The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition Sept/Oct/Nov 2018

www.theconnectionsnj.com HANDYMAN Over the Hills GENERAL HANDYMAN JOBS Repairs • Remodelings Installations Interior/Exterior Painting, Kitchens, Bathrooms, Basements Mack 908-507-6979 handyman_over_the_hills@hotmail.com Fully Insured CALL FOR ESTIMATE (908) 722-2345 WWW.DRAPERYCARE.COM Bedminster ON-SITE Drapery Care We dry clean window treatments right in your home, right where they hang – Work usually completed in one day. Fully insured. Fully bonded. WE RESTORE LEATHER UPHOLSTERY FINE ORIENTAL RUGS WE CLEAN DRAPERY & UPHOLSTERY HUNTER DOUGLAS SHADES WE GUARANTEE NO DAMAGE OR SHRINKAGE Our customers often ask us why we spend half a day to clean a couch or chair/ottoman when the last cleaner cleaned the same piece in under an hour, for one-third of what we charge. A recent job we did gives me the opportu- nity to provide an answer. In the upholstery cleaning business, there are two kinds of cleaners—one kind, the one you will most likely run into, is the carpet cleaner looking to make a few extra bucks. Unfortunately, they use the same high-alkaline chemi- cals and extreme heat/pressure steam cleaning techniques as they use on nylon carpet. This is the worst thing one can do on delicate upholstery, which is usu- ally natural fabric or a blend. The second type of upholstery cleaner comes from the drapery cleaning side. They use the same gentle techniques and non-toxic, wet or dry cleaning solutions as they use in drapery cleaning. They always vacuum first. Bedminster ON-SITE falls in this lat- ter category. The two pictures show the before and after of a cushion from a very high-end couch we recently cleaned. We were able to tell from experience that the couch had been previously cleaned incorrectly and that the prior cleaner had not vacuumed the couch prior to clean- ing. The dark streaks are the result of “mudding” the loose, surface soil into the fabric. Furthermore, the high heat “set” these streaked stains throughout the couch (except for the back of the couch, where the previous cleaner never touched!). There was also minor dye transfer. The plush velour fabric was rough to the touch due to alkaline residues not properly flushed out. We vacuumed the entire piece to remove as much loose soil as possible. Since this was a “dry-clean-only fabric,” we dry cleaned first in order to protect the fibers from the stain removal process, which would require wet solution. We then wet cleaned with gentle, neutral PH solution mixed with a special degreasing spotter. We repeated this spotting/cleaning process several times until the dark streaks and alkaline residue were com- pletely gone. We then dry cleaned to flush out the wet cleaning solution and give the fabric a soft “hand.” We fol- lowed up with a special commercial soil and UV protectant application. The result is that the couch is now like new and our customer is happy. TWO KINDS OF CLEANERS By: Mitch Frieber, Bedminster ON-SITE Drapery Care Before After home & design PAGE 80