If you encounter a mystery stain, what is the safest approach(that will not further damage the client's carpet) to finding out what it will take to effectively remove it?

Thanks
Your Servant Alex

Cultivate the "OCCD" you had at first for the industry!

Firstly it is important to determine what type of carpet you are dealing with. Then ask the client or client's kids what caused the stain. They should remember if they created a stain on the carpet. Then you can best advise the possible outcome of removal attempts.

Never ask 'Have you done anything to the stain?'

You'll almost always get a resonding NO!! and you know right well that they are lieing straight to your face.

Always ask, 'now, which prodcuts have you already used on this stain' This will usually get a far more honest answer.

Sometimes they genuinely don't know how it happened/what it is as they themselves may not have been there for the accident or the cleanup but its a good starting point.

As Geoff said, fibre ID is also a key point. For me, I don't always do that because 99% of the time, it's going to be a wool carpet. As such, that's the most likely to be damaged by different treatments. If I want to go beyond a few simple steps, then I will fibre ID test.

Also, use your senses, eyes (where is it - right beside the bar in the family room) ears (what are/aren't they saying - embarrassing stain beside bed they won't be honest about) sometimes even feel and smell (not if it's beside the bed :-0 )

A visual look closely at the stain. Is it on top, at the base or all the way up the fibres?

If it's right at the base, or all the way up, then chances are, you'll need to do a weighted extraction with a spot claw to help get out what's at the backing and help prevent wick back.

Basic idea or progression should be.

VDS or NVDS followed by VDS if there is a chance that a solvent will help.
Dry.
Neutral spotter.
Next do a small test or either the most likely spotter for what you think it is, or if you don't know, then test two of three very small tests to see which is likely to give you the best results.

From there on, always rinse between products and work throught a process of elimination.

Be cautious of going to oxidising or reducing agents if you don't have a lot of experience with them. Get scraps of carpet, make stains, put them in the sun for a couple of weeks to harden then attempt removal in your own time.

ALWAYS neutralise the last product well. I know some say it's safe to leave in the carpet, well I found out, that wasn't a good enough backstop when one product re acted and I had a claim on my hands. Because the same bottle always caries a little 'test in an inconspicuous area first' disclaimer and will leave you high and dry if it does stuff up.

Stain treatments are a specialised area and as such demand respect. Respect in doing it, and respect FOR doing it. Don't sell yourself cheap. If you can learn it and do well and get them out, CHARGE WELL FOR IT.

John

John

John Middleton
Carpet Pro Ltd
Palmerston North
New Zealand

Good info John!

John forgot the "taste" test !

You can also learn a lot about a stain by it's shape - liquid, solid or in between. Color of the stain along with location will also narrow it down. It's feels sticky it's likely be sugar and if it's waxy or gummy or oily, well you get the idea. If there's a chandelier in the room beware of shadows, lol.

I'd start with a bit of Iso-Propyl alcohol on a towel to eliminate oil based stains. The test the pH of the stain but you may be testing the last thing they used.

I've never been taught the taste test Tony :-0

Is this a Canadian fetish or what?

John

John Middleton
Carpet Pro Ltd
Palmerston North
New Zealand