[paul@ctcs]

Afternoon Chaps,

As we are all aware, treating stains in the wrong way can set them permanently     I often tell customers to avoid throwing various so called supermarket available stain removers around and advise the best way to deal with things.
 Even though i advise not to use these products I dont know on a chemical level why these stains become set??? any ideas?? One for the Boltons perhaps
 It would be great to fully understand the chemistry of cleaning products, this side of things really interests me so any sources of info on this subject, web sites etc would be appreciated.

Paul

[Mike Halliday]

Paul, I have a couple of thoughts on this one,

while attempting to remove the stain the customer inadvertly removes the protector allowing the stain to penetrate deeper.

 a stain might have a high viscocity so will be too 'thick' to penetrate deap into the fibre, by diluting the stain  with a spotter the customers lowers the viscocity, so allowing the stain to penetrate deeper.

i have no scientific proof for any of these theorys, but the sound plausable

Mike

[Derek]

Mike

Unless the customer uses a proprietry brand product with a pH of over ten then it shouldn't affect the protection levels....the residues left behind may mask the protector though.

Mind you some customers throw the likes of Mr Muscle about like water and it's pH is pretty high.

Derek

[Dynafoam]

Mike,

I feel your second point has some validity. Apart from reducing viscosity, many of these products also contain wetting agents that can assist in stain penetration.

Many dye-stuffs can be set by alkalies - at one time most hair dyes were followed up by an ammonial rinse to set the dye.

On the subject of alkalinity, Mr Muscle-type agents often have a high pH when applied to the carpet but the distillation process that takes place during drying concentrated the product, thereby increasing the alkalinity.

[Doug Holloway]

Paul,

The driving forces for cleaning chemistry are the laundry/dish washing industries with their enormous volumes.

Our chemicals will be modifications of these products.

There is loads of info available on these products.

Cheers,

Doug