Department of Education

SUBIC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

SUBIC, ZAMBALES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

BROCCOLI (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. ITALICA) AND CARROT

(DAUCUS CAROTA) AS AN ALTERNATIVE CLOTH STAIN REMOVER

Background of the Study

Stains can easily disfigure clothes and home furnishings, and is desirable to

remove them, especially if the stains stiffen and corrode the fabric beneath them.

(Smithsonian, 2013) In order to remove stains that are experienced daily by people in

their everyday lives, stain removers are made. Stain removers have molecules that helps

to remove stains on fabric, it also contains detergents to help shift stains such as grease

and dirt. (Interest et al, 2015) Immediate removal of stains are done so that the stain will

not be able to damage the fabric even more, this results to buying of commercial stain

removers which are not accessed by all because of its expensiveness. Organic alternatives

for stain removers are now done to accomplish tasks made by store-brought solvents but

much safer and can now be made by many if they desire to do so.

Stains are part of everyday life. There are more than 100 known tough stains, that

can be sometimes only removed by a certain stain remover. (Ariel et al, 2016) Some

solvents are used for stain removal, such as oxidizing solvents (hydrogen peroxide),

reducing solvents (sodium hydrosulfite, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium chloride),

lacquer solvent, inert solvent, detergents, acids, etc. (Wiley, Sons, 2011) Many different

stain removers are marketed nowadays, because it is easily accessed, consumers tend to
 Department of Education
SUBIC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SUBIC, ZAMBALES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

buy without any hesitations. Not knowing its rightful use and stains it can only remove.

An example of a stain remover and a bleaching agent that commercially reproduced is

Clorox, it is a sodium hypochlorite which comes from seawater and breaks do into salt

and water. (Yami, 2021)

Fruits and vegetable that are high on citric acid can be used as stain removal,

since solvents are acids they can also be used as an alternative organic remover, that is

both safe and easy to access. Mainly on stains made by itself, as “like dissolves like”.

However, the acid that these have cannot compete with oxalic acid and acetic acid, these

are cited as stain removals to use when used properly. Oxalic acid’s main use is bleaching

and removal of rust (iron complexing agent) due to its forming of water-soluble salt with

ferric. Concentration. pH, time, and temperature are the various factors that affect the

action and the result of stain removers on fabric.

Solvents that are usually used by many as a stain remover can be expensive and

cannot be accessed by all due to some are either far away from any groceries or places

solvents or stain removers such as Clorox can be bought and used. (Enviro, 2022) Not

just that, store-brought stain removers have chemicals that can harm the fabric and the

user itself. It contains sodium hydroxide which are not harmful to humans even if

ingested, but is harmful when mixed with other chemicals. (Kant, 2011) Chlorine gas is

the result when solvents such as bleach like the commercially advertised Chlorox is then

mixed with acids such as what one use in glass and windows cleaners. Chlorine gas can
 Department of Education
SUBIC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SUBIC, ZAMBALES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

irritate one’s mucus membrane, which can then result into coughing and breathing

problems. (Achanta, Jordt, 2021)

Some solvents only work on a specific stain and have a specific purpose. Stains

that are hard to remove and requires a stain remover that is actually strong enough to be

used as a removal. Stains differ from each other by how it is acquired and how strong it is

to be removed from the fabric. Stain removal is a painstaking process, even the kind of

fabric can add to one’s problem, because some fabric are more delicate than the others.

Some examples are silk, wool and linen, these fabrics has their own use and the reason

why it is bought and used by many.

Clorox is an example of a commercially advertised and store-brought bleach; it is

used by many in their own households to remove stains that hinder their everyday lives.

Bleach such as this is being widely used by many people as it is easy to use, it is not

possible for it not having its own dangers and effects on families worldwide. Over a 16-

year period, McKenzie et al. revealed in a 2010 pediatric study that just under 270,000

US children (under the age of 5) suffered injuries from household cleaning chemicals.

Bleach was the primary source (37%) and was typically consumed (63%). 40% of

sources used a spray bottle as their primary tool. (Benzoni, Hatcher, 2022). Organic

alternatives are the only solution for stains and chemical harm, removes stain and keeps

us safe from any potential harm.

 Department of Education
SUBIC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SUBIC, ZAMBALES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

In the same family as cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts is the

vegetable broccoli (Brassica Oleracea var. Italica). Each broccoli head is loaded with

vitamins, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, and other health-promoting compounds.

Additionally, broccoli is the type of food that has a wide range of beneficial effects, such

as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities which helps humankind to

continue to stay healthy and its dietary functions. (Owis, 2015) It is also high in iron and

calcium and is a non-fattening food and possesses various medicinal properties as well

(Mishra and Mukherjee, 2012). Broccoli also have significant value of vitamin c and

dietary fiber. (Murkherjee, Mishra, 2012)

With Broccoli containing not just vitamin C, it also contains vitamins such as

vitamin A and K. Which are rich in antioxidants, it also contains a pH that is around 6.30

– 6.85, it is considered as slightly acidic. Broccoli’s pH level can go up to 6.13 especially

if it is baked. Because of this broccoli can be considered as a threat to people with

stomach acidity. (George, 2022) Especially if the acid reflux of a person is associated

with gas and indigestion, broccoli will likely trigger one’s acid reflux. (Roberts, 2018)

Carrots (Daucus Carota) are rich in sources such as of carotene, ascorbic acid and

are known as vitaminized food with moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugars and

fiber. The carrots are the unique roots rich in carotenoids and have a characteristic flavor

due to the presence or terpenoids and polycetylenes. (Raees-ul, Prasad, 2015) Carrot is an

important source of trace elements (K, Na, Ca, Mg, P, S, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn). Futher, it
 Department of Education
SUBIC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SUBIC, ZAMBALES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

contains vitamins B, C, C, E, H, folic acid and panthotenic acid. According to many

doctors and reseachers, the daily consumption of carrot improves eyesight, lowers

cholesterol level, and improves digestion. (Bysticka, Kavalcova, Musilova, Vollmannova,

Tomas, 2015)

Carrots have a relatively high pH level which ranges from 5.88 to 6.40.

Depending on the preparation method, carrots pH level can either decrease and increase.

If the carrot is pureed or canned, it can result into a lower level of pH. Meanwhile, raw or

boiled carrots have higher levels than those who are prepared or cooked. The reason why

canned carrots have higher pH level than does that are not, it is because of the additives

that are added so that it has a higher life on the shelves enough for the consumers to buy.

(Smith, 2021)

Stain removal is the process of removing a mark or spot left by a substance on a

specific surface such as fabric. A solvent or a detergent is usually used to perform stain

removal and many of these are available over the counter. Stains damage clothing and

household items, and it is strongly desirable to remove them, especially if the stains have

hardened or eaten away the fabric beneath them. However, removing the stains can be

dangerous to the fabric and to the person trying to remove the stain. This also includes

the wrong type of detergent or solvent that is used.

 Department of Education
SUBIC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SUBIC, ZAMBALES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

The study aims to solve that problem, by proposing a new alternative organic

stain remover, using Broccolis (Brassica Oleracea var. italica) and Carrots (Daucus

Carota). The two mostly used vegetables for cooking delicious and hearty meal, with the

abundance of crops in the Philippines, accessing these type of ingredients should be

easy.. Using these ingredients, expectation for alternative organic stain remover that can

be accessed and made by most people are high. The way how the ingredients were chosen

was by its pH level and its acidity. These were two of the highest citric acid vegetables

that are mostly used in daily lives in the households of many and are accessible by most

of the people especially here in the Philippines.