Achieving 98% stain removal rate

The easiest way to evaluate a drycleaner’s stain removal rate is to check the amount of “sorry” tags used. Drycleaners use “sorry” tags to explain to customers why they cannot remove a stain. In most cases this does not sit right with a customer and they are dissatisfied no matter what explanation is given. Many drycleaners with standard chemicals achieve only 80-85% stain removal but lack the skills to go a step higher into the 98% bracket. 98% stain removal means that “sorry” tags are used infrequently and only on very delicate garments or stained garments with color problems possible stain removal.

YELLOW STAINS

A major area of difficult stains is yellow stains on colored fabrics including silks. These stains include perspiration and other oxidized protein and tannin stains. On colored fabrics including silks stain removal must be accomplished by safe bleaching processes, not by strong alkalis or aggressive mechanical action.
Safe bleaching-We formulated a series of mild oxidizing agents that could be sprayed on yellow stains and then neutralized. Although the time for these bleaches to work entailed about ½ hour the spotter could do other work while the bleach was working. The good thing about safe bleaching is that garments brought back for re-do’s could be bleached, neutralized and sent back without re-cleaning.

INK STAINS

We formulated nonionic detergents for ink stain removal that worked better than using oily type paint removers. The last traces of the ink stains require stripping agents and a knowledge of localized bleaching without affecting the color of the fabric. The bleaches involved were titanium sulphate and sodium hydrosulphite. Some stains required strong oxidizing bleaches such as sodium hypochlorite and potassium permanganate.

DYE BLEEDING

Some fabrics may need correction due to poor dye fastness. Stripping agents can be

formulated to affect the bled dye but not the base dye. The success of this requires knowledge of the bleaching agent, concentration, time garment is immersed and proper neutralizing.

WHITE FABRICS

We set up a restoration process using plastic pails. This means any garment with a yellowing and discoloration could be immersed in a proper bleach bath. Fabrics, such as silk and wools might be immersed in sodium hydrosulphite with a brightening agent while other fabrics were immersed in sodium percarbonate.

SOIL REMOVAL

The soil on necklines and hemlines can be problems on many garments. We increased the soil removal by increasing the alkalinity of the lubricants used. We also used non-ionic detergents with an alkali due to the greasy nature of the staining.

MECHANICAL ACTION

Many oxidized oil stains, paint stains, nail polish and other similar stains require using proper mechanical action. Spatulas and brushing a stain is not as effective as tamping action for stain removal.

WETCLEANING

The wetcleaning process in Bates Troy was changed so the garments came out soft and supple. This means that the garment did not have to be drycleaned in order for it to have a proper feel.

PACKAGING

Doing a good job requires that you enhance a job by proper packaging. If your spotting and cleaning skills are good be proud of it and display it with proper packaging. Bates Troy improved their packaging by implementing different colored packaging depending on the garment.