How to Remove Peroxide Stains
Hydrogen peroxide, or chemical compound H202, is a strong chemical that has oxidizing properties. Hydrogen peroxide is used as an effective stain remover. Hydrogen peroxide, however, can create stains just as easily as it removes them. Hydrogen peroxide has a bleaching affect. It is used to bleach hair or as an antiseptic, textile-bleaching agent, in cosmetics and for deodorizing. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sodium thiosulfate (photographic fixer)
- Clean white cloth
- White vinegar
- Fabric markers
- Color stripper
Instructions
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Act quickly. The most effective way to remove a stain is to tend to it as soon as it occurs. The longer it sits, the more difficult it is to remove it. Hydrogen peroxide can stain clothing and cause metals to rust more quickly.
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Immediately immerse the item that has hydrogen peroxide in water. The first step of removing hydrogen peroxide is to flush with water, this is the most effective way to dilute and remove hydrogen peroxide from a surface. This is because hydrogen peroxide is water-soluble.
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Use a chemical cleaner if the item is not rinsed quickly enough; bleaching may have already occurred. In this case, there are some options to reverse the bleaching process. Sodium thiosulfate, the same chemical used as photographic fixer, neutralizes the bleaching effects, restoring the fabric that has been bleached. Blot the fabric with a white cloth dipped in the sodium thiosulfate, rinse with cold water and repeat the process if needed.
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Use white vinegar for a chemical-free fabric restorer. This step is similar to the chemical equivalent of the sodium thiosulfate. Use a clean white cloth soaked with the vinegar. Blot the stain until it cannot hold any more liquid, then rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary. Vinegar can damage cotton fabrics, so use it sparingly and with care.
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Try these other steps if the previous steps did not restore the color faded by hydrogen peroxide bleaching. If the stained fabric is white, try hanging the garment out in direct sunlight and use the sun's bleaching power to lighten the stain. As a last resort for colored fabrics, you could consider using fabric markers to fill in the bleached out spot, or use a commercial color stripper to remove all color.
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