Meaning of Laundering Most of us think that laundering means only washing of clothes.

. But actually it includes proper drying, finishing and storing as well. Therefore, we can say laundering consists of three main steps: (i) Washing the fabrics to remove the dirt. (ii) Finishing the fabrics by use of starch, gum, blue, etc., followed by ironing and pressing. (iii) Storing the fabric by properly folding it.]

Laundering means removing dirt from clothes by washing and then finishing them (i.e, starching, ironing) thereby giving them a neat and clean appearance.

Importance of Laundering Why do we launder clothes? Well, we all know that when we wear clothes they become dirty due to the dirt, grease, perspiration etc. The dry dirt can be easily shaken off the clothes, but greasy dirt requires a special treatment called laundering. If dirt is left on clothes: (i) It is harmful for personal hygiene (ii) The clothes do not look neat or fresh (iii) It leaves a permanent mark called stain (iv) It affects the strength of the fabric.

STAIN
A stain is a discoloration that can be clearly distinguished from the surface, material, or medium it is found upon. Stains are caused by the chemical or physical interaction of two dissimilar materials A stain is an unwanted mark of discolouration on a fabric caused due to contact with another substance, which can not be removed by the normal washing process and requires special treatment.

 The basic principle of successful stain removal is not allowing the stain to become set. Since a fresh stain dissolves easily, care should be taken to remove it at the first opportunity. Different fibers and different types of stains require different type of stain removing. Use of incorrect stain removing agent can spoil a fabric. Identifying the stain is very helpful in the selection of appropriate stain removing agent and method.

IDENTIFICATION OF STAIN

COLOUR APPEARANCE ODOUR TOUCH STICKINESS

HOW TO IDENTIFY A STAIN Stains can be identified by their Colour: Every stain has a specific colour. For example, curry/pickle stains are yellow while coffee/tea stains are brown, grass stain is green, etc. Smell: Some stains have a peculiar smell, eg, stains of egg or paint, by which they can be recognized. Feel: Some stains also change the feel of the fabric and can be recognized on that basis. For example paint makes the fabric stiff to touch whereas Lipstick or shoepolish make the fabric feel slippery.

General procedure of stain removal

SOLVENT ACTION MECHANICAL AND EMULSIFYING ACTION CHEMICAL ACTION, OXIDATION AND REDUCTION DIGESTION (ENZYME) ABSORPTION

NATURE OF STAIN Acid

STAINS Perspiration, urine (fresh), vinegar, medicines containing nitric acid, picric acid, etc. Perspiration, urine (old stains). Butter, cream, margarine, edible oils, machine oil, hair oil, lard, wax. Paraffin, vaseline, turpentine, car grease. Rust, silver nitrate, brass, copper salts, black ink,chrominum salts, etc. Iodine tinctures

Base Fats and oils Grease Mineral Oil Metallic

Metalloid

Natural dyes and pigments in Herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruit juices, wines, solution dispersion or tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, henna, beetle-leaf, emulsion in aqueous medium tobacco.

Synthetic dyes and pigments Inks, markers, hair dyes, type-writer in solution dispersion or ribbons, water colours, mercurochrome, emulsion in aqueous gentian violet. medium.

Sugar solutions colouring matter.

Solutions, dispersions emulsion in fats or oils

and Jams, jellies, puddings, etc

syrups,

soft

drinks,

or Mayonnaise, sauces, ketchup, lipstick, rouge, mascara, printing ink, polishes, tar, smoke, soot, crayons.

Solutions, dispersions or Oil paints, lacquer, varnish, nail-polish. emulsions of dyes or pigments in organic solvents. Proteinic Blood, egg. Meat juice, fish slime, milk

Misellaneous

Scorch, mildew, certain medicines

PRINCIPLES OF STAIN REMOVAL

Name of the stain Principal of removal

Acid Base Metal and metal salt Metalloid(iodine) Fats and oils

Neutralization with alkali gives a soluble salt which can be leached out. Neutralization with acid gives a soluble salt which can be leached out. Oxidation or Reduction (bleaching) gives a soluble. colourless salt, removed in washing Reduction with sodium thio sulphate gives a colourless. \ soluble salt, removed on washing. Anyone process Saponification. Absorption by an absorbent powder Dissolution in a solvent.

Natural dyes and pigments Oxidation (Bleaching) in solution dispersion or emulsion in aqueous medium

Name of the stain

Principal of removal

Synthetic dyes and pigments in solution dispersion or emulsion in aqueous medium. Sugar solutions and colouring matter.

One of the following processes Reduction followed by oxidation. Oxidation followed by reduction. Acidification followed by reduction. Oxidation in acidic medium. Solubilization of the sugar and reduction of the colour.

Proteinic

Digestion with enzyme protease.

Solutions, dispersions or Emulsification and dissolution in a emulsions of dyes or solvent. pigments in organic solvents. Mineral oil Anyone process * Absorption by an absorbant powder. * Dissolution in a solvent. * Emulsification. Special treatment

miscellaneous

CLASSIFICATION OF STAIN REMOVERS

Hydrocarbons Chlorinated hydrocarbons Petroleum based
Benzene, Toluene Carbon tetrachloride, Trichloroethylene, Perchloroethylene Petroleum ether, solvent naphtha, kerosene, turpentine acetone, glycerine

Solvents

Alcohols/Ethers/Ketones Ethyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, amyl acetate, Oxidising agents

H202, sodium perborate, sodium hypochlorite, KMnO4 oxalic acid

Bleaches Reducing agents Oils/Fats Fatty acids

Organic

Sodium hydrosulphite. Sodium thiosulphate, Sodium bisulphite.

Coconut oil, olein. Oleic acid 1% oxalic, 30% fonnic, 1 % acetic white vinegar. tomato. lime. sour milk. curds. Ammonium hydroxide % , Liquid ammonia 10% , Sodium bicarbonate 1 Enzyme soaps

Acids

Inorganic

Enzymes Protease, amylase, lipase

Anionic

Soaps, alkylaryl sulphonates. Fatty acid alcohol sulphonates. Teepol, detergents based on: fatty alcohol and a1kylphenol condensates, fatty acid condensates, fatty amine oxides

Emulsifier
Nonionic

Absorbants

Talcum powder, cornstarch. French chalk ( 3MgO . 4Si02 . H20 ) Fullers earth ( A1203 . Si02 . X H20 )

Classification Acid Base Fats and oil Grease-mineral oil Metallic Metalloid Natural dyes and pigments in solution dispersion or emulsion in aqueous medium

Application or Stain Removers Solvents

Metylated spirit, acetone and dry cleaning solvents can be used successfully on a wide variety of stains, which include blood, various inks and mildew, without causing damage to wool. Lined garments should be unsewed and worked on single layer even if the stain has penetrated at lining. Place a thick pad of clean, absorb ant white cloth under the stained material. The stained side should lie on the pad. Work on the wrong side. With the help of a dropper a few drops of the solvent are slowly dropped on the stain.

Then with cotton wool soaked in the solvent work from the border of the stain moving towards the centre. This will help avoid the halo effect. Move the pad under the stain and repeat the process several times. Finally dust some. talc or french chalk on the stain and allow to dry. When dry, dust off the chalk and brush. Air out the garment for the odour to disappear. When the stain is unknown generally perchloroethylene is preferred. The solvent is always to be first tested on a little bit of the fabric.

Much care is required when using solvents Most solvents are inflammable, therefore there should not be any flame in the room (no burner or stove). Even smoking should be avoided. It is advisable not to switch on any electrical apparatus while the solvent is being used. With solvents that emit toxic vapours one has to be careful not to leave the container open. It is recommended to wear gloves. It is best to work in daylight near a window and in a well ventilated room

Bleaching agents

It is effective in rendering many stains like coffee, indelible pencil and grass colourless. However it cannot remove metallic stains. In fact if iron or copper stains are bleached the fabric can be severely damaged. The following concentrations are used
Oxidizing type: Hydrogen peroxide 1 % solution of 20 volumes concentration Sodium perborate 1 % solution Potassium pennanganate 1% solution Sodium hypochlorite 1 % solution Reducing type: Sodium hydrosulphite 1 % solution Sodium bisulphite 1 % solution Sodium dithionate 5% solution . .

 The stain should be soaked for about 10 minutes in cold bleach (30C). In the case of oxidizing bleach, after the stain is discoloured it is rinsed in 10% ammonium hydroxide. When potassium permanganate is used, the stain is soaked in -1 % solution for 1 minute, followed by treatment with 1 ero sodium bisulphite or 1 % oxalic acid. When sodium hypochlorite is used a few drops of acetic acid may be added to the last rinse.

Fatty Acids These are applied onto the stain and allowed to remain for one or two hours. The stain is then washed in a synthetic detergent and rinsed thoroughly. Synthetic Detergents The stain is soaked in concentrated solution for some minutes and then scrubbed. Finally it is rinsed thoroughly

Acids The following concentrations are recommended * Oxalic acid 1 % solution. * Formic acid about 30% solution. * Acetic acid - pure commercial product. The same technique as for solvents is used. A final rinse in a 1 % sodium bicarbonate solution or a 10% ammonia solution is given.

ALKALIES Washing soda (sodium carbonate), if dissolved in hot water removes oils and fats. Dissolved in milk and left on the stain for 30 minutes it will remove sea-water stains from leather shoes and handbags. It is used to remove stubborn tea. coffee and cocoa stains. Sodium bicarbonate is used at 1 % concentration while ammonium hydroxide is used as a 10% solution to neutralize acid stains caused by fruits. Ammonia removes scorch, fruit. wine and blood stains.

ENZYMES: These are incorporated in certain detergent powders. When these detergent powders are used the temperature of the water should be between 30C and 40C. A soaking period of about 20-30 minutes at least is required. Repeated use of enzyme - containing detergent in washing wool or silk can damage the fabric. Some people may be allergic to enzyme detergents. It is advisable to use gloves

ABSORBANTS These are dusted on the fresh stain. After they absorb the oil they are dusted off. This may be repeated several times until the stain disappears. Bran from wheat grain when mixed with water gives a sticky colloidal solution which has great cleaning properties. Dry bran is heated and used as a dry cleaning agent for furs. French chalk can be used on any fabric specially on whites and pastel shades.

Fuller's Earth is extremely effective on carpets, felts and heavy materials, even on dark shades. It can be easily shaken off. Magnesium carbonate is an excellent grease absorbant, It is used for cleaning white wool, felt or kid.

 H ouse Cleaning & Stain Removal Tips Fabric Stain Removal Tips- YouTube.flv