National Clothesline

It may be time for you to review the principles and basics of spotting. It has been my experience after teaching for 35 years that most cleaners and spotters, even the experienced ones, lack the knowledge of spotting basics or don’t practice them.

More problems and failure in stain removal occur from not properly practicing basic spotting techniques. This article deals with basic spotting. I would recommend that plant owners read the following lesson and go over the principles with their staff. I would also recommend that if you are an experienced spotter that you review the material as well.

The spotter has at hand the tools to aid in proper stain removal. All too often these tools are not used properly or not used at all. Improper use of the tools will result in a lower percentage of stain removal and sometimes cause damage.

The steam gun. The steam gun is the most important tool for wetside stain removal. It can aid in stain removal by the heat and force of the steam it generates

Before using the steam gun on a fabric, aim it at the floor first to remove residue and pressure build-up in the gun.

The steam gun should be held at least six inches from the fabric when flushing wetside stains on a light colored fabric or a delicate fabric. This will prevent setting the stain and possible damage to a delicate fabric.

On dark, rough garments, the steam gun can be held close to the fabric so the force and pressure of the steam will remove the stains from the fabric.

Heating stains. The steam gun can be regulated by a knob or pedal pressure to emit a small amount of steam vapor. This is effective for heating and accelerating chemicals. Every 18°F rise in temperature will double the chemical action.

Another way to use the heat of the steam gun is to press the steam pedal and direct the steam on the floor. Then quickly release the steam pedal and aim the steam gun close to the fabric which still has steam vapor coming from the gun.

Towel. When flushing stains, always flush it into a towel. This serves several purposes. It keeps the wet area more localized and the spotter can see if the dye in the fabric is fugitive by examining dye transfer on the towel. Spotters who flush into the vacuum part of the spotting board run the risk of residue backup if the vacuum tip is not cleaned out.

The towel is also used for feathering. The process of feathering is used to remove rings from wetside spotting. Use the steam gun to break up the ring and then use the towel to wipe the center of the ring outward so the wet area blends into the dry area.

Spotting brush. The spotter should have several brushes and use them properly. A black and a white brush is a must. The black brush is traditionally used for dryside spotting while the white brush is used for wetside spotting.

The reason for this is that some paint removers and dryside spotting agents, when mixed with water, will become potentially dangerous to the dyes on fabrics. A padded silk brush is necessary for delicate fabrics.

If you don’t have a silk brush, wrap a towel around a bristle brush to create a padded area. Some spotting brushes can be purchased with stiff nylon bristles while softer hair bristled brushes create a safer means of applying mechanical action.

Brushes are used on a fabric only after a lubricant is applied to the fabric. Tamping in an up and down motion is the safest way of applying mechanical action. This is used for breaking up most wet and dryside stains. When brushing, always brush in one direction. If you are brushing a delicate fabric, angle the brush so only the outside bristles contact the fabric.

Spatula. The spatula, or bone, can be made of a plastic or metal compound. This requires caution in use. It should be used on the round part.

Extreme caution must be exercised on silks, polyesters and other delicate fabrics. Excessive rubbing can cause color loss or leave marks on the fabric.

The spatula can also be used to apply chemicals. The tip of the spatula can hold just the right amount of a powdered chemical. When the spatula is dipped into a liquid it holds enough liquid so it can be applied to a stain much like an eye drop.

Water gun. A water gun is very useful for flushing stains that may set or those that may spread. It can also be used to spray around a ring to aid in feathering.

Air. The steam gun usually has an air attachment. This is important for drying a wet area to tell if the stain is removed. It is also used to aid in feathering a wet area.

Watch for future articles dealing with the basics of spotting. My manual “The Art of Spotting” can be a helpful tool for training purposes.