The first thing we must make clear is that you can never replace your spotting or wetcleaning chemicals with household products.
The only household products we use are agents, not manufactured by the chemical companies. These agents I have found have a definite and important use for the drycleaner.
1. Salt
Salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine. Standing alone, these compounds are dangerous but as a chemical formulation it is safe. Salt can be used as a dye setter when soaking fabrics.
When soaking colored garments in a wetcleaning bath, salt and acetic acid are both dye setters. Add one ounce of acetic acid (28%) and one tablespoon of salt.
When soaking silk, only use acetic acid since salt can be dangerous to silk.
2. Glycerine
Glycerine is an excellent lubricant and works well on some ink and dye stains. It will not leave lighter areas on fabrics because it does not have cleaning properties.
It is used with digester mixtures because it slows the evaporation rate of the wet area.
A small amount can be purchased in a drug store and should be labelled CP or UST. It is also safe on fibers and most dyes.
Glycerine is also useful when spot bleaching with sodium perborate since it keeps the chemical confined to one area.
3. Hydrogen peroxide (spray bottle)
This 3% solution can be purchased in a drug store, Walmart or a dollar store.
Advantages of using spray peroxide include:
- Safe to most fabrics and dyes.
- Removes last traces of oxidized stains such as tannin, protein and dye.
- Neutralizes chlorine bleach.
- Reduces potassium permanganate.
- Effective on scorch.
- Easy to apply and does not have to be neutralized.
4. Hydrogen peroxide (6%)
This can be purchased in a hair salon in a gel form.
It is effective on oxidized stains; more effective than 3%. It must be tested and must be rinsed. Apply with a Q-tip.
5. Clorox bleach pen
This is an easy way to use sodium hypochlorite. It avoids accidental spillage.
It cannot be used on wool and silk, but it can be used with testing on other fabrics for last traces of ink, dye, and protein stains.
Use an acid to remove last traces of bleach.
6. Lysol spray (unscented)
This spray is effective for removing odor on some fabrics. When spraying, make sure you are holding the spray a safe distance from the fabric so the fabric does not become damp from the spray.
7. Nonionic fast drying carpet cleaners
There are some brands of carpet cleaners that are nonionic in nature and have agents in it that make it dry quickly.
I have brought this agent to drycleaners that I deal with to spot clean items that they do not have to reclean. This avoids the use of solvent and has a wide range of wetside staining.
8. Vaseline
This is petroleum jelly and can be used to protect areas of a garment from contacting a chemical you are using. It works well when you are using strong bleaching agents near trimming. It can be applied with a Q-tip easily.
9. Q-tips
These little cotton swabs are great to apply chemicals. It prevents the chemical from spreading, which commonly occurs when pouring chemicals. They can also be used to gently rub an area of a fragile fabric rather than brushing.
10. Mineral oil
This is a safe and inexpensive source of oil to use to make an oil pad. The mineral oil can be applied directly to a towel, powder puff or a small circular pad used to apply make-up.
You can use another cloth to rub the cloth with the oil to obtain a small amount of oil that can then be applied to a fabric or leather that has some color loss.
11. Castor oil
Thinner than mineral oil, it can also can be used to make an oil pad. Castor oil can also be mixed with water to obtain a less oily pad. Mix two or three parts water with one part castor oil for this solution.
12. Baking soda
Baking soda is a mild alkali with a pH of 9. It can be used to accelerate some chemicals such as peroxide and activate lubricants to be more aggressive. It does not have the strong odor of ammonia and is environmentally safe. There are some concerns about the environmental safety of ammonia in the water.
Dan Eisen
Dan Eisen, former chief garment analyst for the National Cleaners Association, offers lecture, consultation and garment analysis service. He is the author of The Art of Spotting. He can be reached at (772) 340-0909, by email at cleandan@comcast.net or through his website at www.garmentanalysis.com. Dan Eisen, 274 NW Toscane Trail, Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986.
