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PAGE 8 / NATIONAL CLOTHESLINE / JANUARY, 2021
THE SPOTTING BOARD BY DAN EISEN

Using acids and alkali for problems

any garments received removed by drycleaning sol- alcohol which is subsequently (4) Neutralize alkali. All al- (8) Mechanical Action.
by my analysis service vents. generated into acetic acid. The kalis should be neutralized (9) Flush.
M(International Inde- hero of the fermentation after use to prevent yellowing. (10) Oxalic acid (Test).
pendent Garment Analysis Acids process is acetobacter, a small (5) Shrunken leather. (11) Heat.
Service by Daniel Eisen) require Acid is defined as a chemical microorganism that has the Caused by heat, can often be (12) Flush.
use of acids and alkalis for their that releases hydrogen ions in chemical power to transform corrected by spraying with (13) Rust Remover (Test).
correction. Some examples of the presence of water. We meas- alcohol into acetic acid. Acetic acetic acid which will make it (14) Flush.
problem solving may be: ure acids using the pH scale. acid gives vinegar its pungent soft and pliable so it can be (15) Peroxide plus ammonia
(1) Restoring color to acetate Seven is neutral and less than odor. Acetic acid has proper- shaped. Additional leather (Test).
(2) Correcting shrunken seven measures the strength of ties and advantages not pos- sprays must be used after- (16) Flush.
leather the acid. The lower number on sessed by other acids. wards. (17) Acetic Acid.
(3) Restoring color change the pH scale indicates a stronger Acetic acid should be pur- (6) Add acetic acid to wet- (18) Flush.
(4) Removing shine acid. Acids are safer on bright chased at 28%. Concentrations cleaning detergents for setting
(5) Removing ground-in soils colors than alkalis and it is for over 28% will discolor dyes on dyes on color sensitive fabrics Alkali
(6) Prevention of bleeding that reason we use acids to sta- fabrics and even dissolve ac- during wetcleaning proce- Alkali releases hydroxyl
during wetcleaning bilize dyes in wetcleaning. etate fabrics. It can be pur- dures. ions in the presence of water.
(7) Expanded stain removal Strong acids can affect dyes and chased in concentrations of 56 (7) Use acetic acid to neu- Alkali on the pH scale is above
(8) Aid to bleaching the strength of many fabrics. or 99% but is not recom- tralize the following bleaches seven. The higher the number
(9) Stretching wool Prepared tannin formulas are mended since mixing and di- — peroxide and ammonia, the stronger the alkali. Alkali is
Most spotters use acids and made up of a mild acid and lu- luting with water may not be sodium perborate and sodium found in protein formulas and
alkalis in limited use. They may bricant. This is effective for re- accurate. Use 28% and even di- percarbonate. Acetic acid is ammonia. Alkali is effective on
use tannin and protein formulas moval of many tannin stains or lute it with more water so it used to accelerate chlorine protein stains or stains origi-
and rust remover but they limit vegetable-based staining such can be used in the 20% range. bleaches and all reducing nating from the body. This in-
their potential for problem solv- as coffee, tea, soda, beer, wine, bleaches. cludes eggs, milk, urine, etc.
ing. Acids and alkalis are differ- etc. The degree of stain removal Uses of Acetic Acid (8) Stretching wools. Acetic The wool and silk are sensitive
ent in their chemical makeup can be expanded when the spot- (1) Use acetic acid after acid can be added to a cationic to alkali.
and they must be used on spe- ter uses other acids for stain re- using a tannin formula. Acetic detergent in soaking a
cific staining. Spotters must be moval. acid will have a greater effect shrunken wool that has to be Protein Formulas
aware of their potential to dam- on many tannin stains espe- made soft enough to stretch. Most commercial protein
age fabrics and color on fabrics. Acetic Acid cially wine. (9) Acetic acid can be used formulas are made up of a
Acids and alkalis neutralize Acetic acid should be (2) Delustering of acetate. in combination with hydrogen mild alkali and lubricant.
each other. This means if an al- added to the spotters arsenal Acetate fabric damage by heat peroxide (peracetic) for bleach-
kali is put on the fabric followed for stain removal. Acetic acid is and moisture can often be cor- ing some fabrics. Ammonia (26)
by an acid, the result of the similar to vinegar. Vinegar is rected by spraying with acetic Ammonia is a very volatile
chemical reaction would be produced by the action of bac- acid, hanging to dry and then Oxalic Acid alkali and is stronger than the
water and salt. This is also true teria on yeast-fermented cleaning. Oxalic acid comes in crystal alkali found in most protein
if an acid is put on the fabric fol- brews. Vinegar can be made (3) Shine. Shine on gabar- or liquid state. Laidlaw makes formulas. Ammonia is effec-
lowed by an alkali. Acids and al- out of just about any plant that dine can often be corrected by a product called Rustgo which tive for neutralizing the effects
kalis are water soluble and not can be fermented to generate spraying with acetic acid. is oxalic acid in a liquid form. of discolorations caused by
In crystal form the oxalic acid acids. This usually occurs on
should be mixed 15 parts cottons, rayons and linens.
water to one part oxalic acid. Sometimes titanium sulphate
Oxalic acid can be used after will produce a discoloration
acetic acid for tannin stain re- that can be neutralized by
moval. It will remove rust using ammonia. For removing
staining without the damage ground-in soil nothing works
potential of rust remover. Ox- better than using ammonia
alic acid is applied to a stain mixed with a wetside lubri-
and heated with the stream cant. Ammonia is very volatile
gun. It must be flushed after and should be kept in a cool
use. Remember, heat acceler- place since it can expand rap-
ates all chemicals and oxalic idly. Ammonia is used to in-
acid should be tested for safety crease the bleaching action of
prior to its use on fabrics. peroxide, perborate and per-
carbonate. Do not use ammo-
Rust Remover nia on chlorine bleach since it
Hydrofluoric acid is the will break down and will re-
makeup of rust remover. This lease chlorine gas.
is a very effective acid but re-
quires skill and knowledge for Protein Spotting Procedure
its use. Rust remover can be (1) Flush.
very corrosive if left on a fabric (2) Protein formula.
and contact on a customers (3) Mechanical action.
skin can cause severe burns. (4) Flush.
After using rust remover it (5) Ammonia plus neutral
must be flushed thoroughly lubricant.
with water and a protein for- (6) Mechanical action.
mula or a mild alkali must be (7) Flush.
added to the area to neutralize (8) Peroxide Plus Ammonia
any residue the acid left. Rust (Test).
remover must be tested before (9) Heat.
use and can discolor cashmere, (10) Flush.
gabardine, glass trimming and (11) Acetic Acid.
(12) Flush.
Tannin Process (13) Digest.
(1) Flush. Dan Eisen, former chief garment
(2) Neutral Lubricant. analyst for the National Cleaners
(3) Mechanical Action. Association, can be reached at
(4) Flush. (772) 340-0909 or (772) 579-
(5) Tannin formula. 5044, by e-mail at
(6) Mechanical Action. [email protected] or
(7) Acetic acid plus neutral through his website at www.gar-
lubricant.
mentanalysis.com.
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