Learning Guide. Common stains Identify and remove common stains Level 3 6 credits. Name: Workplace: Issue 1.0

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1 Learning Guide Common stains Identify and remove common stains Level 3 6 credits Name: Workplace: Issue 1.0

2 Copyright 2017 Careerforce All rights reserved. Careerforce (Community Support Services ITO Ltd) is the owner of the copyright of this publication. Other than as permitted by the Copyright Act 1994, no part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any other form or by any means, without prior written permission of Careerforce, PO Box , Christchurch, 8144, New Zealand.

3 Contents Introduction... 1 Stains and spots... 2 Know your stain... 2 How to identify stains... 3 Different types of stains... 4 How to read a stain removal chart... 5 A spot test... 6 Cleaning agents... 8 Common procedure to remove stains... 9 Spot mopping Removing stains from hard floors Carpet spotting Stains on soft coverings Extraction Absorption Agitation/tamping Enzyme digestion Chemical action Possible problems Special equipment required Removing stains from soft coverings Information on recurring stains Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

4 Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

5 Introduction As a cleaner, what you do and how you do it makes a difference to cleanliness and hygiene for people working in, living in, or visiting the place you clean. It also makes a difference to other staff members and even to you. This learning guide gives you information about identifying and removing spots and stains on materials and surfaces. How to use your learning guide This learning guide supports your learning and prepares you for the unit standard assessment. This guide relates to the following unit standard: Identify and remove common stains (level 3, 6 credits). This learning guide is yours to keep. Make it your own by writing notes that help you remember things, or where you need to find more information. Follow the tips in the notes column. You may use highlighter pens to show important information and ideas, and think about how this information applies to your work. You might find it helpful to talk to your workmates or supervisor. Complete this learning guide before you start the assessment. What you will learn This topic will help you to: identify stains. choose appropriate cleaning agents. remove stains from materials and surfaces. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

6 Stains and spots Spots and stains may be found on hard surfaces such as walls, floors and bench tops, and on soft furnishings like carpets, curtains, textiles, cushions, sofas and chairs. A spot changes the feel or look of the material. A stain is a dirty mark that is difficult to clean. A stain can also be an area on the fabric or material that is a different colour from the rest of the fabric or material. For example: a brown stain on a black fabric. Know your stain Stains may be identifiable or non-identifiable. An identifiable stain is a stain that you are able to identify. This means you know what caused the stain and can find out exactly what you must do to treat it. When you know what type of stain it is and what type of floor it is, you can select the correct cleaning agent by: reading the labels on the bottles of cleaning agent. looking at the stain removal chart. Sometimes it is not possible to identify a stain. If you don t know what caused a stain, it is called an unidentifiable stain. To remove an unidentifiable stain, you will follow a similar procedure for removing an identifiable stain. However, because you are not able to identify the stain, you will first have to do a spot test on the stain, to find a cleaning agent that will remove the stain. Red wine stain Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

7 How to identify stains It is important to identify the stain first, so you know how to treat it. Some solvents are only used on water-based stains and other solvents are only used on oil-based stains. You may need to use a different method of stain removal for different types of stains. You may need to use a number of different ways to identify a stain. These include: colour, smell (odour), appearance (sight), feel (touch), location and client input. Colour The colour of the stain may help you to identify it. However, the colour alone is sometimes not very helpful. For example, many stains look brown, ie coffee, tea, old lemonade stains, make up, and so on. Odour or smell Some substances have a strong smell. For example, you may be able to identify a coffee stain or an oil stain by its smell. Appearance or sight Sometimes it is possible to identify a stain, from just looking at it. For example, chewing gum is easy to identify from looking at it. For waterbased stains, look for a ring that forms around the outside of the stain. Feel (touch) You may be able to identify a stain by touching it. For example, you can identify an oil/grease stain by touch. It may be greasy to the touch. It may look shiny. It may also have an oily smell. Location Sometimes the location where the stain is found may help you to identify a stain. It may give you clues. For example, black stains on the floor near a photocopier could be made by black toner from a toner cartridge. Brown spills on the chairs in the lunch room at an office may be tea or coffee stains. Client input Client input is information that a client tells you. The client may be able to tell you what caused the stain. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

8 Different types of stains You may have to remove many different types of stains. These may include: coffee, tea, chewing gum, tar, oil/grease, paint, mud/soil, ink, biro, crayon, twink (white out correction fluid), toner, wine, milk and blood. You may have a stain removal chart which you can consult. Types of stains Coffee stain Tea stain Chewing gum Tar Oil/grease Paint Mud/soil Ink Biro Crayon White out liquid (twink) Toner Wine Milk Blood Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

9 How to read a stain removal chart Here is an example of how to find the directions for removing oil from cork floors. Look at the diagram and read Instructions for reading a stain removal chart below. Stain Type Alcoholic Beverage Blood Ink Oil Type of Hard Floor Resilient Tile Wood and cork floors Directions 1 Remove as much oil as possible with paper towels or a spatula. 1 Rub with a cloth dampened in detergent and warm water. 2 If this does not work use a concentrated commercial cleaner and then rinse well. 1 Remove as much oil as possible with paper towels or a spatula. 2 Put a cloth saturated with dry cleaning fluid on the stain for five minutes. 3 Then wipe the area dry and wash with detergent and water. Instructions for reading a stain removal chart For this type of table you read all the information going across a row. Go to the Headings (the top line). Find the heading Stain Type. Move your finger down this column until you find the stain type you want. In this example, you are looking for oil. Once you have found the stain type, move across the row to the next column. Find the Type of Hard Floor. Some stains will have different directions for different types of hard floors. In this example, you want to remove oil from cork floors. Once you have found the type of hard floor, move across the row to the next column Directions. Read the directions Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

10 A spot test When you can t identify the stain, it is difficult to choose a stain removal cleaning agent to remove it. So, you need to try different types of stain removal cleaning agents on a small part of the spot or stain to find one that will safely remove the stain without damaging the surface or material. This is called a spot test. There is a correct order for trying different cleanings agents on an unidentifiable stain. You must always follow this order. Make sure that you always neutralise a stain removal cleaning agent before trying the next one on the list. Check the label to find out what to use to neutralise the stain. If none of these standard treatments remove the spot or stain, you should talk to your supervisor and the client before trying a specialty treatment. Once you have chosen a cleaning agent, you should still do a colourfast test on an area of the fabric or material that is not visible. Key words solvent detergent solution usually a liquid, which removes a stain detergent solutions remove stains Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

11 1 Volatile dry solvent Always start a spot test on an unidentifiable stain by using a volatile dry solvent (VDS) like Perco or Dry Fabric Cleaner. It is called a volatile solvent because it evaporates easily. Reasons for starting with volatile dry solvent are that: it will not set the stain (it will not make the stain permanent). VDS will not create a barrier so you can try another stain removal cleaning agent if it does not remove the stain. Volatile dry solvent can be used on the following stains - light oils, grease, tar, gum, asphalt, carbon, copier toner, fresh paint and general spots. 2 Non-volatile dry solvent If a VDS doesn t remove the stain, try a non-volatile dry solvent (NVDS) next. Examples of non-volatile dry solvents are: P.O.G, Visicol Red, Grease Breaker, Wet Solvent, Dry N Wet Spotter. A non-volatile solvent spotter will remove paint, oil, grease, oxidized oils, inks, dyes, plastic, lipstick, lacquer, glue, varnish and nail polish. To neutralise NVDS, rinse it with a volatile dry solvent. 3 Neutral detergent solution If a non-volatile dry solvent doesn t remove the stain, try a neutral detergent solution (NDS) next. This is a neutral ph foaming detergent. Neutralise the NDS after you have used it and before trying a different type of stain removal cleaning agent. 4 Alkaline detergent solution The next stain removal cleaning agent to try is an alkaline detergent solution. It will remove acid based stains, food spots, blood, albumin, protein spots, fatty acids, perspiration, saliva and some cosmetics (make-up). If alkaline detergent solution doesn t remove the stain, neutralise it with an acid solution. 5 Acid detergent solution Acid detergent solution, (tannin spotter) is used to remove spots caused by coffee or tea. These are called tannin spots. Acid detergent solutions also remove the following stains - wine, soft drinks, urine (wee), and faeces (poo). If this doesn t work, neutralise it with an alkaline solution, before trying another stain removal agent. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

12 Cleaning agents Solvents A solvent is a substance (usually a liquid) that removes a stain. Different types of stains need to be treated with different solvents. Common solvents are detergents, bleaches, pre-treatment products, alcohol, ammonia, dry cleaning fluid, nail polish removers, rust removers. Some solvents are only used on water-based stains and other solvents are only used on oil-based stains. So, it is important to identify the stain correctly. When you use a solvent, always use the least damaging solvent for that type of stain, first. If this doesn t work, you may need to try a stronger solvent. When using any solvents, try to stop them from soaking too deeply into the fibres. Solvents soaked into the backing can dissolve (melt) latex, cause delamination and encourage wicking. Wicking is the upward flow of moisture on fibre surfaces during drying. Always apply your spotting agent (water or solvent based) to a white towel first, then to the spot. This will avoid driving the stain deeper into the carpet or fabric and will help you control the amount of chemical used. Also if you notice stain transfer onto the towel, you will know you have the correct chemical cleaning agent. Neutralisers Always neutralise the cleaning agent, after you have removed the stain. A neutraliser neutralises the cleaning agent, stopping it from continuing to work. You need to neutralise the cleaning agent because: it prevents damaging the surface or material. it prevents causing a chemical reaction between two types of cleaning agent. Read the instructions on the label, to find the correct neutralising agent. There are two types of neutralisers: 1 alkaline based neutralisers - if you are using an alkaline based cleaning agent, you would use an acid based neutraliser. 2 acid based neutralisers - if you are using an acid based cleaning agent, you would use an alkaline based neutraliser. Key words neutraliser a neutraliser neutralises the cleaning agent, stopping it from continuing to work Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

13 Common procedure to remove stains There is a common procedure for identifying and removing stains. The actual method, equipment and cleaning agent used will depend upon what the stain is and the material or surface the stain is on. 1 Identify the type of material or surface the stain is on. 2 Identify the stain and whether it is oil-based or water-based. 3 Select the appropriate cleaning agent by: reading the labels on the bottles of cleaning agent. looking at the stain removal chart. 4 Put on your personal protective equipment (PPE). When handling cleaning agents, including detergent solution, wear safety goggles for eye protection and wear rubber gloves for hand protection. 5 Prepare the cleaning solution according to the manufacturer s instructions. This means that you must read the label on the bottle of cleaning agent and follow the instructions carefully. If you need to mix the cleaning agent, follow the instructions on the label of the cleaning agent. 6 Select your equipment and do a safety check of all equipment. 7 Put out a warning sign, cordon or barrier. Make sure that you put it in a place that will not cause a hazard and where people can read it. 8 Do a colour fast test before you use a cleaning agent. Apply a small amount of cleaning agent to a small area that is not visible. 9 Apply the cleaning solution to the stain according to manufacturer s instructions. 10 Neutralise the cleaning agent by rinsing the cleaning agent from the surface with a neutralising agent. 11 Rinse. 12 Clean your equipment and store it away. Store solvents in a separate area from other cleaning agents with a flammable chemical sign. 13 Dispose of any soiled solutions down a cleaners sink or down the toilet. Do not empty cleaning solutions down storm water drains or in the gutter. 14 Report the outcome to your supervisor or the client. Both successful and unsuccessful stain removal results should be reported. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

14 Spot mopping Spot mopping is to remove spots and spillages from hard floor surfaces. Spot cleaning of spillages is to be done as soon as possible after spillage has occurred. Most liquids will not stain if attended to before they dry. Select and safety check equipment The equipment you will use includes: personal protective equipment. warning signs. microfibre cloth. microfibre mop. wet mop pad. dry mop pad. bucket. detergent solution. Apply the cleaning solution Use the cloth to absorb the spillage. Detergent solution is to be used in accordance with manufacturer s instruction. Safety rules for handling chemical must be observed. Mop or wipe with water/detergent solution, taking care not to spread soil any further. Always work from the outside of soil or spillage towards the centre. Leave area as dry as possible. Spots and marks on fabrics should NOT be cleaned by this method. Clean and store equipment Microfiber cloths and mops may be sent away for laundering. If not, wash and rinse out and leave to dry. Wash all equipment and hang up to dry. Store the bucket upside down. Chemicals are to be stored as directed. Signs to be stored for future use. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

15 Removing stains from hard floors Follow the common procedure for removing stains. Scrubbing brush Scraper Select and safety check your equipment Select your equipment you will use which includes: a stain removal chart. a mop. cloths. a bucket or bowl. a scraper. the appropriate cleaning agent. soft scrubbing brush. Do a colour fast test Apply a small amount of cleaning agent, to a small area of hard floor that is not visible. Follow the instructions on the label. The instructions will tell you how long to leave the cleaning agent on. If the hard floor changes colour, or is damaged, DO NOT use the cleaning agent on the rest of the hard floor. Cleaning To remove the stain, follow the instructions on the bottle of cleaning agent, and apply according to manufacturer s instructions. Neutralise the cleaning agent and rinse the floor. Clean and store equipment Store solvents in an area that has a flammable chemical sign and in a separate area from other cleaning agents. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

16 Carpet spotting Carpet spotting removes spots from carpets. Spots and spillages should be attended to as soon as possible after they occur. The longer the delay the harder it will be to remove them. Select and safety check your equipment The equipment needed to do the task includes: lint-free absorbent cloth. small hand bristle brush and scraper. bucket. spray bottle. carpet cleaner. Inspect carpet before vacuuming and spot clean if necessary. Pick up large items by hand. Use brush and pan to pick up dry, loose soils. Always use the simplest methods first. Most spills can be removed with water or a carpet cleanser. When the stain or spillage can be identified, look up a list of recommended cleaners to be used for that liquid or substance. Removing spots Use scraper to remove thick or sticky solid and wipe up residue with a dry or moistened cloth. For liquid spills blot up as much as possible with absorbent material and then wipe with nominated cloth. Always work in a circular motion, starting outside the stain and working inwards. After removing spot or stain sponge the area with clean water and blot as dry as possible with absorbent material. Brush the carpet pile in the same direction as the rest of the carpet. Cover the damp area with a piece of furniture while it is drying. Stubborn stains should be reported to supervisor. Care should be taken when attempting to remove stains which require chemical treatment to avoid causing further damage or bleaching of carpet. Spotting kit to be restocked ready for immediate use. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

17 Stains on soft coverings Soft coverings can include upholstery, curtains and carpets. You can physically loosen or remove the stain from the surface or you can use a stain removal agent that works on the stain. There are different stain removal methods for physically removing stains. These include: 1 the extraction method. 2 the absorption method. 3 agitation, which is also called tamping. There are different types of stain removal agents. These include: enzymes which remove stains by enzyme digestion action. solvents (water-based, solvent based, co-solvent) that remove stains by chemical action. Extraction Water extraction is a cleaning method commonly used to remove stains from carpet and upholstery. Many carpet-cleaning machines use the water extraction method. The machine sprays water onto the stain and then extracts or pulls the stain and the dirty water out of the carpet into a container in the machine. You can use a cold water or hot water extraction method. Hot water may be better for removing tough stains, but cold water is best for cleaning natural fibres such as cotton and wool that are likely to shrink in hot water. Absorption In the absorption method something is used to absorb or soak up the stain. You may use an absorbent pad or an absorbent cloth to soak up a liquid stain. If possible, you should put an absorbent pad underneath the stain as well as on top of the stain. Change the absorbent pad as soon as there is any sign of stain on it or you may accidentally re-stain the area you have just treated. Another substance sometimes used to soak up a stain is chemical absorbent crystals. Key words extraction absorption to take out a stain, using water something is used to soak up the stain Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

18 Agitation/tamping You must only use this method once you have written instructions to do so. The agitation method is good for strong, tightly woven fabric but should not be used on more delicate materials. In this method, you use a tool such as a small brush, to apply light pressure directly to the stained area. This is called agitating or tamping. When agitating a spot, always use a tamping brush in a tamping motion and avoid scrubbing. To tamp, you hold the brush 5-7 cm (2-3 inches) above the stain and bring it down lightly onto the stain over and over again using the tips of the bristles only. You are more likely to damage the fabric if you use the sides of the bristles. The bristles of the brush should not bend. If they bend, it means you are pushing too hard. To avoid damaging the fabric, stop tamping as soon as the stain is gone. Avoid scrubbing the stain. Scrubbing will cause distortion to the fibres. If you are tamping after applying a stain removal cleaning agent, you may also want to place a towel between the brush and the stain while tamping. This will protect your brush and avoid splashing chemicals. At the same time, you will get additional absorption into the towel. Tamping brush Tips of bristles (top) Bristles Key words agitation or tamping using light pressure on the stain Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

19 Enzyme digestion An enzyme is a natural protein that helps a chemical reaction happen or happen more quickly. Enzymes are natural substances so they are safe to use. They break down completely and do not damage the environment. When used for stain removal, molecules of the stain lock onto the enzyme. Different enzymes are used to break down different types of stains (protein stains, fat stains and carbohydrate stains). The enzyme breaks the molecules into smaller pieces so they can be removed or washed away more easily. Chemical action This method of stain removal uses a chemical that creates a chemical reaction when applied to the stain. There are three main types of stain removal chemical agents that are used to treat stains. Water Water is one of the most common substances used to dissolve (remove, destroy) stains. Water is a special kind of solvent called an inorganic solvent. It is safe to use and does not damage the environment. In stain removal, water is used to flush out or sponge a water-based stain. However, water will not dissolve oil-based stains. You will need to use an organic solvent for oil-based stains. Organic solvents Organic solvents are a type of chemical. A solvent is a liquid, solid or gas that dissolves another liquid, solid or gas. One use for solvents is as stain removers. When a solvent is applied to a substance (for example, a stain), a chemical reaction happens. The solvent mixes with the substance to make a solution. The solvent and substance then react with each other. The molecules of the solvent wrap around the molecules of the substance. When a solvent is applied to a stain, it will look as if the stain has dissolved or disappeared. Co-solvents A co-solvent is a solvent which must be used with another solvent, to be able to dissolve a substance. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

20 Possible problems You will need to be careful when removing stains so that you don t damage the fabric or material. Here are some of the problems that can happen. Over-wetting causing shrinkage If you use too much water (over-wetting) this can damage some fabrics and materials. Sometimes fabrics or materials can shrink if they become too wet. If a fabric or material shrinks it becomes smaller. Leather is one material that will shrink if it gets wet. Dye-runs or discolouration Dye is used to colour a fabric or material. If a fabric is colourfast it means that the dye will not come out of the fabric if it is wet or washed. However, some dyes may not be permanent. If you wet a fabric or material that is not colourfast, the dye may run out of the fabric. Another problem is discolouration. Sometimes solvents may change the colour of a fabric. This is called discolouration. Before you wet a fabric or material or apply a solvent, you should do a colourfast test in a place that is not easily seen. If the dye runs or the fabric or the material changes colour, do not continue with that method of stain removal. Delamination (layers that separate) Some fabrics or materials are made up of different layers. If the layers of the fabric or material split or separate, this is called delamination. Delamination An example of delamination is when the primary and secondary backing fabric separate Some methods of stain removal may cause delamination. Fibre or yarn distortion If the yarn in a fabric moves or slips, the shape and size of the fabric can change. This is called fibre or yarn distortion. Hard rubbing of some fabrics can cause yarn or fibre distortion. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

21 Special equipment required Equipment required to remove stains from soft coverings includes: a stain removal chart. a stain removal kit (choose a kit that has a child-proof lock). cloths. rubber gloves. a respirator. an air mover. cleaning agent make sure you read the instructions on the label. A stain removal chart A stain removal kit (spotting kit) A respirator An air mover Use a respirator if you are handling hazardous chemicals that could be harmful if you breathe them in. You should wear a respirator if you are mixing hazardous (toxic) chemicals that can affect your breathing. You use an air mover for two main reasons: 1 to ventilate the room. It helps circulate (move) air around. 2 to help dry wet carpets. The air mover blows air across the top of the carpet which helps to dry it. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

22 Safety check for respiratory equipment Check all cartridges and attachments for fit. Ensure valves are clean and function correctly. Check the moulded face plate for leaks or cracks. To double check that your respirator is working regularly smell a strong odour (such as a petrol) while wearing it. If you can detect the smell it may indicate that the canisters require immediate replacement or the fitting needs adjustment. Fit-testing Without a proper fit, you are not protected. There should be no air leaks around the face mask. Adjust any headbands carefully to obtain a good seal. Facial hair can prevent a correct fit. A fit-test needs to be done every time the mask is put on. To check for proper fit do the following tests. Inhalation test Place the palm of the hand over the cartridge inhalation points and breathe in. If you cannot feel air enter the mask and the face plate collapses slightly, there is a proper fit and the exhalation valve is functioning properly. Exhalation test Completely cover the exhalation valve with the palm of your hand. Breathe out enough to cause slight pressure inside the face plate. If no air escapes from around the face plate, it is fitted properly and the inhalation valve is functioning correctly. Adjust straps if air leaks. Never share your respirator with someone else as this is extremely unhygienic (germy). It is your personal equipment and you are responsible for it. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

23 Removing stains from soft coverings Do a risk assessment Before you start, do a risk assessment of the worksite and get it signed off by the client. Get the client s acceptance before starting the job. The client gives their acceptance by signing that they understand the hazards and the steps being taken to control the risks. Identify the type and style of fabric or material It is important to identify the type and style of the fabric or material as this will help you choose the correct method of stain removal. Identify the stain and whether it is water-or oil-based If it is an identifiable stain, meaning you know what caused the stain, you can look it up in the stain removal chart and know exactly what you must do to treat it. Otherwise use colour, smell (odour), sight (appearance), feel, location and client input to help you to identify the stain correctly. To remove an unidentifiable stain, you will follow a similar procedure for removing an identifiable stain from soft coverings. However, because you are not able to identify the stain, you will have to do a spot test on the stain, to find a cleaning agent that will remove the stain. Spot test an unidentifiable stain Prepare a range of cleaning solutions (water-based cleaning agent, dry cleaning solvent, other cleaning solvents) that are suitable for the type and style of fabric or material. Select the appropriate cleaning agent When you know what type of stain it is and what type and style of fabric or material it is, you can select your cleaning agent. You can select the correct cleaning agent by: reading the labels on the bottles of cleaning agent. consulting a stain removal chart. For unidentifiable stains, select the most effective cleaning agent. More info There is more on preparing cleaning solutions in the learning guide for unit standard health and safety. Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

24 Test the ph level of the cleaning agent Test the ph level before you use the cleaning solution to find out how weak or strong the chemicals or solvents are. Test strips used for testing swimming pools or spas can be used for testing the ph level. A ph level over 7 can burn or discolour the fabric. If the ph level is over 7, choose a different cleaning agent. Make sure conditions are safe Before you start the process, make sure the worksite is well ventilated (aired). Open windows or use an air mover to keep fresh air moving into the area. Make sure you are not working near fire or flames. The area must be a No Smoking area. Do not breathe in chemical fumes. Use a respirator and/or air mover when working with chemicals. Do not get chemicals/cleaning agents in contact with your skin and eyes. Do a colourfast test Follow the instructions on the label. The instructions will tell you how long to leave the cleaning agent on. If the fabric or material changes colour, the colour runs, or the texture is damaged, do not use the cleaning agent on the rest of the soft coverings. Cleaning Apply the cleaning solution to the stain. Neutralise the cleaning agent and rinse. Check the label to see if you need to rinse the fabric or material with water, to remove any leftover cleaning agent. Clean your equipment and store it away Key words ph ph is a measure of acidity or alkalinity ranging from 1 (most acid) to 14 (most alkaline) with 7 being the middle point Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

25 Information on recurring stains Recurring stains are stains that go away during cleaning but then mysteriously come back after the carpet or soft covering is dry. The stain can return because of wicking. Wicking is when moisture flows up the fibre to the surface during drying. If the stain has not been completely removed, it can be carried through the fibre during drying and suddenly appear again on the surface of the carpet or soft covering. How to prevent wicking and recurring stains 1 Use the correct stain removal agent. Don t use too much stain removal agent. Neutralise the stain removal agent from the stain after treating. 2 If cleaning carpet, don t wet the backing when applying stain removal agent. This will prevent wicking because if the backing is dry, any stains trapped in the backing will not be able to flow to the surface of the fibres during drying. 3 Use air dryers to dry the area quickly. If you dry the carpet or soft covering quickly this helps to prevent wicking because there is less time for the stain to wick up to the surface. 4 Use a white towel to remove any remaining stains from the carpet or soft coverings after treating the stain. 5 Fold the towel and lay it on top of the cleaned stain. Put a weight on it. Let the carpet or soft covering dry. Any remaining stains will come off on to the towel. Key words recurring recurring means to keep coming back again Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June

26 Glossary Key words absorption agitation or tamping detergent solution extraction neutraliser ph recurring solvent something is used to soak up the stain using light pressure on the stain detergent solutions remove stains to take out a stain, using water a neutraliser neutralises the cleaning agent, stopping it from continuing to work ph is a measure of acidity or alkalinity ranging from 1 (most acid) to 14 (most alkaline) with 7 being the middle point recurring means to keep coming back again usually a liquid, which removes a stain Common stains (US 29383) Learning Guide Careerforce Issue 1.0 June