Cleaning 101

How to Use the Green Mitt Starter Kit | Step-by-Step Guide to Fabric Cleaning

3 Things To Know

1. Spray Release Pre-Treatment on your fabric so it's damp, not soaking wet. Allow for 3 minutes of dwell time for the solution to work it's magic.

2. The Green Mitt should always be dampened with a mixture of water and 2 tablespoons of Remove (there are markings on the bottle). Wring out the Green Mitt so its damp and not dripping.

3. You can't mess this up. If this is all you're going to read make sure you don't soak your fabric, clean the entire area and not just a spot on a cushion, and you'll be fine!

If you're still nervous, test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area, let it dry, then move forward confidently. 

But keep reading... 

KEY TERMS

DWELL TIME: 

An amount of time necessary for a cleaning solution to effectively dissolve, emulsify, or loosen soils on the fabric being cleaned. The key is to not let the surface dry before using the Green Mitt.

PRE-SPRAY: 

Spray the fabric with Release and let it sit (dwell time) for 3-5 minutes before wiping with the Green Mitt. Think of this as the wash cycle of cleaning, intended to allow the cleaning solution to do its magic.  

Dwell time and pre-spray combined allow you to achieve maximum soil suspension before your soft surfaces are wiped with the Green Mitt. 

WATER STAIN:

A ring around the area you attempted to clean on your fabric. This happens when you don't wet the entire area and only clean the "spot" you're trying to remove. Good news is that it's easily fixable. Clean it again, this time making sure to wet and clean the entire cushion. This should fix it.

Detailed instructions...

Step 1. Dry Soil Removal - Vacuuming 

This is both the most important cleaning step and the most neglected. Skip at your own risk. This pertains to all soft surfaces. Below is an upholstery example. 

Loosen dry soil by pounding on cushions. Use a vacuum, ideally with good suction and an upholstery tool attachment. Go over each section of fabric slowly and methodically. A good vacuuming for a standard size arm chair should take approximately 3-5 minutes. A full size sofa should take 10-15 minutes. 

Depending on the level of soiling, some more soiled pieces will benefit from a pre-conditioning. 

Step 2. Pre-Conditioning - Dwell Time

Spray your fabric with Release Pre-Treatment Cleaner. A spray applied to the more soiled areas will loosen ground in soils. Apply to fabric so it's damp but not overly wet. Let dwell for 3-5 minutes. Do not let fabric dry.

Step 3. Green Mitt It!

Wet your Green Mitt in hot water mixed with the correct amount of Remove and wring out thoroughly, leaving the Green Mitt damp. Massage into fabric with a back and forth motion. Frequently rinse and wring out Green Mitt in hot water to release stain materials. Repeat as needed.

The 2 Bucket Method...

The "2 Bucket Method" refers to a cleaning strategy that uses one bucket for the Remove mix, and one bucket for rinsing. The idea is to not soil the cleaning solution with the dirty Green Mitt after use. The Green Mitt should be put in a separate bucket of fresh hot water and wrung out, leaving the soils behind. Then re-submerge the Green Mitt back into the bucket with the Remove cleaner and continue cleaning. Pre-conditioning the soft surfaces with the Release spray is still recommended. 

One benefit to this method is you'll visibly see the discoloration of the water in the rinse bucket. That's the Green Mitt doing it's job!