setting narrow cloth -Woolen or worsted fabric that is less than 52 wide. native hides - Hides from steers, cows, or bulls, which are free of brand marks. natural grain - Leather with grain that has not been altered in any way, so the natural appearance of the grain is apparent. needlepoint - Single stitch embroidery that completely covers a mesh or canvas ground fabric. neutral - A chemical state that is neither acid or alkali; seven in ph (e.g., distilled water). neutral cleaner - A cleaning agent having a ph of 7 and which is, therefore, neither acid nor alkaline. In a less technical sense, a neutral" cleaner has a ph between 6 and 8. neutralize - To eliminate potential hazards by inactivating strong acids, caustics and oxidizers. For example, acid spills can be neutralized by adding an appropriate amount of caustic substance to the spill. A neutralizer is a chemical used to bring the ph of a textile or surface to approximately 7. non-chlorinated bleach - Bleaching agents that do not contain chlorine, often referred to as color safe. Most nonchlorinated bleaches are encountered in powdered form and contain sodium perborate, which converts to hydrogen peroxide when mixed with water. Other examples of non-chlorinated bleaches include potassium monopersulfate, sodium percarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, and organic peracids, but they are used less frequently. non-volatile dry solvent (NVDS) - A spotting compound that may contain aromatic and chlorinated solvents, alcohols, amyl acetate and fatty acids (oleic), and used in removing heavy oils and greases, or paints, lacquers, varnishes and synthetic resins. non-woven - A textile structure produced by bonding and/or interlocking of fibers, or both, accomplished by mechanical, chemical, thermal or solvent means, or combinations thereof. This category does not include woven, knitted, tufted, or felted fabrics. normal cleaning - Normal cleaning is the process of thorough cleaning using one or more of the cleaning methods described in this standard. It must be performed periodically, approximately every months, depending on the furniture's location, use, and exposure to soiling. Normal cleaning should be accomplished before soiling causes permanent damage to fibers, dyes or fabric texture. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-25

94 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms novelty yarns - Irregular, uneven, non-uniform diameter yarns made for special textured effects; e.g., slub, nub, boucle, chenille, loop, etc. nubuck aniline - A top-grain aniline-dyed leather from which the top hair cell layer has been removed through buffing to create a "suede-iike" nap effect. nude finish - Leather that is usually vat-dyed, but has little or no protective topcoat to prevent crocking, cracking, or staining. NVDS -see "Non-volatile Dry Solvent" nylon - One of the first completely synthesized thermoplastic petrochemical fibers comprised of atoms of hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon and oxygen. There are two basic types of nylon: type 6,6 (made from adipic acid and hexamethylene diamine) and type 6 (made from caprolactam). see "type 6,6" and "type 6" [ O ] Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - A division of the U.S. Department of Labor. A federal regulatory agency with safety and health regulatory and enforcement authority for most U.S. industries, located at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution AV, NW, Washington, D.C (hotline OSHA). odorless mineral spirits - A relatively safe, aliphatic hydrocarbon used as the base of several dry cleaning solvents. offal: 1. The part cut off, usually referring to the piece that falls off when a panel is cut to size. 2. Portions of hides or skins not normally used for making the finest grades of leather; not necessarily waste. off pattern - A defect caused by equipment error in reading the tufting pattern from film, or computer and/or clutch failure on a tufting machine. off shade - Fabric color that does not match a standard reference. olefin (polypropylene) - A long-chain, thermoplastic polymer composed of at least 85%, by weight, ethylene, propylene or other olefin units. Propylene is widely available and at a comparatively lower cost than nylon. Olefin is the lightest weight fiber and it has good bulk and cover. Its polymer base produces a softer fiber, compared to nylon, which results in poorer resiliency and texture retention in olefin. Olefin cannot be contact dyed; it does not accept water-based staining agents (whether dyes or foods and beverages), so it must be solution (pigment) dyed. Common trade names include GenesisCM, Marquesa-LanaCM and Herculon. oleophilic - Literally "oil loving." See also "hydrophilic, hydrophobic" 1. A reference to a material's (e.g., fiber's) ability to attract oily substances. 2. That portion of a detergent molecule that is attracted to non-water substances or substrates. oleophobic - Literally "oil fearing." 1. A substrate that repels oily substances. 2. That portion of a detergent molecule that is repelled by non-water substances or substrates. optical brightener - A fluorescent dye or "whitening" agent, that reflects the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the light spectrum as visible blue-white or pink-white light. organic - Of, related to or arising in a bodily organ; materials or chemicals containing carbon atoms. Substances derived from living organisms (plant or animal). SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-26

95 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms osnaburg - A coarse, strong, rough-surfaced, plain woven fabric made of non-uniform, usually cotton, yarns that often contain pieces of cellulosic waste, thus giving it a canvas-iike, off-white, natural appearance. It can be made of cotton, linen, rayon, polyester or fiber blends. ottoman - Low upholstered seat with no arms or back, often used as a footstool. ounce: 1. Unit of weight. 2. Term used to indicate weight or substance of certain types of leathers. In theory, it is based on the assumption that one square foot of leather will weigh a certain number of ounces and will uniformly be of a certain thickness; hence, a three ounce leather theoretically would be one square foot weighing three ounces. In practice, this varies because of specific gravity of various materials, and for that reason, a splitter's gauge has been adopted, and controls the commercial thickness of leather when sold by the square foot. An ounce is equivalent to 1/64th (0.0156) of an inch in thickness of one square foot of leather. overwetting - Application of excessive moisture coupled with failure to extract an adequate amount, thus resulting in prolonged drying. Overwetting is almost invariably traced to technician error. oxalic acid - An organic acid (C2H2O4) primarily used in the cleaning industry for rust removal. An 8% oxalic acid solution has replaced the more aggressive (and dangerous) hydrofluoric acid rust remover (HF). oxidation - A chemical reaction involving the combining with oxygen atoms or molecules containing oxygen. Oxidation is the principle behind the degradation of natural substances over time (e.g., latex adhesives), the effect of oxygen bleach (NaCIO, H2O2) on dyes, or of ozone gas (03) on organic odors. See "ozone" oxidizing bleach - An agent that removes color by adding oxygen to a dye structure rendering it colorless (e.g., benzoyl peroxide, sodium perborate, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite). see "oxidizing agent" [ P ] package dyeing - Dye process in which dye liquor is forced through yarn while wound on perforated tubes or wire forms. parachute fabric - A fine woven, lightweight fabric made of silk, rayon, cotton or polyester. Sometimes used as upholstery fabric. patina - A surface luster that develops on pure anilines and nubucks, causing it to grow more beautiful with the passing of time. pattern: 1. An artistic decorative design on the surface of a fabric. It may be printed, woven with colored yarns or sculpted with multiple pile designs. 2. A single repeat in the construction of a fabric. pattern bow or skew - see "bow," "skew" pattern match - Lining up printed or tufted patterns in two pieces of fabric in such a way that the design element is continued across seams, making the finished appearance uniform and cohesive. Patterns must be matched in the same way as they appear on the fabric itself, either in a set match or drop match. see "match" pattern repeat -The lengthwise distance from one point in a pattern to a matching point where the full pattern begins to repeat. peroxide - Any of several oxidizing compounds, but usually a reference to hydrogen peroxide. see "hydrogen peroxide" SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-27

96 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms personal protective equipment (PPE) Safety equipment, such as chemical resistant gloves, splash goggles, respirator, hard hat, etc., that is worn or used on an individual basis. petit point - In a broad sense, any needle tapestry work or stitch. ph - The negative logarithm of the concentrations of hydrogen (H-) or hydroxyl (H+) ions (parts, %) in a water-based solution; an indication of a solutions relative acidity or alkalinity. A ph of 7 is neutral. A ph above 7 indicates alkalinity (bases), and a ph below 7 indicates acidity. phosphate - Phosphoric acid salts used primarily in built solutions to soften water (e.g., sodium hexametaphosphate sequesters water hardness), and to provide other builder functions, such as degreasing and soil suspension (e.g. sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium phosphate). pick - In upholstery fabrics, the pick is a filling thread or yarn that runs crosswise or horizontally in woven goods. The pick interlaces with warp yarns or threads to form the weave. pigment - A white or highly colored insoluble substance that is used to impart color to other materials. White pigments (e.g., titanium dioxide, barium sulfate) are dispersed in fiber polymers to produce delustered (semi-dull or dull) fibers. Colored pigments are added to liquid fiber polymer (fiber liquor) prior to extrusion to create "solution dyed" fibers (all olefin, some nylon). pigment dyeing - see "solution dyeing" pigmented yarns: 1. Yarn made from fiber to which light diffusing pigment (titanium dioxide) was added prior to extrusion to make the fiber less lustrous, i.e., providing greater soil hiding. 2. A colored (solution dyed) yarn made from fibers extruded from a hot, liquid polymer, to which colored pigment has been added prior to extrusion. pigmented leather - Leather with a surface that is coated with pigment or other opaque solution. This process also covers imperfections on the leather's surface. pile (face, nap) - The visible wear surface of textiles. pile distortion - Any generally adverse change in the appearance or texture of the surface yarns of a textile material. Pile distortion may be a characteristic of the pile (fibers, yarn) or simply a result of excessive wear and tear. It includes such phenomena as matting, crushing, twist loss, tuft blooming, crimp loss, pile reversal, water marking and pooling. pile fabric - Fabric in which yarns project from a foundation fabric and form a cut or uncut pile on the surface. Corduroy and velveteen are examples of cut filling-pile fabrics, while velvet is an example of a cut warp-pile fabric. pile lay - Orientation of the pile of a fabric relative to the backing or substrate: the tendency of a fabric's pile to lie uniformly in a specific direction relative to the backing. Pile lay in fabrics is created by slight tension on yarns during manufacturing processes. pile reversal - A generally irreversible, localized change in the orientation of the pile yarns of textiles, often associated with less resilient fibers, heavy use, or with the application of excessive wet (above 212 F/100 C) or dry heat during manufacture. Pile reversal is more common with less resilient fibers (e.g., acrylic and olefin). pile setting (finishing) - Brushing accomplished soon after cleaning to restore the damp pile to its original configuration and best appearance (maximum light reflection). pile weave - A woven fabric that requires two or more warp and one filling yarn, or two or more fillings and one warp. The extra warp or filling is called the pile warp or filling and forms the loops on the face of the goods. Loops may be cut by knife blades attached to the loom. Pile fabrics should not be confused with napped fabrics. pile yarn - The yarn making up the tufts of a fabric. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-28

97 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms pilling - As it relates to upholstery, pilling is a condition associated with face yarns in which fibers from yarns are snagged or pulled to the surface by wear or maintenance. There, they entangle or roll together with one another forming hard knots or masses (aggregates) of fibers called "pills." Pilling can occur in heavy use areas. Never pull pills from fabrics. Cut them off with scissors or shears at the pile surface. Pills on wool fabrics (staple fiber) generally are removed with vacuuming. See also "fuzzing" piping - Rolled (stuffed with polypropylene stuffer material) trim stitched in seams of upholstered cushion covers, arm rests and other areas. Also, called welting. pique - Medium or heavy weight fabric with raised cords that run in the warp direction. It may be produced on a dobby, Jacquard, drop-box or other type of loom. plaid - A pattern consisting of colored bars or stripes that cross each other at right angles. It is a multi-colored motif, rather than a large pattern repeat. Checks occur on a much smaller scale. platform - That portion of upholstered furniture on which the cushions sit. The platform is covered with the upholstery fabric or an inexpensive cambric material. pleat - Uniformly folded or gathered fabric; e.g., pleated skirt. plied yarn - A yarn composed of two or more singles twisted together. plush - In upholstery, a plush is a warp-pile fabric with a surface of cut-pile yarns. A plush pile is longer than a velvet and not as densely woven. Plush pile fabrics often are woven face-to-face. ply: 1. The number of individual "single" yarns twisted together to produce the finished yarn, as in "two-ply" or "three-ply." Also, the number of plied yarns twisted together to form a cord. 2. An individual yarn in a plied yarn or cord. 3. One of several layers of fabric. Plygrip (Curv-a-flex ) - Flexible metal fastener usually used to attach fabric on curved outside edges of furniture frames. plying - The act of twisting yarns together usually to increase strength, bulk and overall performance. polished cotton - see "chintz" polishing/buffing - The process of removing grain, scars, and blemishes from a hide. polyester - A thermoplastic polymer compounded from by-products of coal, air, water and petroleum (at least 85% by weight of an ester of dihydric alcohol terephthalic acid; p-hooc-c6h4-cooh). Polyester is quite colorfast and stain resistant, and, although somewhat oleophilic, it cleans well. Common trade names include Trevira, Fortrel, Kodel and Dacron. polymer -In synthetics, the high molecular weight chemical unit (e.g., plastics, resins) from which synthetic fibers is made. A polymer is a large complex molecule chain formed by linking simple molecules (monomers). polypropylene - A synthetic thermoplastic polymer used for molded items, sheets, films and fibers. Developed by Professor Guillio Natta of Italy, it is obtained from propylene gas, a byproduct of oil refining. It is used for upholstery, and has a relatively low melting point -348 F/250 C. The FTC's classification is olefin. see "olefin" polyvinyl chloride (PVC) -In upholstery fabric manufacture, PVC is a synthetic polymer or plastic used to coat polyester yarns that are woven into fabrics for patio furniture, awnings, and other outdoor uses. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-29

98 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms poplin - One of several fabrics made from various yarns. It is identified by a fine ribbed effect in the filling or weft direction, with warp yarns being much finer than weft yarns, and with a texture count of 2-3 times as many warp ends as filling picks. PPE - see "Personal Protective Equipment" preconditioner - A preparatory solution that is applied prior to soil removal activities incorporated in various cleaning methods, especially hot water extraction. Preconditioners usually are built detergents whose application in the cleaning sequence allows sufficient "dwell time" for complete soil defloculation to occur. preconditioning - Chemical application of a cleaning solution used to prepare fabrics for soil removal through such activities as suspending, emulsifying, and sequestering various types of soil. preshrunk - Fabrics -especially cellulosics, such as cotton -that have received a preshrinking treatment, prior to end use application. Residual shrinkage percentage must be stated on label of preshrunken materials. presoak - A soaking operation to remove stains or heavy soil that precedes the regular cleaning or laundering process. prespot - To remove spots and stains before overall cleaning commences. primary colors (see "secondary" and "tertiary" colors): 1. additive primary colors (blue, green, red) - Basic colors from a white light source that may be mixed to create all other colors; i.e., blue, green and red lights combined in equal intensity create white light. 2. subtractive primary colors (blue, yellow, red) - Basic colors (dyes, paints) which are mixed to absorb (or subtract) a portion of the light spectrum and reflect other portions, in order to create the various colors of dye; e.g., blue, yellow and red dyes combined in equal parts create black. principles of cleaning - Basic steps that cannot be overlooked if technically correct, aesthetically pleasing, professional results are to be accomplished. The principles of cleaning consist of: 1. dry soil removal (vacuuming) 2. soil suspension (chemical action, temperature, agitation, time) 3. soil extraction (absorption, wet vacuuming or hot water rinsing) 4. finishing (grooming of fabrics as required) 5. drying (promoting evaporation and dehumidification) principles of spotting: 1. remove the excess contaminant -Scoop, blot, or use wet or dry vacuum extraction. 2. dissolve -Use dry solvent to dissolve oil-based contaminants or components of spots; water- based solvents to dissolve water-soluble components. 3. suspend -Use dry solvents or water-based detergents to lubricate fibers and suspend insoluble components of spots or stains. 4. digest -Use enzyme digesters to reduce complex, long-chain amino acids (proteins) to simpler, soluble forms prior to removal. 5. chemically change -Use strong acids, oxidizing bleaches, or reducing agents to remove color-added stains. printcloth - A medium weight, plain weave cloth made of carded yarns, with pick counts ranging from 64 to 80 square. printing - As it relates to upholstery and drapery fabrics, printing covers a wide variety of techniques used to produce patterns, designs or motifs of one or more colors onto fabric. print pattern defect - Blurred or smudged patterns caused by slipping or sticking screens on flatbed or rotary printers; patterns that are out of register due to screens being installed incorrectly; patterns that are too light or dark, or which show side-to-side variation due to incorrect or variable pressure on screens. protein fiber - Fibers obtained from the processing of animal hair (wool, cashmere), or protein substances secreted by insects (silkworms); e.g., wool, silk. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-30

99 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms pucker - A rippled appearance in fabrics, especially at seams, occurring when two pieces of fabric are sewn together. puckering - A rippled appearance in upholstery fabrics, especially at seams, that is difficult to remove. see "buckling" pull-up - Leather that derives color from dyes, waxes and/or oils. When this leather is pulled during upholstering, the oils and/or waxes dissipate and become lighter in those areas. pure aniline - Leather that receives its only color from dyes and exhibits natural markings and characteristics. pure silk - FTC term that refers to silk goods that are degummed and dyed, including necessary finishing material except weighting. Weighting of 10% is allowed for all "pure silk" fabrics, with the exception of black where 15% is permissible. [ Q ] quarter drop - match -see "match" quilted fabric - Fabric made with two or more layers stitched together, and displaying a puffy or raised pattern. The first layer is the face fabric, usually a printed, plain-woven cotton. The second layer is a stuffer material, usually bats of white polyester or foam. The third layer is normally a plain-woven base fabric made of cotton, polyester or a blend of both. Stitching often surrounds a printed figure or design on the face of the quilted fabric. quilting - Creating a puffy appearance by spacing and patterning seams through a fabric and soft padding material. [ R ] rayon (viscose) - An absorbent, man-made (regenerated cellulosic) fiber made by converting purified wood pulp and cotton linters into xanthate, and dissolving the diluted xanthate in dilute caustic soda. Rayon characteristics are similar to cotton, however, it loses 40-70% of its strength when wet, regaining strength as it dries. "High wet modulus" rayon has been developed for greater dimensional stability and strength. recovery - The degree to which a yarn returns to its relaxed position after stretching. reducing agent - In a reduction reaction, the reducing agent is the chemical or substance that: (1 ) combines with oxygen, and (2) loses electrons in the reaction. In the context of cleaning, reducing agents are used in spotting (color-added stains) or as an antichlor (neutralizer) for chlorine bleach (spot dyeing, upholstery stain removal). Common reducing agents encountered in cleaning are sodium bisulfite and sodium hydrosulfite. regenerated cellulose - Cellulose (wood pulp, cotton linters) that has been dissolved by chemical treatment, and then restored to a solid state by precipitation or solvent evaporation to form rayon. see "rayon" remnant - An end roll of fabric. See also "short roll" rep (repp) - A fabric that resembles poplin, but has a more noticeable and distinct cross rib or cord. See "poplin" repeat - The distance from one point in a printed pattern to the same point where that portion of the pattern occurs again. The pattern repeat is critical to obtaining proper side match during upholstering of furniture. see "match" residue - Any unremoved material that is left on a surface or in a fabric following cleaning. resilience - The ability of fiber or cushion material to "spring back" or recover its original shape or thickness after being crushed by static (furniture) or dynamic (traffic, use) pressure. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-31

100 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms resist-printing - A dyeing technique in which a dye-resist agent is printed on the face of a textile prior to overall piece dyeing; i.e., areas with dye-resist agents remain undyed, which creates a patterned effect. restorative cleaning - Restorative or "salvage" cleaning is required when soiling has become severe and, by request of the consumer, the furnishing must be returned to a sanitary and improved condition. Restorative cleaning is not a normal cleaning process and typically is performed by technicians specially trained or skilled in restorative cleaning. Often, procedures that may go beyond those outlined in this standard must be used. retting - Immersing bundles of jute or flax stalks in ponds or streams for several days to dissolve the softer, pulpier portion of the plant before coarse jute or linen fibers are recovered, scoured and spun into yarns. Also, the use of moisture and steam, along with bacterial action, to speed the separation of bast fibers from natural gums and other matter to form bast fibers. rib - A straight, raised cord formed in a weave by threads that are heavier than others. Ribs may occur lengthwise, crosswise, or diagonally. rinse detergent - a surfactant or wetting agent which, when mixed in solution tanks or metered through various cleaning units (primarily as a "final rinse" in hot water extraction), improves the ability to remove preconditioners and suspended soil from fabrics, thus leaving fibers more "residue free." russet - A term of variable meaning in the leather trade, since it connotes both color and tannage. Russet upholstery is tanned but not finished. rust remover Products, such as hydrofluoric or oxalic acid, that have the ability to remove rust stains from fabrics. [ S ] sailcloth - A fine woven (184 count square), light weight {6 yds to a pound) fabric, often made of 100% polyester. It is used for sails and sometimes for upholstery fabric. Sanforized - Preshrinking a fabric (especially upholstery) during manufacture to ensure dimensional stability, less than 1% shrinkage in either direction, in end-use situations. saponification - A chemical reaction in which fat is converted into soap by reacting it with an alkali. The term has evolved to apply to reacting petroleum products {aliphatic hydrocarbons) with alkalis to form synthetic detergents as well. sateen - Cloth made with a S-end or 8-shaft satin weave in warp or filling face effects. Sateens use mercerized yarns and have a smooth, lustrous surface. satin - A cloth, developed in Zaytun, China, originally made of silk, but now made of rayon, acetate and other manmade fibers. Satins are characterized by a smooth, lustrous face effect, and with a dull back. They are used in upholstery and draperies. satin weave - One of the four basic weaves (plain, twill, satin, pile -Jacquard weaves being a fifth that incorporates elements of the three basics). See "weaving, upholstery" SBR - see "styrene-butadiene rubber" scouring: 1. A cleaning process that removes oils, perspiration, soil, cellulose and other foreign materials from natural fibers; or which washes oils and other processing chemicals from synthetic fiber or greige goods. 2. Removing sizing or tint used on warp yarns during weaving; cleaning prior to dyeing. scrim (scrim-back): 1. An open-mesh, plain-woven cotton cloth made with carded and combed yarns in several constructions and weights; used for buckram, curtains, etc. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-32

101 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms 2. A loosely woven or knitted secondary back made of light, coarse fabric (usually jute or cotton). seam - The point at which cut edges of two sections of fabric are joined by hand sewing or machine stitching. secondary colors - Colors formed by combining two primary colors: 1. additive secondary colors -cyan (pronounced "si-an"), yellow, magenta. 2. subtractive secondary colors -green, orange, violet. seconds (imperfects, irregulars) Substandard, off-quality fabric that fails to meet government and/or industry standards or manufacturer specifications; or which are aesthetically flawed (not performance defective) in some way. Generally, seconds are substantially reduced in price, although the performance of the fabric may be quite good. Sales tickets must specify "seconds." selvage (selvedge) - The longitudinal edges of a fabric that are formed during weaving, with the weft turning at the edges and then passing continuously across the width of the fabric from edge to edge. semi-synthetic - man made fibers made from chemically treated (regenerated) cellulose; e.g., rayon and acetate. serge - Any smooth faced cloth made with two-up and two-down twill weaving. Serge is made in many weights, textures and fibers, and usually is piece dyed. serging (also oversewing) - A method of finishing the cut side edges of a textile by whipping or sewing loops of thread or yarn along the entire edge. shade - The relative brightness (light or dark), rather than amount or hue, of color. shading: 1. appearance -Apparent change in color of pile fabrics caused as light is reflected in different ways when fibers are bent or abraded, 2. color- The deepening of color in one type fiber 'compared to another fiber, as in various union dyeing operations. 3. spot or area dyeing -Mixing a color with black. "Shade" is the degree of darkness of a color. Although "toning" technically refers to adding gray to a color to soften it (make it less intense), the terms "toning" and "shading" often are used interchangeably, since gray and black are equal quantities of primary colors but in different amounts. Black is called a shading color, since it affects a color's light value. Gray is called a toning color, since it softens a color, see "toning, tinting" shampoo cleaning - A method of cleaning in which, following dry soil removal (vacuuming), a foaming detergent is applied to fabric using sprayers, or hand or mechanical brush action, In heavily soiled areas, following shampoo application, suspended soil and excess moisture is recovered by means of a "wet pick-up" vacuum. shantung: 1. A fabric originally woven with wild silk in Shantung, China, characterized by numerous slub yarns. 2. Cotton fabric with elongated slub yarns running in the weft direction. shearing: 1. Cutting (clipping) wool from sheep. 2. A step in pile fabric finishing in which fabric is drawn under revolving, reel-type cutting blades in order to remove (shave off) excess fuzzing and produce a uniform pile height and smooth surface texture. shed - On a weaving loom, the shed is the angle formed by two alternating sets of warp yarns that extend from the loom harness (through the heddle) to the edge of the goods being woven. The shuttle passes through the shed to insert weft yarns. shedding - see "fluffing" shrinkage - Generally, contracting or curling up of fibers, yarns or fabric to make them shorter. However, this is not the only form of shrinkage encountered in textiles. Swelling of natural yarns causes them to exert horizontal and vertical pressure on one another. This results in "drawing in" of the fabric from its outer edges. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-33

102 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms shuttle - In weaving, a long, elliptical ("boat") shaped, wooden instrument that holds the bobbin from which weft yarns unwind as it passes through the warp shed (angle formed by raised and lowered warp ends). silicone-based stain repellant - A silicone based fabric protector, usually suspended in a dry solvent solution, that lowers the surface tension of a fabric to enable it to repel water-based staining materials. silk - A bi-component protein fiber obtained by unreeling the cocoons of various types of silkworms, the cultivated species being Bombex Mori. It is composed of 80% fibroin and 20% sericin. Silk is a highly lustrous fiber with high strength, good elasticity and wrinkle and soil resistance. It is slightly weaker when wet, and is easily yellowed and damaged by age, sunlight, alkalinity, oxidizing bleaches and perspiration. Color may be lost when spotted with chlorinated dry solvents, and ringing may occur if not uniformly dampened during cleaning, followed by careful moisture extraction and drying. simulated leather - A non-woven material with the appearance of leather. The base fabric may be knitted or woven, with a coating of PVC or nitrocellulose coating the surface. Simulated leather may be wet cleaned with little difficulty using mild detergents. simulated suede - A luxurious woven, knitted or flocked fabric that is finished to resemble suede leather. See also "suede" single - One end of a continuous filament or staple yarn (non-plied). sizing - A product that provides a stiffening effect to fabrics, such as starch or wax. skein dyeing - Dyeing yarn wound into skeins or hanks in dye vats. This method produces small to mid-size dye lots, but has custom color advantages for colored yarns in patterned fabric. see "dyeing" skew - Seams or patterns that deviate from a straight line. skin - The pelt from a young or small animal (e.g., sheep, calf, goat). skirt - Cover fabric attached to the lower part of a frame, usually reaching to the floor. sliver - An intermediate stage in the production of spun yarn from staple fiber. Sliver is a large, loose, untwisted web or rope of parallel fibers as they are removed from a carding or combing (pin drafting) machine. see "parallel spinning" slub (yarn) - An enlarged portion of a yarn with little or no twist; one that is irregular in diameter. snuffed - Grain leather that has had the outer surface lightly removed by buffing. soap - The substance formed by reacting animal fat or fatty acids with an alkali (sodium or potassium hydroxide) at a specified temperature for a specified period of time. soaping off - The removal of residual dyestuff from detergents. soap scum - An insoluble curd that is formed when soap reacts with water hardness ions or with select components of soil. Also known as lime soap or soap curd. sodium bisulfite - A mild reducing agent (NaHSO3) used in color removal. see "reducing agent" sodium hydrosulfite - A strong reducing agent (Na2S204). see "reducing agent" sodium hydroxide - A strong alkali (NaOH), also known as "lye" or "caustic soda," often used in saponification to make soap, or as a builder in aggressive cleaning solutions. sodium hypochlorite - Chlorine bleach (NaCIO) SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-34

103 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms sodium metasilicate - A strong alkali (Na2SiO3) used primarily as a builder in aggressive detergent solutions (a form of sodium silicate). sodium perborate - An oxidizing bleach (NaBO3) that converts to hydrogen peroxide in water, and is used for gentle color (stain) removal. sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) - A relatively mild alkaline builder (Na5P3010) which, as a complex phosphate, has excellent water softening properties. see "phosphate" soft goods - A term used to describe textile fabrics and products. soil - Any undesired substance that is deposited on, or that is foreign to, the construction of a textile material. Soil results from environmental conditions and use (e.g., dust and particles, shed fibers, foods and oily substances). soil extraction principle - The third "principle" of cleaning in which suspended soils are physically removed from a fiber or fabric. See also "principles of cleaning" soil hiding - The ability of a fiber, yarn or textile to mask the presence of soils. soil repellency - A property of, or treatment for, a fabric which allows it to resist the deposition and/or buildup of soil. In upholstery, soil resistance is accomplished primarily through the application of fiuorochemical based treatments in Post-dyeing or finishing procedures. soil suspension - the use of chemical action, heat or temperature, agitation and time to separate soils from fibers and materials so that those soils may be more readily removed or extracted. soil suspension principle - The second cleaning principle that incorporates the four fundamentals of cleaning: chemical action, heat or temperature, agitation and time. See also "principles of cleaning" soluble - Capable of being dissolved or emulsified in a liquid. solution - A liquid mixture in which one component is dissolved in another but will separate again upon drying. solution dyeing - Fiber colored by adding pigment to the fiber polymer solution (liquor) prior to extrusion. All colored olefin and some nylon fibers are solution dyed. see "dyeing" solvent: 1. A substance capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances. 2. The liquid component of a solution in which a substance is dissolved. The most common solvent is water. souring - Treating fabrics, chiefly cellulosics, with a weak acid solution to neutralize alkalinity, to stabilize dyes and to retard or prevent browning. From the German word "soüre," meaning acid. spew (spue) - A portion of the oily constituents of leather that comes to the grain surface in the form of white crystallized or dark gummy deposits. spinneret (spinnerette): 1. An organ of silkworms used to spin silk fiber (usually spelled spinneret). 2. A metal plate with very fine holes (resembling a showerhead) through which hot liquid polymer is pumped to form strands or filaments of fiber (usually spelled spinnerette). It is at this stage of fiber production that the fiber cross section, denier, and the number of fibers in a yarn bundle (for BCF) are determined. spinning: 1. chemical spinning -The process of producing man-made fibers by pumping liquid polymer through a spinnerette into a hardening medium. see "extrusion" 2. mechanical spinning -Twisting together and drawing out short fibers into strands of singles yarn. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-35

104 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms spinning frame - A machine used to draw out fibers from slivers to their final yarn size, twisting them to add strength, and winding them onto bobbins. split - The under portion of a hide or skin that has been split into two or more thicknesses. Splits maybe finished and embossed to simulate a full top-grain leather. spot - A foreign material adding substance or change in texture to a fabric or surface. The terms spot, stain and discoloration (color loss) often are used interchangeably in a non-technical context. See also "stain" spotting - Using specifically formulated agents and techniques to treat isolated spots and stains, which do not respond to normal cleaning. spun yarn - Yarn that is made up of twisted short lengths of fiber, either man made staple or natural fiber. see "parallel spinning" stabilizing - Treating fabrics so that they will not shrink or stretch in excess of standard percentages. see "Sanforizing" or "Mercerizing" stain - The addition of color (without texture) to a fabric or surface. In a non-technical context, the term "stain" is often applied to discolorations, or color removal from fabrics, as well. Stains may be left after the removal of spots. See also "spot" stain repellent - A silicone-based product that repels water-based staining materials, and is normally suspended in a dry solvent solution. Usually they are used undiluted. stain resistance - The ability of, or treatment for, a fiber to enable it to resist staining from most oil or water-based contaminants; particularly related to the resistance of staining from acid dyes found in common household foods and beverages. staple fiber - Natural or synthetic fiber of a specific, relatively short length, which must be spun or twisted into yarn (See also "continuous filament"). All natural fiber is staple (except silk) and synthetic staple fiber begins as continuous filament that is chopped into a specific short length for use in a staple yarn. Generally, staple fiber provides better bulk and softer texture than continuous filament yarn. static - An electrical charge that builds up during periods of low humidity when friction is generated between two surfaces and collects within the nearest and most efficient conducting material (usually a person's body). Discharge occurs when a "charged" person touches another conductive object (e.g., metal, another person). See also "antistatic" steam" cleaning - see "hot water extraction" STEL - see "threshold limit value" stitch row - Rows of tufts extending in a lengthwise direction on a fabric. stock dyeing - Dyeing raw fiber stock in a vat before being spun into colored yarn. see "dyeing" STPP - see "sodium tripolyphosphate" streak: 1. Visual defects running lengthwise in fabric; e.g., dye (color) streaks, optical streaks from defective yarn (improper size, stretch or blend), twist streaks from improperly twisted (slack) yarn, or from oil-contaminated yarn, etc. 2. Elongated soil patterns remaining in fabric following cleaning. stretch - The ability of a textile fabric to elongate. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-36

105 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms strie - A velvet with very faint, irregular striping produced by yarns that vary slightly in shade. stripper - In the context of fabric cleaning, a stripper is a color-removing agent in the form of a reducer. see "reducing agent" styling - The combination of color, pattern, texture and general aesthetics that causes textile products to appeal to consumers. styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) - An adhesive that is blended with calcium carbonate (filler) and used as a back coating or laminating adhesive in fabric manufacture. suede - Textured leather with a soft feel resulting from the surface of the leather being "napped" or textured. Suede absorbs soil and oils and, due to potential damage from water or dry solvent-based cleaners, may be difficult to clean with conventional techniques. See also "simulated suede" suede fabric - Woven or knitted cloth made from various fibers and finished to resemble suede leather. suede finish - A finish produced by running the surface of leather on a carborundum or emery wheel to separate fibers to give it a nap. The grain side of a leather may be suede-finished, but the process most often is applied to the flesh surface. The term "suede" when used alone, refers to leather only; See also "suede fabric." The term denotes a finish, not a type of leather. sueded splits - Leather produced from the flesh split, exhibiting a velvet-like nap. Sueded splits are not top-grain leathers. surface active agent - A detergent or other material that reduces the surface tension of liquids, such as water, enabling uniform distribution of that cleaning solution among fibers comprising a fabric, for more efficient cleaning. See also "surfactant" surface tension (energy) - A cohesive bond that exists between molecules of a substance. surfactant - A contraction for "surface active agent." A surface active agent is used in detergents to make water "wet," to cause lathering and, by itself, to accomplish light-duty cleaning. see "detergent" suspension - A colloidal distribution of an insoluble material in a liquid without forming a solution. A suspension is created when detergent action disperses and prevents redeposition of soil on a surface, usually until that soil can be extracted (rinsed) or otherwise removed. swatch - Samples of a textile taken at various stages of the manufacturing process and retained for quality assurance. Swatches are used for inspection, comparison, construction, color, finish and sales purposes. synthetic - Produced by chemical means. synthetic fibers - Fibers formed by chemical (petrochemical) synthesis; e.g., nylon, olefin, polyester, acrylic. synthetic detergent (syndet) -Detergents based on synthetic surfactants (petroleum derived), rather than the natural components (animal, vegetable lipids) involved in making true soaps. In fabric cleaning, one of the chief advantages afforded by syndets over a true soap is less potential for rapid resoiling. [ T ] tack strip - Metal strip with attached protruding nails used to fasten fabric to furniture frames, usually along the outside arms and backs. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-37

106 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms tannin - A soluble, complex phenolic substance (C13H11O11) of plant origin used in tanning hides, in dyeing, in making ink and in medicine. Tannin stains are brownish coloration that respond well to acid spotters or mild bleaches, such as hydrogen peroxide. tanning - The process of converting a raw hide into a stable, non-perishable material. tanning agent - Modern tanning uses soluble chromium sulfate to preserve the leather. Synthetic tanning and natural materials (plants and wood bark) also maybe used in certain combinations. tapestry - A heavy, hand or machine Jacquard- loomed textile used as an artistic wall hanging, or as upholstery or drapery fabric. It is characterized by complex pictorial designs, with a surface that is much rougher than a damask, brocade or brocatelle. It is usually made of cotton, or blends of cotton, linen, rayon, acetate, nylon or polyester. Teflon - A fluorochemical soil/stain repellent (C2F4) produced by the DuPont Company. tensile strength - Breaking point of fibers or yarns. The higher the tensile strength, the stronger the fiber or yarn. tertiary color - Hues (olive, citron, russet) that result from blending two secondary colors (portions of all three primary colors). textile - Originally, a woven fabric made by interlacing yarns; derived from the Latin verb, texere - to weave. Today, textile includes any fabric or cloth, woven or non-woven, made on a loom, tufting machine, knitting machine; even those that are needled, felted, spun, bonded or entangled. Textile Fibers Identification Act - A 1960 US federal law, amended in 1974, that requires a tag or label on textile merchandise that must include: fiber content by generic name as defined by the US FTC, and the percentage by weight in order of importance of each fiber used in an article the manufacturer's name, address and registered ID number the country of origin of imported fabrics. texture - A surface effect or tactile feel obtained by using different heights of pile, by two or more forms of yarn, by alternating loop and cut pile, by engraving, simulated or actual carving or shaving with an electric razor, or by other special treatment of the design. Texture lends added interest beyond that provided by the fabric's design or color tones. textured yarn - Modification in the structure of continuous filament yarns so that filaments are not parallel. This gives yarns more bulk and covering ability, along with a softer hand. texturing (texturizing): 1. Fibers: The process of crimping, imparting random loops, or otherwise modifying fibers to increase cover, resilience, abrasion resistance, warmth, insulation and moisture absorption, or to provide a different texture. 2. Yarns: Air jet texturing of BCF yarn -Yarn is fed through the turbulent region of an air jet at a rate faster than it is drawn off on the opposite side of the jet. In the jet the yarn structure is opened by heat, loops are formed and the structure is closed again. thermoplastic material (fiber) - One that will soften when exposed to heat and will harden again upon cooling. thread - A specialized plied yarn used for sewing, basting and embroidery. Threads are made from yarns, but yarns are not made from threads. threshold limit value (TLV) - A term used by the ACGIH to express the airborne concentration (ppm) of a material to which nearly all persons can be exposed day after day without adverse health effects. ACGIH expresses TLVs in three ways: 1. TLV-TWA - The allowable Time Weighted Average concentration for a normal, 8-hour work day or 40-hour work week. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-38

107 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms 2. TLV-STEL - Short Term Exposure Limit, or maximum concentration for a continuous 15-minute exposure period per day, (maximum of four such periods per day, with at least 60 minutes between exposure periods, provided that the daily TLV- TWA is not exceeded). 3. TVL-CL - The Ceilng Limit, or concentration not to be exceeded for any length of time (even instantly). CL may be referred to as IDLH (immediately dangerous or lethal to health). ticking - Compactly woven cotton (blue/white stripes) or polyester (floral design) cloth used for coverings; e.g., mattresses, pillows, etc. time - see "soil suspension principle" tinting - Mixing a color with white. In the cleaning industry, tinting has evolved to mean simply adding hue to existing color to enhance the appearance or coloration of fabric. see "toning, shading" TLV - see "Threshold Limit Value" tone - Mixing a color with gray. Tone is a value or intensity of color with reference to the degree of light absorption or reflection. In spot dyeing, the intensity of colors are softened or "toned down" by adding gray, which has the same effect as adding black but on a more gradual scale. see "tone, shading" top arm - Part of a furniture frame. top colors - Colors of the yarn used to form the main pattern or design, as distinguished from ground color yarns forming the pattern background. top grain - The top layer of a hide, after the splitting process, in which the hair and epidermis have been removed. The grain may be either natural or embossed. top grain snuffed - Upholstery leather of the same type as full top grain, except that the surface of the hide is lightly snuffed or sandpapered overall. Snuffing removes only the top of the hair follicles. See also "hand buffs," and "corrected top grain" tow - A thick strand or "rope" of continuous man-made fibers without twist, collected in a loose, rope- like form and held together by the fiber's crimp. Tow is the form that synthetic fiber takes before being cut into staple. Trevera - Registered trademark of Hoechst Celanese for filament and staple polyester fiber. see "polyester" 1,1,1-trichloroethane - Volatile dry solvent (C2H3CI3) from the chlorinated classification, used primarily as a spotting agent (TLV-TWA 350 ppm). This dry solvent was removed from the general market by January, 1995, usually being substituted with trichloroethylene (TLV-TWA 100 ppm). trisodium phosphate (TSP) - A fairly aggressive alkaline builder (Na3PO4) commonly used in detergent solutions to enhance the degreasing, soil suspension and water softening properties of that solution. TSP - see "trisodium phosphate" tuft - The cut or uncut yarn ends or loops forming the face of a tufted or woven fabric. tufted fabric - A fabric with fluffy tufts made from soft twist, multiple-ply yarns. In tufting, face yarns are machine stitched into a base woven fabric with multiple needles. Then, the fabric is back coated with adhesive to produce greater tuft bind. tufting: 1. Fabric construction method in which surface or pile yarns are inserted (sewn, punched) into a pre-constructed backing. 2. In upholstering, using buttons pulled down tightly to hold the cover (face fabric) and stuffing in place, and decorate the surface with raised tufts. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-39

108 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms turmeric - A yellow or reddish brown organic (disperse) dye obtained from the rhizome of the turmeric plant. It is found in mustard, herbal tea and other foods, and stains many fabrics readily. TWA - Time Weighted Average. see "Threshold Limit Value" tweed - A tough, irregular, soft, flexible, unfinished fabric named for the Tweed River which separates England from Scotland. Tweeds are made of a two-and-two twill weave. twill weave - A woven fabric characterized by diagonal lines in the goods. It is one of three basic weaves, others being plain and satin weaves. [ U ] Ultrasuede - Registered trademark of Spring Mills, Inc. for a microfiber non-woven fabric with tiny polyester fibers embedded in a soft, luxurious surface to resemble suede leather. unbleached - The natural condition of many fabrics, especially those with cellulosic fibers (cotton, linen). These fabrics tend to be stronger than bleached fabrics, and they often contain foreign matter. Examples include: canvas, duck, muslin, Haitian cotton, etc. unbuilt detergent - A light-duty detergent with few, if any, additives. union damask - Drapery, upholstery or wall hanging fabric made with cotton or linen warp and woolen or worsted filling yarns. union dyeing - A piece dying method for fabric made with fibers having differing dye affinities, which is dyed in a single color application (trough, spray, beck, etc.). see "dyeing" upholstery - A fabric furniture covering. upholstery leather - Generally, leather used for furniture, airplane, bus, and automotive "furniture" coverings. The staple raw material in the US consists of large or "spready" cattle hides, split at least once and, in many cases, two or three times. Top cuts go into higher grade upholstery, and splits are used in lower grades. use-dilution - The final concentration at which a product is applied to fabrics or surfaces during use. [ V ] vacuum cleaner - Equipment (upright or canister) used to remove soil from fabrics and surfaces, using air suction. vacuuming - The act of removing soils or moisture from a textile by means of mechanical suction combined with airflow. vapor - The gaseous form of a solid or liquid substance formed as it evaporates at atmospheric temperature and pressure. vegetable fibers - Abaca, coir, cotton, linen, hemp, henequin, istle, jute, kapok, kenaf, manila hemp, pineapple fiber, ramie, sisal, straw, sunn. see "cellulosic fibers" vegetable tanning - A generic term that covers the process of making leather using tannins from barks, wood, or other parts of plants and trees, as distinguished from "mineral tanning." velour - A term originally applied to dense cotton velvets, but today, loosely applied to any dense, cut- pile fabric, or fabrics with a fine raised finish. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-40

109 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms velvet - A luxurious, soft, warm, "warp-pile" fabric woven with warp yarns, weft yarns, and pile yarns that run in a lengthwise or warp direction. velvet double - Two fabrics woven face-to-face as a single unit connected by their pile yarns, then cut apart with a horizontal knife. velveteen - A "filling-pile" fabric usually woven with warp yarns, weft yarns, and pile yarns (inserted in the widthwise direction during the weaving process). virgin wool - Wool not previously used in any other manufacturing process. viscose - see "rayon" volatile: 1. A substance that evaporates readily. 2. Property of a substance that allows it to transition to gas phase from a liquid or solid phase. [ W ] wale - Chain loops, or ribs that run lengthwise in knitted or corduroy fabrics. warp (warp chain) - In upholstery and drapery fabrics, the warp yarns are those that run vertically or lengthwise in weave. warp beam - A large spool that supplies multiple warp yarn ends to a weaving loom. warp pile - Upholstery fabric made with two sets of warp yarns and one set of filling or weft yarns. One of the warp pile sets forms the surface of the fabric and may be cut or uncut. washable - Fabrics that will not fade or shrink when wet cleaned. water hardness - Minerals dissolved in water such as calcium and magnesium expressed in "grains per gallon" of water. When water hardness is reacted with soaps or detergents, scum is formed and cleaning solutions are less effective. The U.S. Geological Survey categories of hardness are. HARDNESS GRAINS/GALLON Soft Moderately Hard Hard Very Hard >10.5 water-jet loom - A shuttleless, high-speed loom that uses jets of water to carry the filling yarn through the shed. water repellant - the ability of a fabric to resist water under certain conditions. water-repellant leather - Leather, which has been treated with any of several chemical compounds, that inhibit absorption of external water. water softener - Any agent that sequesters or removes hardness minerals from water. water soluble - A substance that will dissolve in water weaving (upholstery) - A fabric manufacturing technique in which warp, weft, and sometimes pile yarns are interlaced to form fabrics and patterns. There are three basic upholstery weaves (plain, twill, satin), with variations on each. Pile and Jacquard weaves are examples of these variations and often, are classed as separate systems. Weaves may include: SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-41

110 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms 1. plain weave - The simple under-and-over interlacing of each successive warp and weft yarn to form a strong, durable fabric. 2. twill weave - Fabric yarns interlaced in such a fashion that diagonal or herringbone patterns are produced. 3. satin weave - A fabric with warp or filling yarns not raised consecutively, but with the presence of "float" yarns that surface and pass or "float" over four or more intersecting yarns. A satin weave is characterized by a smooth texture and glossy appearance. "Antique satins" have slubs in the yarns that appear to be irregularities. 4. pile weave - A woven fabric constructed that starts with a plain woven or twill base fabric, and with a third set of yarns that form the pile (e.g., velvet, corduroy). 5. Jacquard loomed fabric - A complicated, punch-card controlled weaving loom, which produces a fabric that usually displays complicated, multi-colored floral designs. Jacquard weaves (e.g., brocades, brocatelles) may incorporate elements of the three basic weaves, or even pile weaves. It is recognized by the fact that the back side of the fabric displays the "photo negative" of the front. webbing - A closely woven, strong narrow cotton, jute, or synthetic fabric, which has many uses. It ranges in width from 1 to 6". Webbing is used as a support material on furniture frames for padding and cover, on backs, arms, or other areas. weft (filler) - Yarns running across a woven fabric, being interlaced with warp (woof or lengthwise) yarns. Also called filling yarns. weft insertion knits - Fabrics knit on a warp knitting machine with weft yarns inserted across the width of the fabric. The weft gives added stability in the course direction, and can increase fabric cover, creating a fuller, bulkier texture than is present in ordinary warp knits. weft knit - The simplest of knitting procedures, in which a single yarn passes across a fabric in the weft direction in a series of loops. welt (welting) -see "piping" wet finishing - Wet, chemical operations that may be used to make fabrics more pleasing to consumers. Included are: washing, dyeing, fulling, milling, scouring, mercerizing and souring. wet vacuuming - Removing excess water or moisture from fabrics with vacuum only; i.e., no rinsing. wetting agent - A material that reduces the surface tension of water and thus, more efficiently displaces the air within a fabric that might prevent the penetration of cleaning solutions. see "surfactant" and "wetting" white goods - Fabrics that are bleached and finished; e.g., muslin, cambric, etc. wicking - Passage of liquid through or along the interstices in a permeable material. Wicking is a capillary effect dependent on the surface character of the material. wire velvet - Velvet made on a loom that employs a series of wires to create the pile effect. see "wires" woof - Originates from the Anglo-Saxon term "owef' and is synonymous with warp, although in the U.S., it often is misused to mean weft. To avoid this confusion, the term filling yarn is used instead of weft. see "warp" wool - A protein fiber obtained from sheep, primarily raised in Australia or New Zealand, composed of approximately 50% carbon, 23% oxygen, 7% hydrogen and 4% sulfur. Wool fibers have three parts: the epidermis (cuticle) consisting of protective, overlapping scales on the fiber's outer surface; the cortex, a softer, more abrasion sensitive group of cells that comprise the majority of the fiber; and the medulla, or the central portion of the fiber responsible for nourishment and cell generation during the fiber's growth cycle. Wool is a dull, durable, nonflammable, soil resistant fiber that is easily dyed with a wide range of colors. It responds well to wet cleaning, although it loses some strength when wet and can be damaged by aggressive agitation. It is easily damaged by exposure to extreme alkalinity and chlorinated bleaches. Unless treated, it can be damaged by insects such as moths and beetles. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-42

111 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Glossary of Terms The Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939, decreed that "wool" means the fiber or fleece of a sheep or lamb, or the hair of the Angora or Cashmere goat. The term also may include specialty fibers from the hair of the camel, alpaca, llama, and vicuna. worsted yarn - Quality yarn made of long staple wool fiber (1.5-6" for upholstery fabrics), carded and combed to parallel the fiber and remove extremely short fibers. wrap - A filling material, generally made from polyester fiber and used in conjunction with foam or other materials to pad seats, arms, backs, and cushions. [ X ] xanthating - A process in making rayon in which cellulose is treated with disulfide to react with cellulose crumbs to produce bright orange cellulose xanthate. [ Y ] yarn - A continuous strand composed of twisted natural or synthetic fibers, which serves as one of the basic raw materials of textiles. yarn dyeing - Applying color to yarns that are later used in making textiles. It can be in continuous yarn dyeing methods, such as space dyeing or pad dyeing, or it can occur in batch methods, such as skein dyeing. see "dyeing" yarn ply - see "plying" yellowing - Fabric coloration that arises from one of several possible sources. Potential sources include, but are not limited to: dye loss, fume fading, general soiling, oily soiling, oxidation, BHT off-gassing, excess optical brightener. [ Z ] zipper - Slide fastener made with interlocking elements. zipper tape - A woven or knotted narrow fabric made to hold a continuous helical slide fastener element or series of interlocking teeth along one edge. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 9-43

112 UFT Crossword Puzzle Exercise Compliments of Jeff Cross CleanFax Magazine

113 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information UFT Crossword Puzzle Exercise Across 3. The best way to remove pills or loose threads from fabrics 5. Never clean cushions on this area of the furniture, and never leave cushions there to dry 6. The lowest temperature in which a flammable chemical might ignite 7. Comes from the stem of the flax plant 10. An agent that breaks down protein in water soluble chemicals 11. Yarns that cross the loom from left to right (weft is not the answer here) 15. Considered the first step in cleaning 17. Acid that dissolves nylon 18. You should always do this after inspection, but before cleaning 21. Chemical that dissolves acetate fibers 23. Most soils are this on the ph scale 26. All olefin and most polyester fibers have this characteristic, meaning you can use most chemicals without fear of bleeding 28. Color migration from one area to another, when fabric is wet 30. Dye method that adds pigment to polymers before extrusion 31. Blood, milk, egg are examples of this type of spot or stain 32. The type of spotter to use when unsure of the identity of a spot 33. Binder in cellulosic fibers that can cause browning 35. Chemical used to reduce surface tension of water, making it wetter Down 1. You must have this to have a ph reading 2. What you should do to stop the reaction of certain strong chemicals, such as rust removers 4. Use less of this to control browning and shrinking of natural fibers 8. Weakest fiber when wet 9. A type of cotton that is minimally processed, and can brown easily 10. The area of wool fiber that can be damaged by alkalinity 12. Buttons on upholstered fabrics, when wet, can create this problem 13. Polypropylene is another name for this fiber 14. Means fibers are attracted to oils 16. Reason why cotton, wool, linen and other natural fibers take longer to dry 19. These initials stand for the three words that limit the time a technician can be exposed to certain chemicals 20. A shiny type of weave 22. Most upholstery fabrics are made of more than one fiber type, making them a of fibers 24. You get this when mixing ammonia with chlorine bleach 25. This acronym represents the four pieces of the cleaning pie 26. Color transfer when fabric is in a dry state (typically) when physical agitation is used 27. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium percarbonate are considered agents 29. This is one thing cleaners should never change when cleaning fabrics 34. When three layers of fabric are sewn together in a stitched pattern 36. Wool dissolves in this type of bleach SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-2

114 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information Across 3. Shave 5. Platform 6. Flash Point 7. Linen 10. Enzyme 11. Filling (weft is not the answer here) 15. Vacuuming 17. Formic 18. Pretest 21. Acetone 23. Acidic 26. Colorfast 28. Bleeding 30. Solution 31. Protein 32. Dry 33. Lignin 35. Surfactant Down 1. Water 2. Neutralize 4. Moisture 8. Rayon 9. Haitian 10. Epidermis 12. Rust 13. Olefin 14. Oleophilic 16. Absorbent 19. TLV 20. Satin 22. Blend 24. Poison 25. TACT or CHAT 26. Crocking 27. Oxidizing 29. Texture 34. Quilted 36. Chlorine UFT Crossword Puzzle Exercise Puzzle Answers Trainer Manual Only SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-3

115 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information Contact: Cathy Andriadis July 22, 2005 Media Advisory Important Facts for Reporters Covering Teflon Teflon is a brand name, not a chemical. Teflon is a brand name and a registered trademark of DuPont. Teflon is not PFOA. The improper use of the Teflon brand as a synonym for PFOA is not only inaccurate and misleading to consumers but also constitutes a trademark violation. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), also known as C-8, is an essential processing aid used to make fluoropolymers high performance plastics manufactured by a number of companies. PFOA and Teflon are entirely different one is a processing aid, the other is a product brand. It is also inaccurate to describe PFOA as an ingredient in Teflon cookware. Teflon non-stick cookware does not contain PFOA. A published, peer-reviewed study (April 2005) in Environmental Science & Technology ( found no PFOA in Teflon cookware. No PFOA was detected even when the cookware was scratched with a knife. Tests using approved FDA methods also show that non-stick coatings used for cookware sold under the Teflon brand do not contain PFOA. The Danish Technical Institute and China Academy of Inspection and Quarantine tested Teflon cookware and did not detect PFOA. U.S. regulatory agencies have studied non-stick coatings and approved their use in consumer products. The Food and Drug Administration has found non-stick coatings acceptable for conventional kitchen use. Also, in 2003 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission rejected a petition to require a label warning for non-stick coatings. Health regulatory agencies across the globe have approved the use of Teflon cookware. Heating Teflon cookware to high temperatures does not release PFOA or cause it to be emitted in fumes. Because there is no PFOA in Teflon non-stick cookware, there is no emission of PFOA. In fact, high temperatures in the manufacturing process destroy PFOA, which is why, although PFOA is used as a processing aid to make the coating, PFOA is not found in the final cookware product. There are no documented cases of serious or long-term human health effects caused by exposure to fumes from heating cookware coated with Teflon to high temperatures. Over the 40 years non-stick cookware has been in widespread use, there is only one published case of a minor, short-lasting health effect linked to overheating non-stick cookware. Cookware with Teflon non-stick coatings has a recommended maximum use temperature of 500F or 260C; typical cooking temperatures are much lower. Significant decomposition of the coating will occur only when E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company 2 temperatures exceed about 660F or 349C well above the smoke point for cooking oil, fats or butter. Therefore, it is unlikely that decomposition temperatures for non-stick cookware would be reached without burning food to an inedible state. However, these high temperatures can be reached if dry or empty cookware is neglected on a hot burner or in an oven a safety hazard that should be avoided with all cookware. No cookware should ever be left unattended. For more information, visit Teflon non-stick can help reduce dangers in the kitchen. According to Karen Benedek, a leading advisor to government and appliance manufacturers on cooking safety, In over 70 percent of range top fires, it s the oil, fat, grease or food itself that ignites. The less fat, the smaller the fire. Because non-stick cookware requires less fat for cooking, it can help reduce dangers in the kitchen. Cooking with non-stick cookware has positive health benefits. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-4

116 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information The American Heart Association recommends cooking with non-stick cookware so you can cook with a minimum of oil or vegetable oil spray and create a healthier diet without losing out on flavor. The National Stroke Association recommends using nonstick cookware: If sautéing something, use nonstick cookware and a non-stick spray. Particles from Teflon cookware are not harmful to consumers. Particles from Teflon branded cookware are not harmful, even if ingested. Confidence in the safety and performance of DuPont non-stick coatings is based on more than 40 years of laboratory testing and use in home and commercial kitchens. Birds should not be kept in the kitchen. Fumes emitted from burned foods cooked in any type of pan can affect pet birds. Severely overheated non-stick cookware also can affect pet birds. However, the temperatures required to burn foods are significantly lower than those at which decomposition of non-stick coatings occur. Because they have highly sensitive respiratory systems, birds are more at risk from burning butters and oils, aerosol sprays and cleaning solvents. Since food can be inadvertently burned in any type of pot or pan, it is important to keep birds out of the kitchen while cooking, and away from any other area of the house where birds are at risk of breathing in fumes, according to Dr. Karen Rosenthal, DVM MS, an Avian Veterinarian and Director of Special Species Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania: Not all non-stick coatings are branded Teflon. Teflon branded non-stick coatings are made solely by DuPont. Teflon is a registered trademark. Not all non-stick coatings are branded Teflon. Moreover, a stringent certification program ensures that non-stick coatings by DuPont are used only in suitable applications. Peer-reviewed science concluded that use of consumer articles made with or using DuPont materials is safe. A published study (April 2005) in Environmental Science & Technology ( concluded the use of consumer products made with or using DuPont materials, some sold under the Teflon brand, would not result in quantifiable levels of PFOA in the blood of people. The study evaluated combined potential public exposure to PFOA from dozens of consumer products. The margins-of-safety for all articles tested ranged from 30,000 to over 9 billion, which dramatically exceeds the margins-of-safety of 100 to 1,000 typically used by regulatory agencies to judge the safety of chemicals. Reputable, independent scientists conducted and reviewed the study published in Environmental Science & Technology. Environ, an independent research firm, conducted the $1 million study, which was paid for by DuPont. The study was evaluated for scientific validity by an independent panel of scientists moderated by Dr. George Gray, executive director of the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. EPA and its Scientific Advisory Board are studying PFOA, not Teflon. EPA and its Scientific Advisory Board are working to determine the health risks associated with exposure to PFOA through its presence in the environment. They are not examining the safety of consumer products sold under the Teflon brand. EPA s position: EPA does not believe there is any reason for consumers to stop using any consumer or industrial related products. Teflon non-stick cookware does not contain PFOA. Human health research on PFOA conducted to date has shown no known health effects. Based on an evaluation of human health and toxicology studies, DuPont concludes that PFOA exposure does not pose a cancer risk or any health risk to the general public. There is no significant potential for exposure to PFOA from using products made with DuPont materials; hence, there is no risk to consumers. 7/22/05 SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-5

117 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information To ICT s valued customers: June 19, 2003 The following is a position paper that I shared with my customers back in May of 2000 after 3M withdrew their C8 fluorochemicals from the marketplace. In this position paper, I discussed the difference between 3M s C8 based fluorinated products and ICT s telomer based fluorinated products. I have attached it as a reference because the situation and our position has changed very little with respect to both PFOS and PFOA; however, recently there has been considerable media coverage, including misinformation, about PFOA. In addition, the EPA has raised questions about PFOA, its potential toxicity and exposure routes, and whether telomer based chemistries may create small, trace amounts of PFOA under various conditions. Please recognize that there is no evidence that PFOA causes adverse human health effects in any segment of the human population, particularly at trace levels and the EPA has stated publicly and in writing that it does not believe there is any reason for consumers to stop using any consumer or industrial related products because of questions about PFOA. The key point of this letter is that the fluorinated products supplied to you by ICT are telomer based fluorochemicals. PFOA is not used or added during the manufacture of these products. If there is PFOA present in any of these products, it is only very small, trace amounts of PFOA that could possibly (although considered unlikely) form in the product, but more likely would be present due to background sources related to past production of PFOA and PFOS based materials. Additional information about PFOA can be found on the EPA s web site at and on DuPont s web site at Please don t hesitate to call me if you have any questions. Position Paper from May 2000 As we discussed, the 3M press release (May, 2000) and 3M s withdrawal from the Scotchgard oil and water repellent product line has lead to a lot of misinformation and misinterpretation of both the 3M situation and the whole issue of fluorochemical oil and water repellents. I would like to clarify these issues and assuage the concerns that some may have over the use of fluorochemical oil and water repellents as a result of what I view as a misunderstanding of the situation and the facts. In 3M s May press release, 3M stated that they would stop making many of their well known Scotchgard oil and water repellent products after tests revealed that the chemical compounds involved linger in the environment and in the human body for several years. 3M went on to state that these products have been used effectively for more than 40 years and that their products are safe, but the decision to substantially phase out production over the next year is based on their principles of responsible environmental management. Over the last year or so, 3M reported the development of sophisticated testing capabilities that allowed them to detect parts per billion levels of biopersistent materials contained in their products: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and ammonium perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). Through the use of these sophisticated testing capabilities, 3M reported the finding of detectable levels of these materials in the environment and in both occupationally and non-occupationally exposed persons. All existing scientific knowledge, including numerous reports submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency by 3M Company and others, indicate that the presence of these materials at the very low levels found do not pose a human health or environmental risk. In the reports submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 3M demonstrated that the persistent chemicals found in their products are non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, and non-teratogenic. The mildly toxic nature of these products is SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-6

118 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information related to the fact that they are excellent surfactants, similar to many fatty acid salts like those found in the most popular household bar soaps, laundry detergents, dishwashing soaps, household cleaners, etc. The point is that most soaps and detergents will act as a pesticide and display mildly toxic activity at high concentrations; however, they do not pose human health risks at low levels and certainly not at the part per billion exposure range. Further, it is important to understand that 3M manufactures their Scotchgard products using a process known as the Electro-Chemical Fluorination (ECF) process, also referred to as the Simon Cell electrochemical fluorination process. This process is substantially different from the process used to produce our fluorochemical oil and water repellents. The process used to manufacture our fluorochemical oil and water repellents is referred to as the telomerization process. The persistent materials contained in 3M s products, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and ammonium perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), are a result of the ECF manufacturing process and are not contained in our products manufactured by the telomerization process. The key points to communicate to our customers are that: 1) The persistent chemicals reported by 3M to EPA are contained in 3M'sfluorochemical products because they are intermediates produced by 3M s Simon Cell electrochemical fluorination (ECF) manufacturing process. This ECF process is very different from our process which is the more recenty developed telomerization process. Our products are chemically different from 3M's and do not contain, do not release, and do not degrade to the products found and cited by 3M in their press release and reports to the EPA. 2) Our fluorochemical water & oil repellent products are high molecular weight polymers that do not readily absorb through the skin, and if ingested, do not bioaccumulate. Once applied to a typical fabric, the fluoropolymer is not expected to differ from, or affect, the biodegradability profile of the untreated fabric. 3) The vast body of scientific evidence demonstrates that fluoropolymers, while persistent in the environment, are inert and nontoxic. In fact, fluorocarbons that are the basis of fabric protection products are also the basis of blood replacement products (see Fluosol, Green Cross Corporation; and Oxygent, Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.). 4) Our fluororochemical products are manufactured in state-of-the art facilities, fully up-to-date in environmental compliance, employing a proprietary telomerization process that yields a product superior to ECF derived products for oil and water repellent applications. At this time, we do not have any information about our products that would cause concern and we will continue to supply safe, high quality oil and water repellent products to the market place. It is our opinion, based on the chemistry used by 3M versus our chemistry that we will have a long and bright future ahead of us in the fluorochemical oil and water repellent products business. In the mean time, we will continue to encourage and teach our customers and users of our products the use of good industrial hygiene practices that are appropriate for handling our products. We will continue to communicate these practices on our product labels, MSDS, and Product Data Sheets. Sincerely, Jeff Alender, Ph.D. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-7

119 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise PO Box Wilmington, DE June 29, 2005 DuPont Teflon Advanced Carpet Care is Safe for its Intended Uses Dear Teflon Advanced Customer, It has come to our attention that you may have received a document questioning the safety of DuPont Teflon Advanced Carpet Care products from the United Steelworkers International Union (USW). As you may be aware, in May, the USW merged with another union, the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy (PACE) union. In 2003, the PACE union announced and began a Corporate Campaign against DuPont. They have pursued this campaign onmany fronts in hopes of bargaining at the corporate level, rather than locally at the sitesthey represent. They have used news releases, handbills, rallies, local newspaper ads, advertising on the sides of buses and this action. In their recent document, USW singlesout Teflon Advanced Carpet Care (without mentioning any other companies and their fluorotelomer products). We believe that this is just another example of their announced Corporate Campaign against DuPont disguised as a safety issue. Their document does not accurately reflect the facts. Teflon Advanced Carpet Care is safe for its intended uses. As a company with a long-standing and well-known commitment to product safety, and a global leader in fluorochemistry, DuPont is eager to set the record straight. DuPont uses fluorotelomer chemistry to produce DuPont Teflon Advanced Carpet Care. DuPont fluorotelomer chemistry is not made with, nor does it use, PFOA in the manufacturing process. However, PFOA is an unintended reaction byproduct that may be present at trace levels in some DuPont fluorotelomer-based products. With respect to PFOA, the EPA has said: "at the present time, EPA does not believe there is any reason for consumers to stop using any consumer or industrial related products that contain PFOA." The Consumer Article Study referenced by the USW document in fact reaffirmed that the company s materials, including this family of carpet care products, are safe to use. The objective of the study was to understand and assess the risk of potential exposure to PFOA E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company that may occur through consumer use of certain articles made with or using DuPont materials. To assure accuracy and provide the most reliable test results, consumer articles were assessed using extremely conservative exposure models. The study focused on a wide variety of ways consumers and carpet care professionals could be exposed to PFOA, including through the skin, in the air, and orally. The margins-of-safety for all products tested ranged from 30,000 to over 9 billion this dramatically exceeds the 100 to 1,000 margin-of-safety levels typically used by regulatory agencies. The full article has been published in the June 1st issue of Environmental Science and Technology. Based on existing scientific data, DuPont believes that PFOA exposure does not pose any health risk to the general public. To date no human health effects are known to be caused by PFOA even in workers who have significantly higher exposure levels than the general population. DuPont is conducting an employee health study on PFOA and partial results indicate that there is no association between PFOA exposure and most of the health parameters that were measured. The only potentially relevant association is a modest increase in some, but not all, cholesterol fractions in some of SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-8

120 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information the highest exposed workers. It is unclear if this association is caused by PFOA exposure or is related to some other variable. DuPont is consulting with medical and other scientific experts to design and conduct appropriate follow up testing. We are focused on the ongoing safety of our products and the success of our customers businesses. DuPont s commitment to our customers is stronger than ever. We believe that fluorotelomers provide a valuable benefit to society. We will continue to provide sound chemistry that is backed by fact-based product testing and a commitment to safety that spans the over 200-year-old history that has made DuPont the company our customers know they can trust. We continue to invest in enhancements to our product offerings for the carpet care market, and we hope that over the long-term you will choose us as your preferred supplier. For additional information on PFOA, I encourage you to visit the Environmental Protection Agency website, Sincerely, Henry E. Bryndza Technology Director SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-9

121 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information How Odor Out Plus Works The bacteria as they are found in the product are actually in the spore state or what could be associated with a state of hibernation. If the bacteria were not forced into this hibernation, they would actually begin to "eat" the product. Once the product is diluted or applied to the soiled area, the inhibitor that keeps the bacteria dormant is diluted enough that they begin to "wake up". Once awake and in the proper environment, bacteria do two basic things. They eat and they multiply. Bacterial multiplication is very important, because it is this ability that allows us to completely solve the odor issue over time by getting bacterial levels up to a point where they can impact the amount of waste. Bacteria multiply exponentially, meaning that 1 becomes 2, 2 to 4, 4 to 8, and so on and so on. This division happens on average every 20 minutes. One bacteria multiplying every 20 minutes for an 8 hour period can generate 16.8 million bacteria! Odor Out Plus seeds the soiled area with the proper bacteria. From there, they do the actual work to remove the waste. So how do they eat? Bacteria have a skin around them that we call a membrane. Just like our skin, this membrane is designed to keep good things in and bad things out. Only for the bacteria, it also must serve as a semi-permeable layer because they do not have a "mouth". Unfortunately, the majority of bacterial "food" or what we call waste (like urine, sugars, proteins, starches, etc.) can not move across this membrane in the form they are in. Just like us looking at a T-bone steak, before we eat it we must cut it up. Bacteria must "cut" up their food too and the way they do that is through the use of a chemical they produce called an enzyme. Enzymes function as the knife and fork or teeth of the bacteria. They break the waste into smaller pieces and liquefy them so that the bacteria can bring them across the membrane, convert them to energy and release simple carbon dioxide and water. Enzymes are very specific for each "food group" they attach or break up. Protease breaks down proteins Urease breaks down Urine Amylase breaks down Starches Lipase breaks down Fats and Greases The bacteria, via the enzymes, are eating the food source that the odor causing bacteria need to live. If we can get to all source areas and completely eliminate the food source, then the odor causing bacteria (gram negative bacteria) will starve, die and decay. After all bacteria have gone through this process the odor should be gone. With the old Odor Out, even though it had a scent, the odor would sometimes get worse before it got better because of the decaying process. Also, the selection and grouping of the bacteria in the product lends greatly to how efficiently they digest the waste and if they do it without contributing any additional odors or not. With Odor Out Plus the encapsulating agent and scent that has been added will cover up and neutralize the odors until the above process has completed. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-10

122 IICRC Upholstery Cleaning Technician Activities & Information ODOR OUT Plus Ready-to-Use Retail Product In addition to the Odor Out Plus that we offer in spray-down form, by the area, Stanley Steemer offers a retail version for customer use between cleanings. Although the end-use functionality of these two products is the same, the Odor Out Plus, Ready to Use (RTU) product is not simply just a dilution of the concentrate. Chemically, the Odor Out Plus RTU product is made as a stand-alone product. The functional chemistry found in the two products in terms of cleaning, odor control and biological properties is the same, but the chemical inhibition system used is different. What we call an "inhibitor" is used in these products for two purposes. First, it protects the formulation from getting contaminated by "outside" microorganisms either in production or at point of use. Contamination can cause a product to go "sour" like food will if it is left open to the air. The second purpose of this inhibitor is to keep the good bacteria in the product dormant, or stable until needed. When Odor Out Plus Concentrate is diluted, the inhibitor used in that formula is diluted to a point where the bacteria are allowed to "wake up" or come out of hibernation and begin to function. This is why we strongly recommend that once Odor Out Plus Concentrate is diluted, it should be used in 24 to no more than 48 hours. Holding Odor Out Plus Concentrate in its diluted form longer than that can actually cause the bacteria to begin to die off, therefore losing the functionality of the product. Odor Out Plus RTU uses a different inhibitor system that serves the same two functions as outlined above. The difference is that this inhibitor is not deactivated by dilution of the product, but by the organic (waste) material the product is applied to when used. Things like food, feces, urine and vomit bind this inhibitor and allow the bacteria to become active. Use of the product from the quart bottle does not impact stability of the unused product in any way. As supplied, the formula in Odor Out Plus RTU is stable for at least one year, as long as it is kept with a cap on it. The use of this type of inhibitor allows for a product that we can sell with confidence and can inform the customer that it will last within these guidelines. SSU UFT Copyright 2006 Section 10-11

123 Disclaimer for manuals: The IICRC, a Washington nonprofit corporation, reviews course manuals only to verify that each manual covers all of the test questions on the respective course exam, and that the course manual otherwise meets the criteria in the IICRC Policy and Procedures Manual. The IICRC does not otherwise review or approve course manuals for content or technical accuracy. The schools are independent of the IICRC and the responsibility for course manual content and technical accuracy, except as to exam question coverage, remains the responsibility of the respective schools and not the IICRC.

124 Revised Rules and Regulations for the IICRC Certifications Available by Examination Academic: All course examinations must be passed with 75% or higher to achieve certification. Carpet Cleaning Technician (2 Days) (CCT) Exam 101 Rug Cleaning Technician (2 days) (RCT) Exam 141 Prerequisites: IICRC Certification in CCT or CCMT, and UFT Commercial Carpet Maintenance Technician (2 Days) (CCMT) Exam 201 Floor Care Technician (2 Days) (FCT) Exam 231 Stone, Masonry & Ceramic Tile Cleaning Technician (2 Days) (SMT) Exam 241 Resilient Floor Maintenance Technician (2 Days) (RFMT) Exam 251 Prerequisites: IICRC Certification in FCT Upholstery & Fabric Cleaning Technician (2 Days) (UFT) Exam 301 Leather Cleaning Technician (2 Days) (LCT) Exam 311 House Cleaning Technician (2 Days) (HCT) Exam 321 Odor Control Technician (1 Day) (OCT) Exam 401 Health And Safety Technician - US (2 Days) (HST) Exam 451 Health And Safety Technician Canada (2 Days) (HST) Exam 452 Health And Safety Technician AU/NZ (2 Days) (HST) Exam 453 Water Damage Restoration Technician (3 days) (WRT) Exam 501 Applied Structural Drying Technician (3 days) (ASD) Exam 511 Prerequisite: IICRC Certification in WRT Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (4 days) (AMRT) Exam 521 Prerequisite: IICRC Certification in WRT Applied Microbial Remediation Specialist (AMRS) Prerequisites: AMRT: and HST or an OSHA 10-hour General Industry Health and Safety course, or other suitable program subject to IICRC approval (There are no HST equivalents in Canada or Australia/New Zealand); and one year verifiable microbial remediation experience after the date of issuing the AMRT certification; and one of the following within one calendar year immediately before AMRS qualification: 10 verifiable microbial remediation projects or 1000 hours verifiable microbial remediation experience. Verification is by written Witness Statement under penalty of perjury, plus an appropriate Project Sheet(s). Water Restoration/Applied Structural Drying Combo (5 days) (WRT / ASD) Exams 501 & 511 This course must be attended in its entirety along with passing both WRT and ASD exams during that same five (5) day period. If any portion of the course and exam are not completed during the five (5) day period, the student is required to re-attend the entire five (5) day course to receive both certifications. No portion of the five (5) day course can be applied to either a WRT or ASD course being taught separately. Commercial Drying Specialist (4.5 days) (CDS) Exam 541 Prerequisites: IICRC Certification in WRT Special note to Participants: Commercial drying projects frequently have many more potential hazards and safety risks that are not generally encountered on residential projects. These hazards may include but not be limited to higher voltages, confined spaces, energized machinery, hazardous chemicals, heavy equipment and forklifts. The CDS course is not intended to be a health and safety course, nor will it cover all of the potential hazards that may be encountered on commercial projects. It is required of participants to comply with all applicable local, state/provincial and national safety rules and regulations. The participant is strongly advised to research and complete appropriate training programs (e.g. HST, OSHA 10-hour, Canadian HST) prior to participating in the CDS course. Carpet Repair & Reinstallation Technician (2 days) (RRT) Exam 601 Color Repair Technician (2 days) (CRT) Exam 701 Prerequisites: IICRC Certification in CCT or CCMT Carpet Inspector (5 days) (SCI) Exam 801 Prerequisites: Current Clean Trust Certification in CCMT or CCT, and RRT. During the first year after passing IICRC inspector exam, students are required to submit a minimum of ten (10) inspection reports, which will be reviewed by the Inspector Committee. Inspector status will not be awarded until such time as these reports are approved by committee. Introduction to Substrate Subfloor Inspection (3 days) (ISSI) Exam 811 Marble & Stone Inspector (3 days) (MSI) Exam 821 Prerequisite: IICRC Certification in SSI or ISSI. During the first year after passing IICRC inspector exam, the individual is required to submit a minimum of ten (10) inspection reports which will be reviewed by the Inspector Committee. Inspector status will not be awarded until such time as these reports are approved by committee

125 Resilient Flooring Inspector (4 days) (RFI) Exam 831 Prerequisite: IICRC Certification in SSI or ISSI. During the first year after passing IICRC inspector exam, the individual is required to submit a minimum of ten (10) inspection reports which will be reviewed by the Inspector Committee. Inspector status will not be awarded until such time as these reports are approved by committee. Ceramic Tile Inspector (4 days) (CTI) Exam 841 Prerequisite: IICRC Certification in SSI or ISSI. During the first year after passing IICRC inspector exam, the individual is required to submit a minimum of ten (10) inspection reports which will be reviewed by the Inspector Committee. Inspector status will not be awarded until such time as these reports are approved by committee. Wood Laminate Flooring Inspector (4 days) (WLFI) Exam 851 & 852 Prerequisite: IICRC Certification in SSI or ISSI. During the first year after passing IICRC inspector exam, the individual is required to submit a minimum of ten (10) inspection reports which, will be reviewed by the Inspector Committee. Inspector status will not be awarded until such time as these reports are approved by committee. Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician (2 days) (FSRT) Exam 901 Advanced Designations (No Examination) Designations are automatically awarded after attaining the proper credits Journeyman Textile Cleaner (JTC) A minimum of twelve (12) months after original Clean Trust certification date plus attainment of certifications as listed below. Certification in (CCT or CCMT) and UFT and either (OCT, CRT or RRT) Journeyman Fire & Smoke Restorer (JSR) A minimum of twelve (12) months after original Clean Trust certification date plus attainment of certifications as listed below. Certification in UFT, OCT and FSRT Journeyman Water Restorer (JWR) A minimum of twelve (12) months after original Clean Trust certification date plus attainment of certifications as listed below. Certification in (CCT or CMT), WRT and RRT Master Textile Cleaner (MTC) A minimum of three (3) years after original Clean Trust certification date plus attainment of specific certifications as listed below. Certification in (CCT or CCMT), UFT, OCT, (RRT or BRT) and CRT Master Fire & Smoke Restorer (MSR) A minimum of three (3) years after original Clean Trust certification date plus attainment of specific certifications as listed below. Certification in (CCT or CCMT), UFT, OCT, FSRT and (HST or equivalent) (There are no HST equivalents in Canada or Australia/New Zealand) Master Water Restorer (MWR) A minimum of three (3) years after original Clean Trust certification date plus attainment of specific certifications as listed below. Certification in (CCT or CCMT), RRT, WRT, ASD, AMRT/S and (HST or equivalent) (There are no HST equivalents in Canada or Australia/New Zealand) IICRC Testing Fee Structure All Technician Exams (excluding AMRT & Inspector): $ OZ/NZ $70.00 AU AMRT and Inspector: $ Retest: $ OZ/NZ $50.00 AU Only two retakes are allowed. Exam must be retaken within 90 days of receiving test results; otherwise, reattendance will be required before testing can be done again. Annual Registration Fee After one (1) year, registrant will receive annual renewal billing. If certified in 1 or 2 categories, fee will be $30 annually, 3 and 4 categories is $40 and 5 or more categories is $50 annually. Master status will be an additional $ Applied Microbial Remediation certification will be $60.00 annually. If registrant lets certification lapse for a period of over twelve (12) months, he or she will be required to re-attend an approved school, retake exam and pay appropriate fees. If registrant wishes to reinstate certification within the twelve (12) month period, outstanding fees and fulfillment of continuing education credits will be required. Registrants must follow the Code of Ethics or be subject to sanctions up to and including loss of certification. ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE SPECIFIC TO EUROPE Annual renewal for one (1) to more than five (5) is Master levels are an additional AMRT and inspector fees are an additional Credentialed Carpet Inspector is an additional All fees include the applicable standard VAT rate. ( ) ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE SPECIFIC TO AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND If certified in 1 or 2 categories, fee will be $60 annually, 3 and 4 categories is $70 and 5 or more categories is $80 annually. Master status will be an additional $ Applied Microbial Remediation certification will be $90.00 annually. A

126 practicing inspector is an additional $ whether certified in one or more inspection categories. Credentialed carpet inspector is $70.00 annually. All are figured in Australian dollars. Registrants must maintain all prerequisite and required courses to attain and maintain certifications requiring prerequisites and advanced designation status. (For example, WRT must be maintained to first attain and then to maintain ASD, and all supporting designations must be maintained to attain and to maintain Journeyman, Master, and Inspector status according to current Clean Trust policies). Certified Inspector: Once the inspector has passed the probationary requirements, he or she may choose to be listed as Practicing or Credentialed. Practicing inspectors will pay $80.00 annually for fees with listing on the 800# Clean Trust Referral System and the web site, while Credentialed will pay $40.00 per year with no listing. Hard Surface inspectors are only listed as Practicing with fee as $80.00 annually. Certified Firms: A Certified Firm Application Request Form must be sent to IICRC with a nonrefundable $25.00 processing fee. Upon approval of the request form, the firm will be sent an Application for Certified Firm. The Application for Certified Firm must be forwarded to headquarters with the annual fee of $ This is a separate fee from the $25.00 processing fee and is also nonrefundable. Once Certified Firm status is granted, the firm is immediately listed on the 800# Clean Trust Referral System as well as IICRC web site at The Certified Firm is also eligible at this time to use the registered trademark for advertising purposes. IICRC Reserves the Unqualified Right to Change and Revise the Policies, Procedures and Requirements. You may review the Privacy Policy at Revised 3/16/12

127 For IICRC Use Only Approved by: Date: No. Of Credits APPLICATION FOR IICRC CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS Name Date Company Register # Address Phone( ) City State Zip/Postal Code Event Date Event Sponsor Event Description Event Number: (not applicable if attending an IICRC certification course) Application must be signed by an authorized individual such as School Instructor, Association President, Executive Administrator or a pre-approved individual. Sign Print Name Title Date Phone ( ) *************************************************************************************************** APPROVED EVENT Attendance at Approved Schools. Attendance at Association sponsored Conventions, Workshops, Seminars, Chapter Meetings, and other educational functions as pre-approved. Attendance at supplier sponsored seminars as pre-approved. Attendance at Carpet Markets and or Carpet Market workshops. Attendance at other IICRC pre-approved functions. **************************************************************************************************** RULES All applications for credits must be witnessed by the sponsoring organization. This can be accomplished by signature of organization official or submission of a verified attendance form from the organization. All applications must be submitted on the official IICRC application form which requires signature of an organization official. Applications for approval of events must be made on the IICRC official form, in writing and presented to IICRC 30 days prior to the date of the event. No exceptions will be made. Applications for approval will be processed by the IICRC Registrants Standards Committee. No other authorization will be accepted. All requests must be mailed to IICRC headquarters. COPIES CAN AND SHOULD BE MADE OF THIS APPLICATION FOR FUTURE USE. You may review the Privacy Policy at Revised 3/16/12