How Stain Removers Work
-
Bleaches
-
There are many kinds of stain removers, and not all of them are created equal. While some stain removers are ideally suited for organic stains, such as blood and food products, others are suited to different stains altogether. Bleach is one of the most common types of stain removers. There are several different types of bleach, and each works differently. Chlorine bleach works by destroying the molecules which make up the substance and color of the stain. The stain is literally destroyed by the harsh chlorine in the bleach. Of course, chlorine bleach can damage clothing as well, by removing the color from the fabric or weakening the material so significantly that it disintegrates. Regular hydrogen peroxide works as a bleaching agent as well. A 3-percent hydrogen peroxide solution, such as that sold in drugstores, will cause the stain molecules to oxidize, which breaks the chemical bond holding the stain together so that it can be washed away with water.
Solvents
-
Solvents, or detergents, work differently than bleaches. While bleaches focus on using harsh chemicals to destroy the stain so that it can be washed away, detergents typically surround the molecules of the stain and allow it to be washed away. For grease stains, the detergent completely surrounds each grease molecule and holds it through a strong chemical bond. With the application of water, the encapsulated grease stain washes right off the fabric. Some detergents work by relying on strong enzymes to consume the stain. These enzymes are primarily used for organic stains, and the enzymes break the stain down into its component parts, after which it is simply washed away with water and agitation.
-
Emulsifiers
-
Emulsifiers, or soaps, work in two ways. The first thing they do is lower the surface tension of the water. That allows the water to more readily penetrate the small pores in fabrics and skin, allowing the water to more effectively scour a stain away. Some soaps also use lipid, or fat, molecules to surround the stain. With the stain molecules completely isolated from the fabric, they have nothing to cling to, and the water can more readily enter the pores and wash the stain molecules away.
-
