Red velvet, (not the good kind), spot clean

[GJR]

How to spot clean an unknown stain on a velvet chair. Looking for advice.

This job is over and done, minimum rate received, but the door is still open for me to be a hero.
Plus to learn something for next time.

I gave it my best shot by doing the following:
Dry cleaner on a rag dabbed on the unknown black streak and more on the rest of the entire panel where the stain is. Attempted to lift with another clean rag wrapped over my vac hose attachment. Groomed with brush.
Didnt work.
Then, after getting the go ahead from customer, TM on low and low/medium heat. Attempted to clean for grease/paint, ink, blood, general soil. Cleaned with gentle agitation, minimal water, overlapped strokes, rapid drying. Groomed with brush.
Didnt work.

The pic is after cleaning, maaaaybe a little lighter than before but not really.

What did I do wrong and what would you have done?

 

[Jim Pemberton]

How to spot clean an unknown stain on a velvet chair. Looking for advice.

This job is over and done, minimum rate received, but the door is still open for me to be a hero.
Plus to learn something for next time.

I gave it my best shot by doing the following:
Dry cleaner on a rag dabbed on the unknown black streak and more on the rest of the entire panel where the stain is. Attempted to lift with another clean rag wrapped over my vac hose attachment. Groomed with brush.
Didnt work.
Then, after getting the go ahead from customer, TM on low and low/medium heat. Attempted to clean for grease/paint, ink, blood, general soil. Cleaned with gentle agitation, minimal water, overlapped strokes, rapid drying. Groomed with brush.
Didnt work.

View attachment 133852 View attachment 133853

The pic is after cleaning, maaaaybe a little lighter than before but not really.

What did I do wrong and what would you have done?

Let me know the fiber content and I will share some thoughts.

Also:

How did this occur?

Was something pushed into it or dragged across it?

Did they buy the piece this way, or do they have knowledge of what caused the mark.

Knowing these things can help guide you to a good outcome.

 

[GJR]

Vintage velvet upholstery, unknown content. No label. Unknown age. Purchased second- hand.

The cause of the black streak is unknown, she noticed it after she had movers deliver a large statue to her apartment. This chair is by the entrance.

I thought initially it was grease or warehouse dust off a mover's boot or pant leg.
She said there was no hand truck involved. 5 guys carrying a large piece of art and struggling with the weight. And it may have nothing to do with the movers at all.

It didn't have the feel of an abrasion or burn (like from an electrical cord) but I haven't ruled out anything and suspect this might point toward the answer to the cause, but ill probably never know for sure.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Vintage velvet upholstery, unknown content. No label. Unknown age. Purchased second- hand.

The cause of the black streak is unknown, she noticed it after she had movers deliver a large statue to her apartment. This chair is by the entrance.

I thought initially it was grease or warehouse dust off a mover's boot or pant leg.
She said there was no hand truck involved. 5 guys carrying a large piece of art and struggling with the weight. And it may have nothing to do with the movers at all.

It didn't have the feel of an abrasion or burn (like from an electrical cord) but I haven't ruled out anything and suspect this might point toward the answer to the cause, but ill probably never know for sure.

I know on older furnishings it is difficult to find a test area, but you'll need to do that before you try anything else.

If you aren't comfortable performing a burn test, DM me and I'll send you instructions.

Here is why I ask:

Synthetic fiber fabrics are more colorfast, and velvets made from synthetic fibers are far less likely be permanently distorted from aggressive spotting. Conversely, a "hard rub" can melt olefin fibers and there will be nothing you can do to correct that.

Natural fiber velvets will almost always be damaged by all but the gentlest spotting procedures, and color loss on red is almost guaranteed if you go further.

I do have a couple of ideas on this one, but my hands are tied (figuratively of course.....I'm typing after all) until I know what fiber family this fabric is made from.

 

[GJR]

Most likely I wont get the chance to perform a burn test, how would I have done that in this case, I wonder.
Where do you reach for fibers to pull off on a piece like this one?

I spot cleaned very carefully until it began to pull some of the color onto the rag. That's when I called it quits, realizing that anything more would ruin the fiber.

I think it is a natural fiber velvet based on the color transfer.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Most likely I wont get the chance to perform a burn test, how would I have done that in this case, I wonder.
Where do you reach for fibers to pull off on a piece like this one?

View attachment 133858

I spot cleaned very carefully until it began to pull some of the color onto the rag. That's when I called it quits, realizing that anything more would ruin the fiber.

I think it is a natural fiber velvet based on the color transfer.

These are tough to test for sure.

I sometimes find if you turn them upside down, you can access something from underneath.

No matter, you stopped when you had color transfer, and that was wise.

Just like the oath for doctors:

"First, do no harm"

 

[GJR]

haha
"do no harm" actually went through my head yesterday.
Maybe because I've been watching that show tThe Pitt. Feeling like an ED doctor, the velvet chair a critical patient.

I'm comfortable with the reality of permanent stains. I always tell the customer in these situations that 'most stains come out but many don't.' It makes it easier to break the bad news.

I brought it to this forum in case someone has a wild, tried and true technique for stained velvet chairs (or other delicate fibers) that's worth exploring. Either with this case or in the future.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

haha
"do no harm" actually went through my head yesterday.
Maybe because I've been watching that show tThe Pitt. Feeling like an ED doctor, the velvet chair a critical patient.

I'm comfortable with the reality of permanent stains. I always tell the customer in these situations that 'most stains come out but many don't.' It makes it easier to break the bad news.

I brought it to this forum in case someone has a wild, tried and true technique for stained velvet chairs (or other delicate fibers) that's worth exploring. Either with this case or in the future.

Ah The Pitt

I live just a few miles from Pittsburgh

 

[GJR]

Ah The Pitt

I live just a few miles from Pittsburgh

Im in Philly myself

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Im in Philly myself

Other than the "Scare Kill" (Schuykill of course) Expressway, I love Philly.

I just avoid wearing sports memorabilia when I visit

 

[GJR]

Other than the "Scare Kill" (Schuykill of course) Expressway, I love Philly.

I just avoid wearing sports memorabilia when I visit

Im near enough to that stretch to feel the cars whizzing or listen to them idle depending on what time of day. Even scarier roadway to me is The Boulevard. Avoid at all cost.