Dye Transfer. What is it? What can you do about it? And can you stop it?
What is it?
It is one of the most common problems I come up against almost on a daily basis. Dye transfer is where colour from one material is transferred onto another material. This isn’t just sitting there on top of the fabric. This colour transfer has attached itself to your fabric or carpeting.
As shown in the photo, there is severe dye transfer on this armchair because the owner likes to wear navy blue Chinos. And he’s retired so therefore spends a dozen or more hours a day in this his favourite chair. The darker dye migrated onto the lighter fabric of the armchair. This is done by a mixture of heat and moisture from the human body along with the friction of movement. Even when we sit still we are never really totally still. Minute, constant muscle movements along with changing position slightly and getting in and out of the chair all go to create the perfect storm that is dye transfer.
As you can see in the photo it is in the process of being successfully removed.
What can you do about it?
Regular, professional cleaning can mitigate its effects. Darker colours will migrate onto lighter ones whether it’s fabric or leather. You could choose to only wear similar colour fabrics when you are going to be in contact with your furniture, but that’s a little over the top. Having said that, if you have light coloured carpets then changing into lighter coloured socks when you get home from work is a good idea and only takes a few moments. Furniture and carpets should be cleaned annually anyway and if you are experiencing issues with dye transfer, then it is something that I would highly recommend. Left too long and the damage is irreversible.
Can you stop it?
Not really. Dye transfer is inevitable if you’re going to relax and enjoy your home (unless you’re going to colour coordinate your wardrobe with your furnishings). You can stop it becoming an eyesore though. Regular cleaning by a fully trained and experienced carpet and upholstery cleaner will stop it getting unsightly. Being proactive about your homes furnishings is the only way to maintain their like new appearance for longer. Fortunately, K D Cleaning Specialists is one the UK’s most experienced and well trained cleaners. With over 40 years experience and having attended a wealth of specialised training courses over those years, your home furnishings are in the safest of hands. But remember, the sooner you act, the more likelihood of a great result. The longer you neglect it, the harder it is to eradicate.
So don’t delay. Give us a call today on 07770 524506.