Cleaning massage oil out of Microfibre couch cover? Help Pls...?
Question:Okay, so don't ask, but my wife an I kinda got about 2 oz of massage oil onto our Beige microfiber couch, and I don't want to touch it without finding out what will take it off. Cannot remove covers and wash separate, so what do I use to get it off?
Answers:
I may have to respectfully disagree with my colleague of the cleaning industry in regards to using alcohol. In my opinion that will definitely affect the dyes in your microfiber couch. Alcohol likes to leach out water and would definitely harm water based dyes. I would go this rout as a last resort. My field was in the drycleaning (not that cheap dollar cleaning where they just chuck it into the machine and hope for the best- I was a spot cleaner...) I do agree with the use of a wet/dry vac. And I do agree with testing your fabric with any cleaning solution you decide upon in an inconspicuous, unseen area of your couch to see the effects.
Basic chemistry 101- water based solutions are great for water based stains. Oil based solutions are great for oil based stains. Its like trying to mix water and oil- they don't. So water in and of itself will not get rid of your massage oil. A mild grease cutting liquid dishwashing detergent like dawn or palmalive etc might be a good place to start. Make sure it says grease cutting and that you test for any color loss. There probably shouldn't be. Try to dilute - maybe 1 part dawn, 2 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the area well and tamp, DONT SCRUB. Imagine trying to push the oil through the fabric. Then use your wet dry vac. Repeat as necessary.
A secondary issue you may confront is ringing, which most certainly occur with any spot cleaning not done correctly. In order to avoid this, make sure as you are spraying the affected area that you not end up with a hard ring. Tamp with a terry cloth or sponge from the outside of the ring, in, acheiving a feathered affect. This will help maintaing the integrity of the microfiber finish. If you fail to do this, you will have to spray over a large enough area of the couch where it can be wet vacced and dried in a consistent manner. Hope this helps.
Try some regular shaving cream, not gel and gently rub it into the stained area. Blot with a damp towel and blot with a dry towel... Do Not rub the shaving cream into couch just blot... Repeat if necessary... Good luck...Don't ask, Don't tell..
As a 20 veteran carpet cleaner, you might be sucessful with a small wet/dry shop vac and a bottle of rubbing achohol. Spray the solution on the spot until wet-then vac off. Keep repeating process until it feels or looks complete. let it dry, brush the fiber with soft bristle brush. Once completely dry, you may have to repeat if oil still present. Do not scrub aggresively, might distort fiber. Also test fabric first ti make sure no color loss first to make no color loss occurs(test in hidden spot). Beyond this, you next would call a professional.
Use simple green it will remove oil. It is also good for lipstick or crayons left in your pants that went through the was these are also both oil base.
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