A Comparison of Stain Removers

2601 Words6 Pages

Introduction/Background
One problem that many people come across in their daily lives is dealing with stains. The problem with stains is that by the time people figure out which remover to use, it may be too late to remove the stain. Not everyone is knowledgeable about the different types of stains and stain removers. Knowing which stain remover works best on which stains can help someone save their favorite piece of clothing.
Starting with the basics is the composition of stain removers. One ingredient in stain removers is ammonia (NH3). When ammonia is in its alkaline state, it is very efficient in destroying bacteria and breaking down stains. The next component is bleach (NaClO), otherwise known as sodium hypochlorite which disinfects and whitens fabrics. “It works by oxidizing (or stealing electrons from) the compounds comprising germs and stains, which effectively breaks down their molecular bonds” (ehow.com). Another factor in stain removers are enzymes. Enzymes speed up the reaction process and are also produced in living organisms. These substances distinctively assist in decomposing protein stains. The last ingredient in most stain removers is D-Limonene (C10H16) which “is a neutral compound that manufacturers extract from the rinds of citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges” (ehow.com). Because D-Limonene is not soluble, companies must first mix it with a surface-active agent which will lessen its surface tension. This process allows it to easily combine with solvents.
Next, is how stain removers actually work. The first step of removing stains is dissolving the stain. Stain removers contain solvents, which dissolve chemicals. The basic guideline for dissolving is “like dissolves like” (chemistr...

... middle of paper ...

...xygen-bleach-oxy-clean/

Stain Removers: Reviews. (2014). In consumersearch.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.consumersearch.com/stain-removers

University of Illinois Board of Trustees. (2014). Stain Solutions. In University of Illinois Extension. Retrieved December 15, 2013, from http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/ (2014). In http//www.apartmenttherapy.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013

Works Cited (Pictures in order) http://home.yourway.net/laundry-stain-removal-basics/ http://www.odorkill.com/ http://www.spotshot.com/faqs/ http://instoresnow.walmart.com/article.aspx?center=cleaning&id=77498 http://www.examiner.com/article/safety-precautions-for-pregnancy-exercise http://www.ecocarpetutah.com/blog/juicespills.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/garden/17roadtest.html?_r=0 http://cotton.missouri.edu/Classroom-Chemical%20Composition.html

More about A Comparison of Stain Removers

Open Document