textile science

16. STAIN REMOVAL

INTRODUCTION

In the last chapter, we defined stain removal as the removal of fixed dirt according to its nature and the type of fabrics. There are different types of stains such as ink stains, tea stains and grass stains .we are going to  going to look at how to handle stains in laundry –work.

Objectives of the topic

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

i)        Differentiate between normal dirt and stains.

ii)      Identify stains according to their origin

iii)    Discuss the rules of stain removal.

iv)    Apply the skills learnt to remove various stains effectively.

v)      Use locally available products in stain removal.

 

Classification of stains.

Stain is a stubborn discoloration on an article that does not come off with normal washing. There are three types of stains; absorbed stains are usually liquids that penetrate the fabric, built –up stains are found on the surface of the fabric, while compound stains are both absorbed and built up. Attention given to any `stain will depend on its origin, age and fabric type e.g. Coffee, tea, cocoa, fruit juice, soups and stews, oil and grease, chewing gum and perspiration .To remove stains, one need to follow the following rules so as to achieve positive results:

 

Rules of stains removal

·         Identify the type of stain.

·         identify the type of fabric on which the stain is

·         Identify the right stain remover for the stain on the fabric.

·         Remove the stain when it is fresh.

·         Remove the stain before washing the garment.

·         Test the fabric for color –fastness to the remover on an unseen part of the garment first.

·         Work quickly and lightly on a clean surface.

·         Work from strong side of the garment.

·         Remove the stain inwards.

·         There is different strength of removers. Try weak ones first before moving on the stronger ones.

·         Use dilute concentrations of the removers first, and then move on to stronger ones if it does not work.

·         Work in a well-ventilated area as some of the fumes produced by the removers are dangerous.

·         Wash the garment immediately after removing the stain.

·         If the stain is stubborn, send the garment to a reliable drycleaner.

·         Keep all stain removers away from the reach of children.

Let us now look at how to remove a few common stains.

How to remove common stains

Types of  stain	Removal  method
Perspiration	·         Wash the area immediately by dampening it in soapy water. If the stain is on a white fabric, bleach it naturally through the sun or commercial bleaches.
Paint	·         Rub the stain with turpentine, paraffin or petrol can also be used when the stain is still fresh. Then rub it in cold water and wash normally
Iron Rust	·         Cover the stain with salt and lemon juice and leave it for an hour, then wash thoroughly ·         Cover the stained part with salts or lemon and pour boiling water through.
Blood ,Egg, Mucus	·         These are protein –based stains and are fixed with hot water, therefore, soak in cold water with little salt, then wash according to fabric type.
Fruit and Foods	·         Soak in warm water, treat as teas or coffee, dilute hydrogen peroxide may also be used.
Chewing Gum	·         rub the stain with ice if available .once it hardens ,scrape off  the chewing gum, then wash normally ·         Or apply blue band on top of the stain then treat it as grease stain and wash the garment normally.
Banana or Matoke	·         When fresh rub with paraffin or turpentine and wash normally. Banana stain is difficult to treat when old, therefore should be removed when it is fresh.
Mildew	·         Caused by fungus rub due to dampness on fabrics, treat it with water and soap as in perspiration .hydrogen peroxide may be used but not on white cotton and linens.
Grass	·         Rub  the   stained  part with methylated spirit to remove the green coloring matter and then wash normally
Tea, Coffee ,Cocoa and related  Beverages	·         Soak in cold water immediately or pour it on the stain and repeat until the stain is removed, then wash normally, paying special attention on the part. ·         The article can also be soaked in washing soda and hot water depending on the fabric type.
Writing Inks	·         blot out as much ink as possible ·         Cover the stain with milk and squeeze lemon juice on top and leave if for an hour. ·         Tomato juice may also be used and still left for an hour. ·         Rinse thoroughly and wash the article normally.
Biro Pen Ink	·         treat immediately with   surgical or  methylated sprit ,then wash the article normally
Grease, Oil, Fat  and Wax	·         Scrape off as much as possible. ·         Put the stain over blotting or sugar paper, cotton pad or news print. Using a moderately hot iron work around the stain towards the centre using the tip of the iron, then wash as normal. ·         Paraffin may also be used to remove grease.

 

Activity

i)        Look for some clothes which have various types of stain, remove these stains following the guideline given above.

ii)      Discuss the rules of stain removal.

Summary

i)        A stain is a turban discoloration on an article that does not come off with normal washing.

ii)      There are three types of stains; absorbed stains, built –up stain and compound stains.

 

ELECTRIC WASHING.

Topic outline

Ø  Electric washing

Ø  Types of washing machines

Ø  Care and maintenance of washing machines

Ø  Electric dry cleaning

Ø  Simple or home dry cleaning

Ø  Sponging

Ø  Commercial washing centers.

INTRODUCTION

So far, we have looked at how to wash textile articles manually .this is the most common method of washing used in our country. However, there are other types of washing that are less commonly used. They include electric washing, electric dry cleaning, home dry –cleaning and sponging .we are now going to learn about these types of washing.

ELECTRIC WASHING

Electric washing is done by use of electric washing machines .The method of removing dirt from clothes varies according to the type of washing machine used.

There are three different methods

i.                    Agitator method

There is a paddle or agitator fitted with four blades fixed to the bottom of this type of machine. When the motor is on, the blades make 50 to 80 half turns per minutes, moving the clothes and pushing the water through them.

ii.                  Pulsate method

A revolving disc or pulsator is fitted to the side or bottom of the machine. The disc revolves rapidly in a clockwise direction, moving the clothes and pushing the water through them.

iii.                Tumbler method

A revolving drum, rotating horizontally, tumbles, lifts and drops clothes back into the soap suds, dislodging dirt in process.

The efficiency of a washing machine is determined by;

·         Correct temperature of water for the fabric.

·         Use of a suitable washing agent.

·         Use of amount of agitation in the ratio of water and agent to fabric, so that the dirt is suspended and removed from clothes.

·         Effective extraction of water from the clothes.

 

Factors to consider when choosing a washing machine

There are various factors that one should think about before deciding the washing machine to buy. These are;

·         The amount of money available to buy the machine.

·         The space available for using it and storing it as well.

·         whether it will be plumbed in (that is, in built) or not

·         Whether it has to fit under working surfaces.

·         The size of the family wash

·         The type of the family wash

·         The time available for washing

 

TYPES OF WASHING MACHINES

There are various types of washing   machines. The choice of machine will depend on the user’s financial capability, convenience and purpose. The types include:

·         Single tub with wringer

·         The twin tub

·         The semi- automatic

·         The full automatic

Let us now look at each of these types of washing machines:

 

1. SINGLE TUB WITH WRINGER

This machine has a single tub with a wringer attached. The wringer is turned either on either manually or electrically. The machine may be fitted with a water heater, whereby it may be used to boil clothes .this type of machine is relatively cheap. It does not require a lot of space. This type of machine only washes. Rinsing is, therefore, done manually.

2.  TWIN TUB

This machine consists of a large unit divided into two; a washing tub and a separate spin drier. clothes are washed in 1^st tub then lifted across to the spin drier where the soapy water is wrung out and the clothes rinsed. It is quite expensive and requires more space. It can be pre-set for temperature of water and length of time for washing. This means one does less work when washing.

3. SEMI-AUTOMATIC.

Washing, rinsing and spin-drying take place in one unit (in one tube). washing time, temperature of water, rinsing and spin –drying is pre-set, one stage after the other. This machine is more expensive to run and buy .it is possible to store the soapsuds for re-use.it means less work, but needs a good source of water to run effectively

4. FULLY AUTOMATIC

The entire laundering process is done once the controls are set. It is very expensive, bulky and also needs a good source of water. Since it needs a lot of space, it should be plunged in. It sets one free since every process is automated.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF WASHING MACHINES.

·         Correct wiring is essential for safety; therefore, they should be installed by a skilled electrician.

·         Always keep clean and wipe out after uses.

·         Keep the outside sparkling clean by regularly spraying with furniture polish

·         Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

·         Keep the machine in the best running condition.

 

 

 

 ELECTRIC DRY CLEANING

This is the cleaning of fabrics by immersion and agitation in other liquids other than water. Some of the solvents used are:-

·         Perchloroethylene

·         White spirit

·         Carbon tetrachloride

·         Trichloroethylene

·         Petrol

·         Diesel

 

 Articles that require dry cleaning

The following types of articles need to be dry –cleaned:

·         Those that shrink or stretch when in contact with water.

·         Those that are much stained with grease.

·         Pleated garments, as use of water may cause loss of pleats.

·         loose –colored fabrics

·         Those with a poor finishing which can easily be lost by washing.

·         Those with stiff linings such as tailored coat, as the stiffness may be spoilt by water.

·         Those labeled dry clean only

The process of dry –cleaning

·         The articles are received, labeled, and areas that require special care are marked out, the articles are then sorted out.

·         Accessories that may be spoilt by dry –cleaning, e.g. buttons and buckles are removed. Pleats are also stitched down.

·         Similar fabrics in a similar state of soiling are cleaned together.

·         The machines work by drawing the dirty solvent out of the fabrics, filtering the solvent to clean it then pumping it to the top of the machine to be reused on the garments which are kept agitating.

·         Garments are then pressed or ironed; pleats are heat set, plastic buttons and buckles re-sewn before they are labeled and packed ready for collection.

 

SIMPLE OR HOME DRY CLEANING

This is a manual method of dry-cleaning done at home on items or garments which get spoiled when washed with soap and water. The cleaning is done using grease solvent, examples of which are:

·         French chalk

·         Fuller’s earth

·         Benzene

·         Talcum powder

·         petrol

·         Carbon tetrachloride.

Precautions to take when using grease solvents 

·         Cover the hands as the solvents are harmful to the skin.

·         Work quickly as liquid solvents evaporate very fast.

·         Liquid solvents are highly inflammable, therefore, work away from fire.

·         Cover the containers tightly to prevent the solvents from evaporating.

·         Work in a well –ventilated area.

·         Air garment well after dry cleaning to get rid of the smell.

 

Examples of items that may require simple dry –cleaning are:

·         Ties

·         Scarves

·         Belts

·         Hats

·         Seats

·         Carpets

Advantages of home dry cleaning.

·         Useful for un washable garments/articles

·         Maintains shape and size of garments

·         Fabrics keep their original body

·         Colors do not run.

Disadvantage of home dry cleaning

·         Quite expensive

·         Quite smelly

·         The chemicals used  are quite dangerous

 

COMMERCIAL WASHING CENTERS

There are certain places where one can take their clothes to be laundered at a price. One of these is the dry –cleaners we have already talked about. Other centers are:

 

5.7.1        Launderettes

There are premises equipped with coin-operated, fully automatic washing machines of varying load capacity, with tumbler driers. They may include a dry cleaning area with several dry cleaning machines and steam presses.

Commercial laundry 

One takes laundry (dirty articles) to the commercial laundry where all the processes are carried out. Clothes then collected or delivered to the owner when they are ready for wear.

 

DRYING AND IRONING APPLIANCES

INTRODUCTION

Once clothes are washed either manually .electrically or by other methods they need to be dried to removes all traces of moistures before they can be stored. They also need to be ironed or pressed before use so as to improve their appearances, among other reasons. In this topic, we are going to look at the various items used to dry, as well as iron textiles.

Drying Appliances.

1. Clothes’ lines

These may be made of sisal, nylon, metal wire or plastic. They should be strong enough to support the washing and be the firmly fixed to the supports to prevent accident. They should be tightened and replaced occasionally as they tend to loosen and wear out with time. The line is best with hangers and or pegs. These may be wooden, plastic or metallic. They should be kept clean and firm and stored way from the sun.

2. Drying Cabinet 

These are cabinets fitted with an electric element at the base, and several adjustable rails. Clothes are hanged on the nails, the element is switched on, and then the doors are closed .heat is controlled by the flicks of a switches, which is   used to select the temperature for drying.

3. Spin drier

This is an electric tube, whereby clothes are placed in a metal cylinder with holes. An electric motor rotates the cylinder at a high speed throwing out the water through the holes. It is often a part of a bigger machine (please refer to the section on electric washing).the disadvantage is that the clothes more creased due to the spinning

4. Tumble drier 

The clothes are held in an inner drum with holes. This drum revolves in one direction, while an outer drum surrounds it holding hot air which is dry through the holes to reach the tumbling clothes .some driers finish with a cold tumble to reduce creasing

 

 

IRONING /PRESSING EQUIPMENT.

Factors to consider when choosing an iron box:

There are various factors that one should think before deciding the iron box to buy. These are:

·         it should feel comfortable therefore try out the feel in your  hand .it must feel balanced and suit your hand

·         Aluminum soleplate gives good heat distribution whereas stainless steel soleplates are less likely to scratch.

·         The edges of   the soleplate should be level to allow for easy access round buttons and other forms of fastening.

·         Amount of ironing to be done. Some are suitable for heavy duty ironing, others for domestic uses.

·         The ease of using the iron box.

There are six types of irons for domestic use. They are

a.      Charcoal irons

These are heated by hot charcoal. They are heavy, and the temperature cannot be controlled .care must be not to pour ash onto the garments when ironing

b.      Flat irons 

These are only placed on a hot surface, which heat them up, example of such surface are electricity plate, kitchen stove and hot charcoal. Hence they cannot be regulated .one needs to wipe after heating to avoid soiling the garment.

c.       Automatic electric irons

These are electric irons which have a control disc which can be used to set the required temperature.

d.      Steam irons

These are also electric irons that contain a chamber where water is converted in to steam. The steam then flows out of grooves in the soleplate. This means there is no need to use a pressing cloth. They have a larger surface and are lighter in weight .They are a bit more expensive and can be used either when wet (with steam) or when dry.

e.       Steam and spray irons 

These have a button which produces fine jets of water when pressed. It gives extra dampness on badly creased or heavier articles in addition to the steam.

f.       Travelling irons

These are small and light weight electric irons, whose temperature  can be regulated .They can be easily dismantled  and  assembled for ease in packing for travel.

CARE OF IRONS

·         Handle  with care

·         If using a steam iron, fill with water while it is disconnected using a clean container, and empty immediately ate rude while it is still hot.

·         Do not store a hot iron, allow cooling first.

·         Never wind the flex around a hot iron.

·         Store in a safe ,dry place out of the reach of children

·         Do not leave switched on or connected after use.

·         Do not iron over anything which might scratch the sole plate

·         Check the flex for fraying and replace if necessary.

·         check that plug is earthed if using  stein iron

·         stand it on a wire gauge when hot or in use

N.B to Keep the Sole Plate Clean

·         Wipe with a clean, damp cloth and dry immediately.

·         if the soleplate is sticky ,warm the iron box first, disconnect from the power supply (for electric irons),then  rub  with  a gentle  abrasive  such as very fins steel wool, a nylon pad ,salt or sand.

There are other types of irons used for commercial purposes .They includes:

ROTARY IRONS

This is a costly and bulky iron, which takes up space but saves time and energy .it is used when one is sitting down. A padded roller is turned by an electric motor situated behind  the  roller .the article is pulled along automatically as it is ironed .it can be  controlled  by hand, knee or foot .The  heat is thermostatically controlled.

FLAT BED DRESS.

This consists of a heated metal pressing head, which is raised and lowered on to a padded bed over the article to be pressed  is laid on a Rotary Iron /A flat bed press .

IRONING BOARDS /SURFACES

It is important to have a clean, flat surface on which to iron. You may use a table with blanket for padding, plus a white sheet or an ironing board. The sheet prevents fluff from the blanket from sticking on to the garments as they are being ironed.

Factors to consider when choosing an iron board

Before buying an ironing board, you should think about the following.

·         It   should be possible to adjust the height of the board.

·         Ensure it is steady on its legs.

·         it should have  no sharp edges

·         The board should be well padded with a removable top cover for washing purpose.

·         It must have a heatproof base for the iron to rest on.

·         The legs should not protrude too far  where they could  be knocked

·         It should be appropriate for the intended use.

SLEEVE BOARD

A sleeve board is useful for pressing tubular parts of a garment. It should be well padded and stand firmly on the base. 

A Sleeve Board

 

Sleeve board