SUGAR STAINS ON CLOTHING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26967, 17 February 1953, Page 10

SUGAR STAINS ON CLOTHING

RESULT OF APPLICATION OF HEAT “Recent research upon stains caused by fruit, soft drinks, and similar substances shows why brown spots sometimes appear on a garment without apparent cause. Simple precautions will often avoid these stains,” says a statement issued recently by the Research Institute of Launderers, Drycleaners, and Dyers of New Zealand. “Many common foods and drinks contain a type of sugar which can cause ‘invisible’ stains,” the statement says. “If . these substances, are spilt on a garment, there is often no visible mark when the fabric has dried, because the sugar is colourless, but if it is not removed it will gradually turn brown, especially with heat. For example, the heat necessary to dryclean and press a garment will caramelise this sugar and, wherever it has touched the garment, will show as a brown stain. The sugar is not dissolved by the drycleaning solvent, and so it is not removed by the cleaning process itself. If he knew about it in time, the drycleaner would apply special treatment to remove the sugary stain before it became caramelised or ‘set,’ as it is usually impossible to remove after this has happened. “Many substances contain these socalled ‘reducing’ sugars—which are different from ordinary cane sugar. Fruit sugar is present in honey. Malt sugar is nresent in beer. Glucose, or grape sugar, is a common sweetening agent in many syrups. These three ‘reducing’ sugars, and many more of the same type, occur in the juice of fruits, particularly apples, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, and in many substances with natural or artificial sweetening, such as beer, cocktails. soft drinks, wine, and many medicines,” says the statement. “If any of these, or similar substances, are spilt on a garment, the part affected should be thoroughly flushed out with clean water, provided there is no doubt that the garment can safely be wetted. This should be done as soon as possible; soap or ammonia should not be used, and the fabric should not be ironed until the staining substance has been completely removed. If» there are any doubts whether the fabric can be wetted and it is decided to take the garment to a drycleaner., do so as soon as possib’e an .d tell him exactly what has been spilt on it. He will know how it can be handled safely.”