Problem:
You are preparing to clean your client’s upholstery. It may be white cotton, linen, a jacquard print or another fine fabric where there are concerns about possible browning, bleeding or shrinkage. When the cleaning is finished, it should be protected. What type of product do you use?

Back at the turn of the century, this would have been an easy question to answer. You reach for a protector with a solvent carrier and (hopefully) your respirator. Clear the home-owner and her family from the area, set-up ventilation and go to work. This is how many top cleaners would have responded.

Back in the last century, many top carpet and upholstery cleaners used the yellow pages as the cornerstone of their marketing strategy. But times change, sometimes rather quickly.

What has changed causing upholstery cleaners to decide against picking up that sprayer full of solvents?

For one thing – government regulation. With California Air Quality Board (CARB) leading the way and other states often following a couple of years later, regulation of solvents that might be used in fabric protectors has increased. The current regulation allows fabric protector to contain no more than 1% solvents. There are a few exceptions (acetone, Methyl acetate, ‘perc’ dry cleaning fluid), but these are regulated in other ways because of their extreme flammability and/or because they are suspected carcinogens.

A few drops of acetone used to clean up some ink or fingernail polish is OK, but imagine spraying enough solvent to protect all the upholstered furniture in an average living room. Just the odor alone could keep the family out for a week!

Another reason for avoiding the widespread use of solvents behind is safety concerns. This includes the safety of the technician and the occupants. Asthma is on the increase with many attacks being triggered by reactions to fragrances and odors. Solvents also trigger a number
environmental concerns.