The right stain remover will make cleaning up stubborn stains a breeze. The wrong one will waste your money. Here's what you need to know.
Have you ever wondered why it's always glasses of red wine that people drop? Or why kids in white shorts always fall on grass? We can't answer why these things always seem to happen, but we sure can help you put them right!
The best stain remover should be able to deal with everything that life throws at your clothes. No one wants the hassle of buying multiple stain removers for every stain under the sun. But how do stain removers work, and what is the best stain remover out there?
We're going to explore all your stain remover questions. Read on for your ultimate stain remover guide!
How Do Stain Removers Work?
Simply put, stain removers work by causing chemical reactions with the stain. These reactions help to loosen the stain and release it from the fabric. The best stain remover does this without damaging the fabric in the process.
Different stains present different challenges for stain removal. Some stains are mainly protein-based, whereas others are mainly fat-based. Others are water-based.
There is no one solvent that can remove all of these stains. That's why many stain removers use a combination of chemicals and techniques. This allows you to use a single stain remover for a huge variety of stains.
Types of Stain Remover
Stain removers usually use solvents, surfactants, reducing agents, or enzymes to break down stains. Let's take a look at how each one works.
Solvent Based Stain Removers
Water is one of the most powerful solvents out there. It's great for breaking down stains caused by salt and sugar, which are both highly water-soluble. The problem is that water is not good at dissolving stains made by fats, such as oil or animal fat.
For this, many stain removers use alcohol or hydrocarbon-based solvents. Hydrocarbons are typically derived from petroleum and are effective for oil-based stains.
Alcohols are a very effective type of solvent, as they can break down both water-based and oil-based stains.
Surfactant Based Stain Removers
A surfactant is a surface active agent. It lowers the surface tension of the stain and allows water to penetrate. This allows thought stains like oil and grease to be washed away.
Surfactants are made up of two parts - one that loves water and another that hates it! These two work together but in opposite ways. The result is that the stain is easier to break up and wash away.
We're all familiar with this reaction when using simple soap. This can be effective at breaking down certain types of grease stains. Modern stain removers use more advanced surfactants to remove stubborn stains.
Reducing Agents
As well as removing stains, stain removers can also work by reducing the appearance of stains. Reducing agents are also called 'strippers' because they strip the color out of the stain.
They do this by removing oxygen from the stain. This changes the structure and the appearance of the stain. This helps to ensure that there is no visible stain residue.
Enzyme Based Stain Removers
Enzyme-based stain removers harness the power of enzymes to digest stains. Just like the body uses enzymes to digest the food we eat, enzymes in stain removers can consume stains. This breaks them down so that they can be easily washed away.
This kind of stain remover is very effective on biological stains. This includes grass stains, blood, bodily fluids, and food.
How to Remove Stains
Successful stain removal begins with identifying the stain. Even if you have purchased a universal stain remover, you still need to check the label. Some are not suitable for certain types of stains, or certain fabrics such as leather and velvet.
Also, always test an inconspicuous patch for colorfastness first. Even the best stain remover can cause colors to run, or discoloration to the fabric. Don't omit this important step!
The next key is to try to treat stains as early as possible. Ideally, before they have had time to fully dry and set. However, this doesn't mean that you can't remove stains that have been there a while.
If it is a simple water-based stain, quickly treating it with club soda may work. Alternatively, many stains will come out with a little rubbing alcohol.
To remove fresh blood stains or other protein-based stains, soak the item in cold water. Hot water will set the stain and make it worse. After this, you can launder as normal.
If the bloodstain has dried, you will need to use an enzyme-based stain remover. You can also use a universal stain remover that can remove blood.
Always carefully follow the instructions on the stain remover. Then launder the garment according to the instructions on the care label.
Tackling Hard Stains the Easy Way
Certain stains such as ink, wine, pet stains, and rust can be a nightmare to remove with conventional methods. To take the hard work out of this you need a universal stain remover that can handle all of them.
Enter Didi Seven. Its powerful formula is super-concentrated and able to dissolve even the most stubborn stains. It even works beyond clothes. Use it to clean coffee and tea stains from mugs.
It's simple to use. Just spray it onto the stain, and launder as usual. No complicated pre-wash instructions!
Make Didi Seven Your Stain Remover of Choice!
There sure is more science to stain removal than first meets the eye! Thankfully, we no longer have to keep a huge range of stain removers on hand to tackle every individual stain we encounter.
If there's one single stain remover you should add to your laundry arsenal, it's Didi Seven.
Recommended by Consumer Reports, and on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Didi Seven is effective on a huge range of stains. It works on blood, ketchup, rust, water stains, and the list goes on and on. It also works on tile, bathtubs, outdoor furniture, and other household applications.
Didi Seven went away for a few years, but the great news is that it's back on the market and available for sale directly to consumers again!
Place your order today direct from Didi Seven!