using a combo method to clean a "dryclean only" fabric is really nothing new, a great many people do utilize it however, the way i did it may be somewhat different? a great many people also wet clean most dryclean only fabrics, me included.
hopefully most of ya'll remember my postings about how i no longer push for upholstery cleaning due to the many cheapo crap walmart type stuff on the market nowadays, and the folks not willing to pay premium prices!
first, always pretest the fabric by dabbing or lightly misting the cleaners yer gonna use.
i'd fine mist chemspecs heavy duty soil lifter, or cleancrafts o so clean onto the fabric. just enough mist to see it bead on top, and not soak thru.
then i'd spray on cleancrafts drymax, and brush with horsehair brush, especially the more soiled areas such as cushions and arms. i'd also use a very absorbant white cotton terry cloth, to begin pulling out the lil moisture that is in the fabric. then i'd mist on cleancrafts fibermax, to render both cleaners neutral, and to rid the fabric of the smell.
i'd then follow with my extractor to run air thru the fabric, and guarantee it be dry on the spot.
when i was hot and heavy with upholstery cleaning, i used this exact method an untold amount of times, and never once had a problem.
its also a great method for tapestries, lamp shades, drapes, and haitain cottons!
the key is not to use any added water, especially with the water based cleaners like chemspecs HDSL and cleancrafts OSC. the lil water thats in them already is enough.
i'll also mention, cleancrafts drymax is the best dry cleaner i have ever used, and actually smells very pleasant. most of the solvents in drymax are natural citrus based but it does contain a touch of OMS. most other dry cleaning solutions are almost all OMS and is why they stink the way they do.
the real killers are from some years ago like original argosheen. that stuff would clean anything but was loaded with stoddard(sp) solvents. thats the same stuff the dry cleaners used years ago. old timers will recall the smell of it when they picked up thier suit or coat from the local martinizing store.
i would venture to say most upholstery cleaning classes dont teach this method? it is very unconventional, but it works!
