Upholstery Fabric Damage
Flame-retardant chemicals, based on inorganic salts, decompose over time, forming acids that can do serious damage to certain textiles, especially with prolonged exposure. Cleaning professionals may encounter this when performing a pre-inspection of a sofa, for instance, and find very faint yellowing on the white cotton fabric that is blotchy in appearance and limited to the seat and back cushions. The transfer of flame-retardant chemicals from the ticking to the cover fabric is almost inevitable. Cotton is resistant to damage from alkaline chemicals but is susceptible to damage by acids, and browning due to flame retardant is caused by actual fiber damage. It is not correctable or preventable with the application of acidic chemicals such as those commonly used as rinse agents. If anything, fiber damage caused by acidic, flame-retardant byproducts is likely to be accelerated by acid rinses. Synthetic fibers are resistant to acids, and no damage to cellulosic upholstery fabrics like linen has been definitively linked to flame retardants.