SELECTION

CRITERIA FOR SPOTTING

CHEMICALS

SPOTTING
Spotting is the removal of stains from textiles during professional textile cleaning. Spotting solvents are used in textile and clothing manufacture to remove stains from fabrics. These can be caused by such things as loom and machine oils, feltpens, coffee, grease and finger marks. Spotting solvents are usually applied to the fabric by spray gun but a cloth soaked in solvent may also be used

SPOTTING

CHEMICALS

Two main groups of spotting solvents are used Halogentated hydrocarbons and olefins. Halogentated hydrocarbons include trichloroethylene,* 1,1,1 trichloroethane, bromochloromethane and dichloromethane. Olefins include aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent blends and isoparafinic hydrocarbon blends.

SPOTTING

AGENTS

Absorbents -Cornmeal, talcum powder, chalk, fullers earth and whiting

Bleaches -Oxygen bleaches , chlorine bleaches, Hydrogen peroxide,vinegar, lemon juice and ammonia. Detergents- alone or in combination with mild bleaches are effective stain removers.
Prewash soil and stain removers -contain dry cleaning solvents in combination with detergents, glycerin and water.

Enzyme presoaks and bleaches are used for protein-based stains, such as grass and blood. Solvents, such as dry cleaning fluids, amyl acetate, spot remover, rubbing alcohol, acetone, nail polish remover, and paint remover or stripper, are used on oily and combination stains. Soaps, such as laundry flakes, bars and liquids, are used on delicate fabrics. Miscellaneous products that may be used are oxalic acid, rust removers and glycerin.

LIGHTING CONDITION
Lighting of the spotting table with composite artificial light consisting of a bluish and a yellowish fluorescent tube attached above the table approx. 80 cm from the standing point is better suited than daylight.
This ensures high-contrast, shadow-free lighting of the work surface and allows working without fatigue.

EQUIPMENTS
Basic equipment should comprise a spotting table with vacuum facility, sleeve board, steam and compressed air guns, and a spray gun for water.
Spotting brushes should have soft bristles for gentle treatment of the textiles. Use brushes with bright bristles for bright textiles and brushes with dark bristles for dark textiles. Use spatulas with rounded edges for removing substantial staining.

CORRECT PROCEDURE FOR SPOTTING

It is recommended to integrate the three stages of spotting

Brushing Prespotting Postspotting into the operating procedures of textile cleaning. Perform brushing and special spotting when examining and sorting the textiles to be cleaned.

BRUSHING
Examine textiles for excessive dirt, particularly at collars, pockets, sleeves, and trouser legs. If the textiles are to be dry cleaned check them particularly for stains originating from food or body secretions.

If the textiles are to be wetcleaned check them particularly for grease stains.
Apply small quantity of brushing agent onto the stained areas and allow to react for 10-20 minutes before loading the cleaning equipment

PRE-SPOTTING

Intensive staining found upon the examination of the textiles can be treated with pre-spotting agents even before the actual cleaning. Pre-spotting, which involves dryside chemicals to remove or loosen solvent-soluble stains

POST-SPOTTING
Stains that could not be removed during dry cleaning or wet cleaning with machines are subject to post-spotting. Post-spotting, which utilizes wetside chemicals to remove water-soluble stains

EXAMPLES OF SPOTTED GARMENTS

White Shirt with Blue Screen Printing Ink.

Blue Shirt with Black Latex Paint.

Tan Dockers with Red Nail Polish

Beige Pants with Mascara.

STEPS TO SELECTING A
SOLVENT

Eliminate or reduce use -Think about how its use can be minimised. Household type water-based cleaning products be used Consider the solvents flammability -Avoid highly flammable solvents with risk phrase R11, flash point 21 C or less; the vapour from these can readily create a flammable atmosphere.

Health risks because hazardous solvent they may cause serious and irreversible ill-health effects such as asthma, dermatitis and cancer Check whether the solvent has an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) - There are two types of OEL Maximum Exposure Limits (MELs) and Occupational Exposure Standards (OESs).

CONTROLLING EXPOSURE
Store and dispense safely Avoid spraying Provide adequate ventilation Minimise skin contact Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) Ensure adequate personal hygiene Provide training for workers

AIR REGULATION THAT APPLIES TO

SPOTTING CHEMICALS
In California, four or five suppliers sell spotting agents in large quantities to distributors. The distributors, in some cases, repackage the spotting agents in smaller quantities and sell them to cleaners along with other supplies like filters, hangers and dry cleaning agents. The local air districts have regulatory authority over spotting chemicals since they regulate VOCs and toxic materials used in industrial facilities. CARB may also have regulatory authority over spotting chemicals. CARB and local air districts do not currently have regulations that affect spotting chemicals. The regulatory agencies might forbid the use of spotting agents that contain chlorinated solvents like TCE or PERC, for example The alternatives that were tested during this project were selected to have low toxicity and low VOC content. VOC: Volatile Organic Compounds CARB: California Air Resources Board

WASTE REGULATION THAT APPLIES TO

SPOTTING CHEMICALS

TCE and PERC are listed hazardous wastes under RCRA. Both chemicals are listed in RCRA under F001 and F002. F001 specifies TCE and PERC used in degreasing. F002 specifies TCE and PERC when they are spent and all spent solvent mixtures/blends containing, This applies to sludge generated from spin-disk filters , still bottoms generated from distillation, separator water and the effluent from waterbased technologies RCRA: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

TOXICITY OF SPOTTING AGENTS

Today PERC and TCE are the POG spotting agents most widely used by cleaners, even those using alternative technologies for textile cleaning. PERC and TCE are both carcinogens. Because PERC, the major dry cleaning agent, received negative publicity because it is a carcinogen, the suppliers and distributors converted away from the chemical in POG spotting agents. PERC: perchloro ethelene TCE: Trichloro ethylene POG: Paint, Oil and Grease

SPOTTING MACHINE
The stain removing machines work on the scientific process of impact chemical spray cleaning. Vacuum removal of the residual spray.

Subsequent drying through a steam gun and compressed air spray.

Spray gun

Spotting working station

Air drier

SPOTS & STAINS REMOVAL TABLE

S.NO: 1 Stain Alcoholic drinks Pretreatment Sponge with cool water. Soak at least 30min. or overnight in cool water & detergent.
2 Antiperspirant buildup

Bleachable Soak in solution of 2 T. (30 ml) chlorine bleach to 1 qt. (1 l) water. If fruit colored, use dry cleaning solvent. Rinse. Wet. Rub in detergent Soak in solution of 1 or prewash soil & stain t. (8 ml) oxalic acid to 1 remover. Rinse. Air dry. c. (1/4 l) hot water for 1 hr. Rinse; repeat two solution of c. (120 ml) vinegar to 1 gal. (3 l) water. Wash.

Non-bleachable Sponge with cool water. For stubborn stains, force water through stain.
Moisten area with hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach after testing fabric. Let stand for at least 30 min. Rinse. To restore color, use equal parts ammonia & water. Rinse. Same as for bleaches.

Beer

Blot. Rinse with cool water.

1)

Apply solution of a few drops vinegar or lemon juice to 1 c. (1/4 l) water. Agitate. Rinse. Work in enzyme paste. Wash.

2)

Blood: dried or set-in

Soak in cool soapy water changing water as stain releases. Rinse. Soak in solution of c. (60 ml) ammonia to 1 gal. (3 l) water.

Apply enzyme paste. Repeat several times if stain persists. Dry flat in full sun between treatments.

Soak in solution of c. (60 ml) salt to 2 qts. (2 l) cool water. Rinse. Soak in solution of c. (60 ml) ammonia to 1 gal. (3 l) water. If stain persists, treat with enzyme presoak solution.
Same as for bleaches except, to launder replace chlorine bleach with hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach after testing fabric.

Candle-wax:

Remove surface wax with a dull knife.

Place stain between paper towel and press with a warm iron. Replace towels frequently to absorb more wax. Launder with detergent. If traces of color remain, wash again using chlorine bleach.

Catsup, Scrape off excess. Blot spaghetti or with moist cloth. tomato sauce Repeat until progress stops.

Apply prewash soil & stain remover. Rinse. Repeat. Apply enzyme paste. Rinse; repeat if stain persists. Add vinegar to last rinse.

Blot. Apply absorbent. Repeat. Work in cleaning fluid from underside. Feather edges.

Coffee, tea, Blot well with damp 1) chocolate, cloth. Pour cool cocoa water through stain 2) if possible.

Soak in cool water. Work in detergent. Rinse. If stain remains, apply cleaning fluid. Apply enzyme paste to final traces. Wash in warm water.

3)
8 Cosmetics: Blot well, being makeup, careful not to lipstick spread stain. 1)

Force boiling water over stain from arms length above.

Work in cleaning fluid, rubbing toward center. Spot wash with liquid detergent. Rinse. Air dry. Apply prewash soil & stain remover. Blot. Repeat. Rinse with solution of water & a few drops ammonia. Wash in warm water. Soak in enzyme solution for 30 min.

2)

3)

Crayons: incidental marks

Scrape off excess.

1)

Place stain between white tissues or paper towels. Press with warm iron. Pour small amount of cleaning fluid onto absorbent white towel; stroke across stain until stain is gone. Soak in hot enzyme presoak solution for at least 30 min. rinse.

2)

10

Grease: car Blot. Protect other Work in petroleum jelly. Sponge clothing. with cleaning fluid. Rinse; rinse well. Wash in hottest water safe for fabric; or use prewash soil & stain remover.

Same as for bleachable.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.hsebooks.co.uk
www.google.com/textile/spottingchemic als www.wikipedia.com www.google.com/textileresearch www.sanitone.com

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