Pale curtains look grey

Problem: The cleaner built a business plan based on military contracts, overalls and commercial curtain cleaning and bought a new perc machine. The military and overall contracts proved profitable but white and pastel curtains often came out with heavy greying.

Cause: This type of contract work includes many heavily-soiled items, so the working tanks will sometimes be coloured with residual soiling and loose dyes. Using this solvent in the first bath for white and pastel curtaining could lead to an unacceptable level of soiling redeposition. This will not be removed in the second bath, which should use distilled solvent. The problem will be much worse if the curtains have not been thoroughly aired before cleaning. Any trace of dampness will attract loose dye and soiling and “lock” this onto the cloth with strong electro-chemical forces.

Responsibility: The blame lies with the cleaner who should have sought programming help from the machine supplier. If the cleaner did ask for help but the program choice was wrong, the supplier is at fault.

Rectification: Overhauling the programs to eliminate the use of working tank solvent for whites and pastels should cure most of the problem. It is worth optimising the detergent dosage for whites and pastels, using a special program cycle if necessary. The detergent supplier may suggest a higher dosage than normal as the suspending agent in the detergent will counter greying. Pre-airing pale curtains overnight will also be beneficial.

Pile goes flat in cyclosiloxane

Problem: The cleaner changed from perc to cyclosiloxane and results on silks and beads improved immediately. However a load of acrylic velvet curtains were ruined as the pile flattened, though others have been processed without this problem.

Cause: Cyclosiloxane needs a drying temperature that is higher than the softening point of some acrylic velvets. If the drying temperature exceeds that at which the acrylic fibre was heat-set after extrusion, then the pile will flatten very easily.

Responsibility: The cleaner is generally deemed responsible for damage caused by the drying temperature unless the fibre content label in the curtain is incorrect or the care label does not call for reduced drying temperature. If the curtain is unlabelled then it is up to the cleaner to identify the fibres and devise appropriate precautions.

Rectification: Flattened acrylic pile cannot be rectified but changes can be made for the future. If a fabric cutting leaves a hard bead in a standard flame test, the drying temperature should be reduced to the minimum. The program should end with a thorough cooldown to prevent damage from the hot cage. NB: Staff need training to do the flame test and should take safety precautions to avoid eye and skin damage.

Complaints of perc smells

Problem: A busy, but seriously under-capitalised shop was forced to buy a machine a new machine to comply with the SED. It chose an 8kg perc machine, which was fine for the express service, but the cleaner had to process 16 loads a day to handle the other work. Customers complained of perc smells on curtains and heavy items and about poor drying, even after the cleaner increased the drying time and temperature.

Cause: An 8kg machine has a small cage and will often struggle to dry curtains or heavily-padded jackets, even if the cleaner keeps strictly to the 8kg limit. Some designs used to be sold as 6 – 8kg machines, meaning that they could process 8kg of normal goods but only 6kg of difficult-to-dry fabrics.

Responsibility: The cleaner should read the small print in the machine manual and in the contract. If this machine only works well with heavier items when it is under-loaded, there might be a claim on the supplier. If the p-o-s says 6 – 8kg the cleaner is probably to blame.

Rectification: Under-loading as suggested should cure the problem, but if not, automatic drying parameters must be adjusted.