Chemical Spots, Stains and Discoloration of Textile Home Furnishings
We live in a world of chemicals. Unfortunately, some of the characteristics that make household chemical products the most useful are the same qualities that lead to trouble when these products are carelessly handled. A chemical stain or spot is a serious kind of stain that is appearing with increasing frequency and is different from ordinary stains. This type of discoloration or color loss is caused by a variety of chemical ingredients contained in dozens of common household products.
Basically, there are two types of spots that can appear on home furnishing fabric. The first type of spot is the common stain which occurs when food is spilled or ordinary dirt or oily substance is tracked in. These spots are usually apparent immediately and action can be taken to remove them without damage to the carpet or upholstery fabric.
The second type of stain or discoloration of carpets and home furnishings fabrics is the chemical stain. The chemical stain is caused by the introduction of foreign substances to the surface of the textile product, which actually changes or destroys the dye. The time between contact and appearance of the stain could be days or months. Generally, nothing can be done to restore the dye to its original color.
Some of the more common chemical products known to cause problems include medications (especially acne medications), certain cosmetics, household bleaches, disinfectants, furniture polish, certain plant foods, fertilizers and insecticides. One fiber manufacturer has estimated the number of household products which can cause stains or spots on home furnishings products to be in excess of 50.
The mechanism by which these spots appear varies with different types of chemicals, environmental conditions and the particular textile product involved.
For example, spots can appear suddenly with no apparent history of contact with a known injurious substance. The chemical can lie dormant until a change in humidity, temperature, moisture or sunlight occurs to activate the chemical reaction. This delayed action causes the spots to seem to appear spontaneously.
Relatively high humidity is necessary for bleaching action to begin. Similarly, many chemical agents require wetness to trigger reaction. This means that discoloration could result shortly after a textile product is cleaned. Frequently the professional cleaner is falsely suspected of being the cause.
You may ask why carpet manufacturers do not use better dyes, ones that will resist all chemical reactions. There are few known dyes which are resistant to chemical degradation. Such dyes have limited application and a restricted choice of colors.
Since there are no dyes which will resist all chemical attacks, and manufacturers cannot prevent their products from coming into contact with these substances, chemical spots and stains are not covered under most manufacturers' warranties. However, dyes have improved.
Prevention of Chemical Spots and Stains
From the consumer's point of view, the only real solution to prevention of chemical spots and stains is careful use of the offending chemical products. By identifying the particular product, one can take precautions to prevent further contamination.
This is not always easy because a list of ingredients in many of these products is not always available. The advantage in knowing what is in the product is questionable because the concentration of the products used, or the combination of the chemicals within the product, can affect what it will do to a carpet or other household textile products.
It is most important that the consumer carefully read and comply with directions. Special attention should be given to precautions or warnings supplied by the manufacturer of household chemical products.
Bleaches
Most people are aware that misuse of household bleaches on colored fabric may remove the color as well as stubborn stains. Accidental spills on carpets and upholstery fabrics are equally damaging.
Chlorine bleaches (sodium hydrochlorite) are the most universally used. The so-called "all-fabric" bleaches (Oxygen bleach), although slower acting, can cause bleaching and dye bleeding. Swimming pool chemicals (calcium hypochlorite) tracked into the home can bleach carpets and rugs. Also, most mildew stoppers contain bleach which will affect textiles if used improperly.
Spots caused by chlorine products are generally yellow. However, chlorine will cause some red dyestuffs to turn green.
Furniture Polish
Chemicals in furniture polish can act as a catalytic agent, destroying red carpet dyes and creating green or bluish discoloration. On carpet this usually occurs around the base of a piece of furniture and can remain hidden until the furniture is relocated.
Acids & Alkalis
As little as one percent of hydrochloric acid in solution can cause pink or orange spots in carpets. Stomach acid is essentially ten percent hydrochloric acid. This means that vomit can cause permanent spots on carpets and upholstery if not promptly removed and/or neutralized. Some toilet bowl cleaners contain as much as ten percent hydrochloric acid. Corn and callous removers contain phosphoric and glacial acetic acid. Title cleaners also contain acid which can cause color changes as do certain foot preparations. Hydrochloric acid can cause some red dyestuffs to turn bright blue.
Strong alkaline substances are equally damaging when they come in contact with carpets and other textile products. The active ingredient in most drain cleaners is sodium hydroxide (lye). Oven cleaners get their cleaning power from sodium hydroxide. Strong alkalines will destroy the fabric itself, as well as cause spots and stains.
Acne Medications & Skin Care Creams
Many consumer products have been introduced over the last few years which contain benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient. These products include acne medications, fade or age creams, some foot care preparations and some pet shampoos. Benzoyl peroxide is a strong oxidizing and/or bleaching agent which is capable of destroying most dyes used in carpet and upholstery fabrics. Other textiles such as pillowcases, sheets, towels and clothing may be effected also. Manufactures have estimated that a high percent of unidentifiable spots on carpets can be attributed to this chemical.
Spots caused by benzoyl peroxide may appear hours, days or months after the contamination depending on temperature and humidity. This means that the original source of the spill could have been forgotten by the time the spot appears. An additional problem with this chemical is that compounds containing benzoyl peroxide are not water soluble. They are difficult to wash off the hands or face. The user may believe the substance has been washed off when it really has not.
Most benzoyl peroxide spots begin as orange or dark yellow depending on the dyestuff used. As time and the oxidation process progress the yellow stain will get lighter in color. On blue carpets, however, these spots may appear slightly pinkish or white. In some cases the spot may appear to be yellow with an orange halo around it, moving toward yellow as the spot grows.
Plant Foods & Fertilizers
Spills of some liquid plant foods or leakage from house plants can cause color changes in carpet. Spots of this kind usually develop near the backing and progress upward through the pile to the surface. Stains of this type may not be apparent for months. Spots are usually dull yellow in color.
Insecticides
Some pesticides and insecticides can cause discoloration of carpet. Most often named are malathion, diazinon, and DDVP (dischlorovinyl dimethyl phosphate). These chemicals can cause fading around baseboards when spray is directed to the carpet instead of the baseboard.
Phenols
The class of chemicals is used in disinfectants and germicides. Bathroom cleaners, many of which comes in concentrated liquid form, may contain this chemical. Some phenols have been known to cause carpet to fade.
Urine Stains
Urine from children and pets can cause permanent stains to carpet and upholstery fabrics if not promptly removed. The characteristic ammonia-like odor of urine will be replaced by a musty odor. Spots caused by urine may be a dull yellow or even red.
How to identify Chemical Spots & Stains
The following suggestions may be helpful in identifying the cause of chemical spots and stains on carpets and other textile products:
1. Where is the spot located in the house?
When stains appear on towels, bed sheets, carpets and clothing benzoyl peroxide can be the suspected cause. Green discoloration along baseboards suggests insecticides. In the living or dining room where houseplants are kept, it could be leakage from pots containing plant food. Stains around the base of furniture could be contamination from furniture polish. The important thing is to isolate the cause of the spot and take whatever steps are necessary to prevent future exposures.
2. Was the chemical substance spilled or tracked onto the carpet from some other area?
The pattern of the stain indicates how it happened. Spills often resemble explosions. They are generally larger in diameter near the backing than on the surface. Tracking commonly leaves a clearly defined shape like a hand print or footprint. Tracking stains are usually limited to the tips of the tufts. Where tracks come from could indicate the cause.
3. Does the spot have an odor?
If the spot smells different from the rest of the carpet, it is obvious that a foreign substance is present. The odor can be a clue to its identity.
4. What color are the spots?
Different chemicals react differently to different colors and dyestuffs. As we have noted, they also react differently under various climatic conditions. In general, red spots on tan or beige carpet may suggest strong acids. Yellow stains indicate reactions caused by strong oxidizers or bleaches. Green or blue stains may indicate sunlight combined with a catalyst. Dye spots caused in the mill are rare and are always darker, never lighter than the background.
Treatment
In general, once a textile product has been chemically stained, there is nothing that can be done by the individual or by the professional cleaner to restore the material to its original color and condition. If a stain has occurred, the source of contamination should be identified and steps taken to prevent further contamination from the same cause. The homeowner can prevent spots from occurring in the first place by showing proper respect for household chemicals and treating them with due caution.
Reprinted from :
"Chemical Spots, Stains and Discoloration of Textile Home Furnishings"
Produced by: American Textile Manufactures Institute, Inc. 1130 Connecticut Ave Nw Ste 1200 Washington D.C. 20036
In cooperation with: Science and Education Administration, Extension Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC.
