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Haitian Cotton - Common Carpet Problems
Haitian cotton is an upholstery fabric made from 100% cotton, grown in Haiti or India. The fibers are not thoroughly processed, leaving bits of cotton seeds stems and other plant components in the yarn. Theses specks of brown give the fabric its natural and rustic appearance. The yarns are thick, coarse and usually white, cream, or tan in color. Occasionally, they are dyed with colors such as red or blue or may be two toned.
Haitian cotton fabrics are very susceptible to cellulosic browning. In fact the spillage of plain tap water is enough to produce discoloration. The seed particles (gossypol) will also release a brown dye when wet and this stain may be impossible to remove completely.
Professional cleaners who can use a variety of dry cleaning solvents could normally overcome complications of this type; to supplement water based cleaning solutions.
Unfortunately, the weave of Haitian cotton fabrics is too loose to stand alone and must be manufactured with a latex backing to bind the yarns together into a fabric. This backing is softened or degraded by dry cleaning solvents, so texture changes may occur with any type cleaning.
Haitian cotton therefore cannot be safely cleaned by an amateur. Professional cleaners have developed techniques for handling Haitian cotton. |
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