Plant Stains
Plant stains can be a combination of several components. As a plant is over-watered, it will run out of the pot and onto the carpet, saturating the carpet beneath. On its way through the potting soil, the water can pick up all sorts of minerals, soils, and dyes that can be difficult to remove. To make the situation worse, if the potted plant is in a basket, the water can pick up tannin and additional dyes.
The worst part about plant stains is that the water will remain under the pot for extended periods, providing an excellent growth medium for mould. The mould will do more than stain the fibres—it can eat away at the fibres of the carpet and backing, assuming that there is anything organic to be consumed. Once the plant is removed and you are asked to remove this stain, it may be too late to do an effective job. Be sure to qualify the situation with the customer and do not offer guarantees.
Procedure:
- Mix 1/4 oz of Streepene in a trigger sprayer of diluted Fab-Set, or use a mix of parts A & B of Stain Magic in equal proportions.
- Spray the solution on the stain in sufficient quantity to saturate the affected carpet fibres.
3a. When using Streepene, watch the stain carefully and be prepared to rinse with clear water as soon as the stain is gone. Streepene may bleach the fabric or carpet if left for too long. Do not leave unattended.
3b. When using Stain Magic, cover the stain and the damp area with cellophane to hold the moisture in. Allow the product to work until dry. It will dry to a powder that can be vacuumed away with a Rug Rat. There is no need to rinse.
Recurring Spots
There are three main reasons that a spot will return:
- Wicking from the backing due to over-wetting or slow drying.
- Residue from your spotting agent.
- Residue from an oily or sticky spill.
All three of these circumstances need to be considered and prevented during spotting to eliminate the chance of a spot coming back. If you do have a spot return, the following procedures will help address the problem.
Procedure:
- Rinse the spot free of any chemical left behind from a previous spotting attempt.
- Wet the area heavily with Bridgepoint Avenge to dissolve residues all the way to the padding. You may even want to add a little bit of water to ensure complete saturation.
- Extract the entire area using the Spot Lifter by Water Claw.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 as needed until the spot is completely gone.
- Spray a light mist of Fab-Set over the area and buff with a towel, or dry vac with your extraction machine.
- Quick dry with an air mover or Blue Blower.
