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Home & Garden Articles
Stain Removal Guide
Wed 09 May 2007 - 12:22
Stain Removal Guide
By Samuel Downey
In principle, stains should be dealt with as soon as possible after they occur.
As more than 90% of all stains consist of residues from sugary drinks, attempts should first be made to remove the stains with luke-warm, clear water. Sugary drink stains can be dealt with in this way: Work the stained area with a wet cloth, sponge or brush. Avoid rubbing on delicate surfaces with a pile. If the stain substance is not removed by this, however, use normal stain removal agents. Dirt which resists removal should first be carefully loosened using suitable equipment (back of a knife, spatula or spoon), without damaging the pile, and the loose substances should be vacuumed up.
Before using carpet cleaning agents or specialist dry cleaning materials, the carpet should be tested in an inconspicuous spot or on an off-cut for colour-fastness.
Dirt containing oil or fat can be removed using suitable carpet cleaning agents or stain removers.
For marks covering a large surface area, intermediate cleaning methods can be used.
Use of washing-up liquid or gentle detergents, etc., is not recommended, as this increases the risk of repeat staining of the covering due to residues.
Soil such as tar, asphalt, felt-pen ink, glue or paint can only be removed using organic solvents. When using these solvents, health and environmental protection directives must be followed.
If possible, products with a water-soluble solvent (e.g., based on diethylene glycol ethers), which are not regarded as hazardous substances, should be used.
Please note: Dissolved stain substances and, when relevant, stain removal agents must not remain in the textile floor covering in order to avoid the same stain recurring or unnecessary repeat staining. Attention must always be paid in such cases to rinsing thoroughly with water and then draining (wet vacuuming, extraction).
Specific stain treatment
Chewing gum Liquid agents - generally based on citrus-turpentine - are very well-suited to simple removal of chewing gum. Freezing sprays used to be offered as chewing gum removers, but these contained ozone-layer destroying chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and were therefore taken off the market. Rust Removal with 10% oxalic acid solution (available from chemists as "salts of lemon"). After treatment, the covering must be thoroughly treated with clear water. Blood Removal using products containing enzymes; let work overnight. A "rust stain" often remains from blood stains, due to its haemoglobin (iron content); this can be removed with 10% oxalic acid. Urine Removal using products containing enzymes; let work overnight. Acid Removal with varnish solvent paste based solvent. Caution with coverings sensitive to alkali! Mould Remove with 6% hydrogen peroxide solution (chemists). Soak a cloth in the liquid. Let work overnight. Caution due to bleaching effect and fading of dyes! Ink Removal with sodium dithionate solution (specialist, chemists). Test in unobtrusive spot first!
Fruit Removal with enzymes, oxidation or reducing agent. Test in unobtrusive spot first!
Candle wax Remove using a hairdryer. Place a coffee filter paper on the stain and warm the spot carefully. Remove any residue with solvent. Other method: flood stain with hot water and treat spot immediately with a wet vacuum.
Shading Shading is the term for stains which arise without the effect of dirt substances. While these look like seriously stained marks (similar to a large drink spill), their cause is really due to the pile of the textile covering being irregularly displaced.
The phenomenon occurs in all kinds of fabrics and goes from one room into another. The effect can also extend over several storeys, with the affected areas lying precisely one above another.
The scientific causes of this have not yet been determined. Shading cannot be removed by cleaning!
Burn marks Burn marks cannot be removed by cleaning. The affected part of the textile covering must be replaced
For more information on stain removal and suitable machines, check out
http://www.nilfix.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Downey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Stain-Removal-Guide&id=90595
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