APPAREL CARE

Based on Colour clue.

Blue, black or red may be ink-stains. Reds or pinks may be lipstick, rouge or nail polish.

Based on Appearance

Wax and paint stains build up on the surface of the fabric. Oil and fats cause transluscent stains. Medicine stains, food stains, and perfumes may leave specific odour.

Based on Touch.

Stickiness may be due to gum or glue, stiffness may be egg or some other albuminous stain, paint may give a smooth feel.

In sophisticated laundries stains can be identified by X-ray diffraction and other methods.

Identification of the stain

Types and CharacteristicsNature of The Stain Stains

Acid

Base

Fats and Oils

Perspiration, urine (fresh), vinegar, medicines containing nitric acid, picric acid, etc.

Perspiration, urine (old stains).

Butter, cream, margarine, edible oils, machine oil, hair oil, lard, wax.

Grease - Mineral oil

Metallic

Metalloid

Natural dyes and pigments in solution dispersion or emulsion in aqueous medium

Synthetic dyes and pigments in solution dispersion or emulsion in aqueous medium.

Sugar solutions and colouring matter.

Solutions, dispersions or emulsion in fats or oils

Solutions, dispersions or emulsions of dyes or pigments in organic solvents.

Proteinic

Miscellaneous

Paraffin, vaseline, turpeniine, car grease.

Rust, silver nitrate, brass, copper salts, black

ink,chrominum salts, etc.

Iodine tinctures[

Herbs, vegetables, flowers, fruit juices, wines, tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, henna, beetle-leaf, tobacco.

Inks, markers, hair dyes, type-writer ribbons,

water colours, mercurochrome, gentian violet.

Jams, jellies, syrups, soft drinks, puddings, etc.

Mayonnaise, sauces, ketchup, lipstick, rouge, mascara, printing ink, polishes, tar, smoke, rayons.

Oil paints, lacquer, varnish, nail-polish.

Blood, egg, meat juice, fish slime, milk.

Scorch, Mildew,certain medicines

Nature of the Stain Principle of Removal

AcidNeutralization with alkali gives a soluble salt which can be

leached out.

BaseNeutralization with acid gives a soluble salt which can be

leached o

Metal and Metal salt Oxidation or Reduction (bleaching) gives a soluble,

colourless salt, removed in washing

Metalloid (Iodine)Reduction with sodium thiosulphate gives a colourless,

soluble salt, removed on washing.

Fats and oils

Any one process

• Saponification.

• Absorption by an absorbant powder

• Dissolution in a solvent.

Mineral oil

Any one process

• Absorption by an absorbant powder.

• Dissolution in a solvent.

• Emulsification.

Principles of Stain Removal

Nature of the Stain Principles of Removal

Natural dyes and pigments in

solution, dispersion or emulsion in

aqueous medium.

Oxidation (Bleaching)

Synthetic dyes and pigments in

solution, dispersion or emulsion in

aqueous medium.

One of the following processes

* Reduction followed by oxidation.

1. Oxidation followed by reduction.

2. Acidification followed by reduction.

3. Oxidation in acidic medium,

Sugar and Colouring matter ProteinSolutilization of the sugar and reduction of the colour.

Digestion with enzyme protease.

Solutions, dispersion or emulsion of

dyes or pigments in organic solvents.Emulsification and dissolution in a solvent.

Miscellaneous Each of these requires a special treatment.

Principles of Stain Removal

Hydrocarbons Benzene, Toluene,

Chlorinated hydrocarbonsCarbon tetrachlorideTrichloroethylenePerchloroethylene Solvents

Petroleum based Petroleum etherSolvent naphthaKerosene, turpentine

Alcohols/Ethers/Ketones Ethyl alcohol, amyl alcohol Amyl acetate, acetone, glycerine.

Oxidizing agents BleachesHydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate,sodium hypochlorite,KMnO4 oxalic acid.

Reducing agents

Sodium hydrosulphite, sodium thiosulphate,sodium bisulphite.

Oils / Fats Coconut oil, olein,

Fatty acids

oleic acid,

Emulsifiers

Anionic - Soaps, alkylaryl sulphonates, Fatly acid alcohol suiphonates.Nonionic - Teepol, detergents based on: fatty alcohol and alkylphenol condensates, fatty acid condensates, fatly amine oxides.

AcidsOrganic - 1% oxalic, 30% formic, \% acetic white vinegar, tomato, lime, sour milk, curdsInorganic - Dilute hydrochloric acid

AlkalisAmmonium hydroxide % , Liquid ammonia 10% Sodium bicarbonate 1%

AbsorbantsTalcum powder, cornstarch. French chalk ( 3MgO ■ 4SiO2 • H2O ) Fullers earth ( Al2O3 ■ SiO2 ■ x H2O )

Classifications of Stain Removers

Ball-point Rub lightly with cotton swab soaked in denatured spirit.

Beetle leaf (Paan)Bleach with 1% potassium permanganate (the fabric turns brown). Then soak in 1% oxalic acid or 1% sodium bisulphite (till brown colour disappears). Launder.

BloodSoak in cold water for about an hour. Then transfer to lukewarm water containing an enzyme detergent. Soak for 30 minutes, Launder. Or Soak in cold water, to which common salt is added, for about an hour. Launder.

Candle wax'Scrape off surface wax with a blunt knife. Place the stain between two tissue papers or blotting paper and press with warm iron. Repeat using clean tissue or blotting papers. If a coloured stain remains treat with bleach. Launder.

Chewing gumRemove surface gum with a blunt knife. Apply ice to the stain. Allow to soak in ice cold water for a few minutes. Launder.

Chocolate, cocoa Same treatment as for blood.

Coffee, tea Apply borax solution and allow to dry. Launder.

Curry (Turmeric and oil)

Apply soap and bleach in sunlight. When dry, if the stain has not disappeared, wet it and put it back in sunlight again.

Egg Soak in enzyme detergent or in warm salt solution. Launder.

Fruit, fruit juiceWhite fabrics may be bleached with sodium hypochloritc. Coloured fabrics may be soaked in warm borax solution. Launder.

Grass Grease Steep in methylated spirit. Launder. Dab with swab soaked in a solvent. Launder with hot water.

Glue, gum Steep in hot water containing a few drops of glycerine. Launder in hot water.

Henna (Mhendi) Soak in milk for half an hour. Launder.

Ice-cream, milkRinse through with cold water and launder or apply petrol or carbon tetrachloride. Launder.

Common Stains and Removal

Ink

Hold under running water to remove as much of the ink as possible. Then treat using one of the following methods; Apply lime juice and salt and leave for 30 minutes and launder. Soak in sour milk or curds for 30 minutes. Launder. Steep in dilute oxalic acid for 10 minutes then rinse thoroughly in dilute borax solution. Launder.

Iodine Fresh wet stain : apply starch paste and leave it to absorb the stain. Launder.

LipstickDry stain or steep in 1% sodium thiosulphate solution. Launder. Soften the stain by working glycerine into it. Launder. Apply methylated spirit. Launder.

Make-up (mascara, rouge)

Sponge with denatured alcohol or petrol or ammonia. Launder in hot water.

Mercurochrome

Steep for one hour in detergent solution containing ammonia. Rinse in water. Soak for another hour in water containing vinegar. Rinse and dry. Apply denatured spirit, rinse in water. Launder. Sponge with water and alcohol (equal parts), then work glycerine into the stain as long as the colour bleeds. Launder.

MildewSoak the stain in dilute potassuim permanganate (1% solution), for 15 minutes. Rinse in cold water, once. Dip in warm 1% solution of sodium bisulphite till the brown colour of the potassium permanganate disappears. Launder.

Mustard

Scrape off the excess mustard. Work stain in a little perchloro-ethylene. Allow to dry. Soak in water and vineger. Flush with water. If stain persists, bleach for 10 minutes in hydrogen peroxide to which a drop of ammonia is added. Launder.

MudAllow the garment to dry and dust off as much of the mud as possible, then soak the stain in an alkaline bath (20 g/1 of sodium carbonate) for a couple of hours. Launder.

Common Stains and Removal

Nail polish

Place the stain against a clean absorbent towel and dab with cotton swab soaked in acetone or a mixture of acetone and amyl acetate or a commercial nail-polish remover. After a few dabs shift the stain to a clean area of the towel. Repeat till stain disappears. Launder. This process cannot be followed for acetate fabrics.

PaintSame process as for nail-polish but the remover used is turpentine, kerosene or denatured spirit.

Perspiration Soak in 1% oxalic acid for 10 minutes. Rinse (through with water and soak for 10 minutes in hydrogen peroxide.

PerfumeDo not let the stain age. Wash immediately, preferably in hot water. A weak solution of acetic acid helps.

Rust A patented rust-remover may be used or the stain may be soaked in cold 1% oxalic acid for about 15 minutes and then laundered.

Sealing waxFirst use methylated spirit to soften the stain. Then remove with perchloroethylene. Launder.

Scorch Bleach with hydrogen peroxide or with sodium perborate. Launder.

Shoe polishWork oil or grease into the stain to emulsify it and launder with hot water. Treat with denatured alcohol and launder in hot water.

Soot Apply starch paste and launder.

TarFirst scrape off with a blunt knife. Using a clean cloth rub oil or grease. Launder in hot water.

UrineTreat as perspiration or apply ethyl alcohol and allow to evaporate, Tnen apply chloroform and allow to evaporate. Launder.

Common Stains and Removal

Symbols Representing Instruction

Wash tub Washing

Bleach Bleaching

Drier Drying

Hand iron Pressing or ironing

Drycleaning Drycleaning

Systems of Care Labelling

Colour Instruction

Canadian

Green Machine washable using hot water

Amber Machine washable using warm water

Amber Machine washable using lukewarm water

Amber Hand washable using lukewarm water

Red Do not wash

Dutch

Green Hot washing permitted {95"C = 203°F)

Green Moderately hot water 60°C = 140°F)

Amber Lukewarm washing, like wool (40°C - 104°F)

Washing Instructions

British Colour Instruction

BlackMachine wash, very hot (85°C) to boil. Hand wash hand hot (48°C). Maximum agitation. Normal rinse. Spin or wring.

BlackMachine wash, hot (60°C), maximum wash. Hand wash, hand hot (48°C) maximum agitation. Normal rinse. Spin or wring.

BlackMachine wash, hot (60°C}, medium wash. Hand wash, hand hot (48°C), medium agitation. Cold rinse, short spin or drip dry.

BlackMachine wash, hot (48°C), medium wash. Hand wash, hand hot (48°C), medium agitation. Cold rinse. Short spin or drip dry.

BlackMachine wash, warm (40°C), medium wash. Hand wash, warm (40°C), medium agitation. Normal rinse. Spin or wring.

BlackMachine wash, hot (40°C), minimum wash. Hand wash, warm (40°C), medium agitation. Cold rinse. Short spin. Do not wring.

BlackMachine wash, warm (40°C), medium wash. Hand wash, warm (40°C). Do not rub. Cold rinse. Spin, do not hand wring.

Black Hand wash only, hand hot water. Warm rinse. Drip dry.

Washing Instructions

Bleaching Instructions

AmberUse chlorine bleach as directed on the container label.

RedDo not use chlorine bleach. Peroxide bleach may be used,

GreenBleaching with hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) if necessary is permitted.

Red Do Not Bleach

Drying Instructions

Symbols Canadian British Instructions

Green Black

It may be dried in a tumble drier at medium to high setting. The British system only indicates that the item may be.tumble dried. The setting is not specified.

Amber BlackIt may be dried in a tumble drier at low setting.

Red Black Do not Thumble dry

Green Black It should be hung to dry or line dry.

Amber Black It should be dried on flat surface.

Green Black It should be hung soaking wet to drip-dry.

Ironing Instructions

Symbol Colour Instruction

Canadian

GreenA setting upto cotton and linen may be used

AmberA setting of medium should be used

AmberA setting of low should be used

Red Do not press or iron.

Ironing Instructions

Dutch Colour Instructions

Green Hot ironing permitted

Amber No hot ironing

Red No ironing.

British

Black Hot 210°C

Black Warm 160°C

Black Cool 120°C

Black Do not iron.

Dry Cleaning Instructions

Symbol Colour Instruction

Canadian

Green May be drycleaned

AmberIt may be drycleaned, but tumble drying should be at low temperature.

Red Do not dryclean.

Dutch

Amber Use of any solvent is permitted.

GreenUse of only perchloroelhylene or petroleum solvent permitted.

AmberOnly use of petroleum solvent permitted.

Amber Do not dryclean

American Systems of Care Labeling

Washing Instructions

Hand WashLaunder only by hand in luke warm water cold or hot (upto around 60DC) water may be used

Machine WashWash in washing machine or manually. Water upto around 60°C can be used. May be laundered commercially.

Warm Wash Initial water temperature 30° - 40°C.

Cold Wash Tap water temperature i.e. 29° - 30QC.

Do not havecommerciallylaundered

Do not employ a laundry that uses special formulations, sour rinses, large loads, high temperature. In other words do not use comercial, industrial or institutional methods. Employ home laundering, machine or hand.

Small Load Fewer clothes than the normal load.

Delicate cycle or gentle cycle

Slow agitation and reduced time.

Wash separately Wash alone or with same colours.

Cold rinse Tap water temperature.

Warm rinse Around 40°C

Rinse thoroughly Rinse several times to remove all soap/detergent and bleach.

Do not wring Handle to avoid wrinkles and distortion.

Damp wipe only Clean with damp cloth or sponge

American Systems of Care LabelingBleaching Instructions

No Chlorine Oxygen bleach may be used.

No Bleach Use of any type of bleach should be used avoided.

Bleach When needed All bleaches may be used.

Drying Instructions

Thumble DryUse machine drier. When no temperature is specified hot setting may be used. Temperature may be specified as low, medium high or no heat.

No Heat Set drier to operate without heat.

Remove Promptly When items are dry, remove immediately to prevent wrinkling.

Drip dry Hang dripping wet, with or without hand smoothing.

Line Dry Hang damp on line in or out of doors.

Line dry in shade Dry away from sun

Line dry away from heat Dry away from heat.

Dry flat Lay out horizontally for drying.

Block to Dry Reshape to original dimensions while drying.

American Systems of Care Labeling

Ironing Instructions

Cool Iron Set iron at lowest setting.

Warm Iron Set iron at medium setting

Hot Iron Set iron at hot setting

Do not Iron No ironing is needed.

Iron wrong side only

The article has to be turned right side in.

Steam Iron Use steam iron or wet press cloth.

Iron DampArticles to be ironed must be damp or dampened before ironing.

Use Press cloth Use dry or damp cloth between the iron and fabric.

Dry Cleaning Instructions

Wash or Dry clean

Can be machine washed in hot water, can be machine dried at a high setting, can be ironed at a hot setting, can be bleached with all commercially available bleaches and can be drycleaned with all commercially available solvents

Dryclean

Process in a machine that uses any common organic solvent. Moist addition to solvent may be upto 75% RH. Hot tumble drying upto 70°C and steam press or steam-air finishing. If solvent is specified only that solvent should be used.

Short cycle Reduced or minimum cleaning time, depending on solvent used.

Minimum extraction Least possible extraction time.

Reduced moisture or Low moisture

Decreased relative humidity.

Do not tumble Do not tumble dry.

Tumble warm Upto 49°C.

Tumble Cool Tumble dry at room temperature.

Steam only Apply no contact press when steaming.

No Steam Do not use steam in pressing, finishing, etc.

No Dry Cleaning Use recommended methods. No drycleaning materials should be used.

American Systems of Care Labeling

What is not said on a care label is also important.

If the label does not say that you cannot do something, you can assume that you can do it.

For instance, if a care label gives washing instructions but does not warn against dry cleaning, you should be able to dry clean the garment.

Some retailers have their own care-labeling programme. One consists of a simple letter code that identifies five basic cleaning methods.

Simple Letter Code Care Labeling

MH Machine wash hot. Tumble dry.

MW Machine wash warm. Tumble dry.

MG Machine wash gentle. Tumble dry, low heat.

HW Hand wash warm. Line dry.

DC Dry clean only.

Internationally accepted Dry Cleaning Symbols

Symbols Instruction

Articles which are normally for dry cleaning in all solvents normally used for drycleaning.

Articles which are used for normal dry cleaning in tetrachloroethylene, trichlorofluoromethane (solvent 11) hydrocarbons (white spirit) trichlorotrifluoroethane (solvent 113) using the normal dry cleaning process without restriction.

Articles dry cleanable in the solvents given in the preceding paragraph, but which are sensitive to some dry cleaning processes and for which there is a strict limitation on the addition of water during cleaning, and/or certain restrictions concerning mechanical action and/or drying temperature.

Articles which are normal for dry cleaning in hydrocarbons (white spirit) and trichlorotrifluoromethane (solvent 113) using the normal dry cleaning procedures, without restrictions.

Articles dry cleanable in the solvents given in the preceding paragraph, but which are sensitive to some dry cleaning procedures and for which there is a strict limitation on the addition to water during cleaning and/or certain restrictions concerning mechanical action and/or drying temperature.

Do not dryclean

Washing Ironing

Machine wash in water tempcralure of 95DC or less. No other restriction.

May be ironed directly at 180°C - 280°C.

Machine wash in water temperature of 60°C or less. No other restriction.

May be ironed directly at 170°C - 160°C.

Machine wash in water temperature of 40°C or less. No other restrictions.

May be ironed directly at 80°C - 120°C

Machine wash at delicate cycle or hand wash in water temperature of 40°C or less.

Do not iron.

Machine wash at delicate cycle or hand wash in water temperature of 30°C or less.

May be ironed at 180°C -280°C, if a cloth is placed between iron and garment.

Hand wash in water temperature of 30°C or less.

Use a medium hot iron with a cloth.

Do not wash (not washable)

Japanese Care Labeling

Bleaching Wringing

Use Chlorine BleachWring softly by hand or spin dry by machine quickly.

Do not Use Chlorine Bleach Do not Wring by hand

Drying Dry Cleaning

Hang DryDryclean. Use any dry cleaning agent.

Hang dry in ShadeDryclean. Use only petroleum based agent.

Lay Flat to Dry Do not dry clean.

Lay Flat to dry in Shade

Japanese Care Labeling

Care labels indicating only washing, spinning or wringing and drip drying

Care labels developed by the National Retail Merchants Association