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Spot removal isn't magic, but consumers are often led to believe that it is. Contrary to product marketing messages, no single cleaning agent can remove all stains because the soils that made them - and the surfaces they reside in - have different compositions. The odds of removing a stain increase as your knowledge of what made it grows. [Note: Ad links featured on this page are not affiliated with IICRC and should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by IICRC.]
Spots and stains consist of five basic components, each requiring a somewhat different plan of attack:
1. Insoluble Components - First, there are particle soils that cannot be dissolved using chemicals normally available to consumers. These include sand, quartz, clay, feldspar, limestone, carbon and pigment, and even cellulosic (plant) and protein (hair) fibers. These are best removed dry, if possible. Fine particles that remain after vacuuming may be suspended with concentrated detergents and tamping (tapping with a small clean brush), followed by rinsing and blotting with warm water.
2. Dry Solvent Soluble - Second, there are the oily spots, such as animal, vegetable and petroleum oils, greases, tars. These soils, plus many others, are readily dissolved with dry (non-water based) cleaning solvents, but they also may be emulsified, though more slowly, with the aid of water and detergents, combined with gentle agitation.
3. Water Soluble - Next, are spots that are easily dissolved in water, including sugars, starches, salts – many foods. However, some have dyes and pigments that aren't so easy to dissolve. Indeed, that's the problem with most of the spots found in fabrics. Often they consist of two or more problem components!
4. Protein Spots - Protein comes from body discharge or foods: for example blood, egg, milk, animal urine or feces. When fresh, much protein, such as blood, is readily soluble in water. But once it ages or is exposed to direct sunlight over time, protein may not be readily water soluble, and it can be quite difficult to remove. It must be broken down into more simple components that can be blotted, extracted or rinsed from fabrics. To make persistent protein spots soluble, enzyme digesters may be required.
5. Coloring Materials - Dyes and pigments (natural or synthetic) give color to substances (e.g., liquids such as Kool-Aid®). Often, dyes in beverages or foods are transferred to fibers when contact is made. Pigment, for example, is insoluble, and once it fixes on fiber dye sites, it often is no longer affected by the medium in which it was suspended (usually, water). When dry deposits of substances, such as carbon, graphite or copier toner become wet, they may be infinitely more difficult to remove. Dry solvent gels or bleaches usually are required in attempts to remove the resulting stain.
Discoloring Agents are strong alkalis, acids or bleaches that remove color from fibers (e.g., urine, cleaners, chlorine, peroxide). Correcting discoloration - or color repair - is best left to trained professionals.
For a quick step-by-step guide to removing the most common types of spots or stains, see The Housekeeping Channel's Stain Removal Wizard produced in collaboration with experts at the IICRC.
The material above was adapted with permission from Clean Care Seminars' Specialized Carpet & Upholstery Spotting book by Jeff Bishop. Mr. Bishop serves as Technical Advisor to the IICRC.
