Solutions that succeed

LCN: What are the main points drycleaning unit shop owners should keep in mind when ordering chemicals?

David McKenzie Robinson: They should analyse the type of textiles coming into the business and the various types of soiling on the textiles - and order chemicals accordingly.

The most appropriate type of detergent to use will depend on whether the shop is in a heavy-soiling or low-soiling area.

The types of staining generally seen in the business should be evaluated before a spotting kit is selected.

The drycleaner should ensure that all the correct chemical "tools" are available to treat any staining and soiling.

Remember that most drycleaning chemicals have a shelf life of 12 to 18 months. Beyond the shelf life they may become unstable and potentially damaging to textiles.

LCN: What are the main types of detergents and how do they work?

DMR: There are two distinct categories of detergent used in drycleaning: anionic and cationic.

Anionic detergents contain various types of surfactants which achieve the removal of a good degree of soiling and wet-bound stains. The surfactants have soil suspension qualities as well, eliminating redeposition of the soiling and the risk of greying, colour loss and shrinkage. They contain anti-corrosive additives.

Cationic detergents are absorbed into fabrics during the cleaning cycle. They have additives which prevent electrostatic charges and lint formation on the textiles during the drying phase. These detergents produce a pleasant garment handle and textiles remain almost creasefree. They contain additives to eliminate unpleasant smells in the drycleaning bath.

A combination detergent is a mixture of anionic/cationic substances and will work in all the areas mentioned above. However, it does not have as concentrated an action as a pure anionic or cationic detergent.

Pre-brushing agents are particularly good to treat, prior to drycleaning, specific tenacious grease and pigment stains on collars, cuffs, sleeve linings, trouser pockets and raincoats.

LCN: What are your tips on maintenance, training and development?

DMR: It is extremely important for the drycleaning machine to be well maintained. The solvent should be kept clean and the separator drained regularly. Maintenance tasks relating to the filter and still should meticulously carried out, and the whole machine serviced as recommended by its manufacturer.

Drycleaners have much technical support available to them and plenty of training opportunities and here suppliers and industry associations can assist - suppliers are usually most willing to help cleaners find just the sort of help they need.

LCN: What are the chemicals in the basic spotting kit and what do they do?

DMR: There is a Seitz three-bottle spotting kit designed for different solvents: the V kit, for use with perc; the Solvex for hydrocarbon; the Hydret for water and the G kit for Green Earth.

As the spotting agents are formulated individually for each medium, they can be rinsed out in the machine - they do not have to be flushed out or pre-masked prior to cleaning.

All the bottles are colour coded. The No 1 in each Seitz range is denoted by purple, the No 2 by red and the No 3 by orange.

The No 1 bottle is the dryside/oil-based remover. It dissolves soil or dyestuff that is not readily soluble in water or other wetside solvents. It also lubricates the stain, and, just as oil can free up a rusty hinge, it loosens the bond between the stain and the fibres. It can keep the softened soil in suspension, allowing the stain to be flushed away more easily.

A No 1 product is suitable for treating stains resulting from: adhesive, oil, paint, lacquer, varnish, tar, nail, polish, ballpoint pen ink, stamping ink, lipstick, natural or synthetic resins, polish, tar, cosmetics, grease and wax.

The No 2 bottle is for use on wetside/water-soluble stains and is alkali based.

It contains digestive reagents which eat away at proteins, albumin and starch stains in much the same way that stomach enzymes digest food.

Stains that would otherwise be insoluble are broken down biologically so that they can be dissolved and flushed out of the fabric.

Types of stain that can be treated with a No 2 product are those from: sugar, starch, mustard, ice cream, mould, milk, honey, beer, liqueurs, chocolate, perspiration, urine, many general food stains, blood and mud.

The No 3 bottle is for wetside/water-soluble stains, but is acid based.

No 3 products are chemical reagents which act to make the stain colourless or to effectively camouflage the stain rather than remove it.

Chemical reagents should only be applied to clearly identifiable tannin stains. As these are some of the most difficult reagents to use, it is important to test the reaction on a hidden seam before tackling the main stain.

Types of stain that can be treated with a No 3 product are : tea, coffee, fruit juice, perfume, cola, tobacco, wine, grass, medicines, curry and any yellow-brown stains of unknown origin.

LCN: What types of chemicals are in the advanced spotting kit. What do they do?

DMR: An extensive choice of chemicals is available to enable experienced drycleaners to tackle a range of staining and soiling.

Here is a selection from Seitz. Purasol is a dryside blend of solvents specifically for removing adhesive, oil paint, lacquer, varnish, tar, nail polish, ballpoint pen ink, and natural or synthetic resins. It dries quickly without leaving marks, and it does not attack acetate silk.

Quickol, a popular spotting reagent, is usually the first to be used for general stain removal. It is suitable for spotting a wide range of water-bound and oil-bound stains including those caused by paint, tar, polish, cosmetics, grease, wax, carbon paper, mineral oil, and salad dressings. Stubborn stains can be soaked for a longer period. The product suits all kinds of fibres and does not affect acetate rayon.

Lacol is a stronger blend of solvents usually used after using Purasol. Lacol is formulated to remove more stubborn, aged stains of adhesive, oil paint, lacquer, varnish, tar, nail polish, ballpoint pen ink, stamping ink, lipstick, and natural or synthetic resins. Stubborn stains may be soaked for up to 30 minutes. When working on a stubborn stain, it may be necessary to remoisten it several times - the stained area should be tamped carefully with a soft spotting brush.

Frankosol is a universal wetside reagent for treating water-bound stains including those caused by sugar, starch, mustard, ice cream, mould, milk, honey, beer, liqueurs, chocolate, perspiration, urine, and mud. It is useful for staining arising from many foods, and is effective in eliminating perspiration marks and odours. It can be used on all fabrics.

Cavesol is a pre- and post-spotting agent specifically for stubborn tannin stains including tea, coffee, fruit juice, perfume, cola, tobacco, wine, grass, and medicines. It is also used for any yellow-brown stains of unknown origin.

Blutol is a pre-and post-spotting agent specifically suited for removing blood and other stains which contain albumin and include soup, meat and fish sauces or gravy, milk, cream, ice cream, mayonnaise, chocolate, cocoa, vomit, faeces, and perspiration. Aged stains will require longer reaction times.

Colorsol is a pre- and post-spotting agent for removing natural and synthetic dyestuffs and trace colouration remaining after the treatment of other stains. It provides effective treatment for stains arising from ballpoint pen ink, printing ink, wine, mustard, curry, shoe polish, lipstick and other cosmetics. Also, it can be used in cases of colour bleeding. It should not be used on polyamide fibres such as nylon and perlon.

Ferrol is a wetside spotting agent for treating rust and metallic oxide stains.

LCN: What other agents and special treatments are used. How do these act?

DMR: Reproofing agents are important. Aquatex has fluoro-silicon-polymer resins with extenders solubilised in perc. Every fabric fibre is encircled with an invisible film that protects against wet-bound and grease-bound stains. Aquatex prevents other substances from deeply penetrating the fabric. It is highly suitable for waterproofing garments. It is applied by spraying.

Frankophob consists of metallo-organic compounds with waxes, softeners and solvent. This waterproofing agent can be used in a bath system - spraying is not required.

Due to the combination of active substances and solvent and its special surface-active properties, Destivit 2000 quenches and eliminates excessive foam in the still, thus preventing contaminated solvent from overboiling.

Neutrol L combines acid binding and stabilising substances. It is an alkaline liquid soluble in the solvent and is added to the still to prevent acid decomposition elements preponderantly forming during distillation.

Desolan Konz eliminates unpleasant odours and removes germs, bacteria or fungi adhering to soiled textiles or otherwise brought into the drycleaning bath.