There are probably a million answers to that question. The answer also varies from region to region. Laundry stains are a real menace. Baked in staining substances that Joe Schmuck the cleaner/laundryman forgot (or did not know how) to take out, is now your problem and it is baked in at 400 degree. Lordy, Lordy, I don’t mind getting old ‘cause it takes the bother out of living, but old stains, never! Some spotter people are so dumb they couldn’t teach a hen how to cluck!
Athletic Uniforms
What a pile of grief they can be, especially under the staining of the Red River Texas clay! It takes a lot of preparation to get those stains loosened up and as is always necessary, wetcleaning with a good stain removing bleach and followed by a good reducing bleach will render those stains whipped in short order. However, not everybody can use these bleaches safely or effectively. It takes patience, testing and knowing when to stop. The uniforms are usually large bulk orders that will require a good temperature formula of sudsing and bleaching to remove all stains. At times, it is of course necessary to soak some items individually in an all temperature sink. Stuffing five items into a bucket will not get the job done. Crowded wetcleaning cannot work effectively. You need constant temperature and agitating to get the job done properly.
Stains From Medicines Are
The Most Challenging
Always prewash the worst of the lot separately. Then you can go to a special formula for washing. One should also be mindful of fabric construction and dye before treatment mechanical and chemical. Avoid hazardous and strong chemicals and go with a good enzyme cleaning. Impact generated stains can be transferred to different areas and dyes of a uniform that cause further attention during prespotting. Healthcare items are a special challenge. Stains from medicinal products are the most challenging and are without a doubt the toughest stains to remove. Caked and baked in ointments and other greasy dye based products are tough!
The Classic Stain Challenge
For The Drycleaner
Ink probably tops the list depending on which type and color. Black is the worst. Red and blue inks respond well to alkali’s and acid’s, respectfully. General Formula 209 is about the best tannin blue ink remover out there. My Grandfather had a host of “secret formulas” for inks but the basic ingredients were alcohol, acetone, amyl acetate and OTPR. Some buy it already mixed and sold as “ink removers” but you can do the same with a step-by-step approach. Final bleaching will remove the last traces of the stain after the oil component has been removed first. Beginners or 20-year “experts” that never went to school can forget the hairspray as an ink remover…please.
Mustard, long considered the granddaddy of tough stains has a complex approach that requires dry substance removal before cleaning followed by OTPR for the oily component and a good tannin remover to follow up. Amyl acetate and alcohol are effective as well as good bleach for the final stain removal. I personally consider anything from a tomato substance to be the toughest stains on earth. Some believe coffee is the worst, but only if it has cream and milk that is an easy and natural progression of stain component removal for even the average stain removing specialist.
Go To School
Of course, without the proper tools and education, it is all guess work. If experience alone were the best teacher, there would be no need for any kind of school in any profession. Schooling with experience is the best formula. Most people leave the DLI sponsored courses with bright lights going off in their head and will benefit greatly from a professional trainer coming into their plant for further teaching.
Plant owners, invest in your people and bring them the skilled training they need. If nothing else make them READ. Magazines with articles and correspondence courses online or otherwise will help. Any drycleaner/spotter that ever worked for me was required to take a course and do some reading every week. Otherwise, they would be gone with the wind.
I’m headin’ to the wagon now, these boots are killin’ me!