The summer’s three clothing stains — and how to get rid of them
When the sun is shining and the holiday season is here, our clothes are in danger of being exposed to some very tough stains.
“The summer is wonderful, but it is also a time when our clothes are at risk,” says Leigh Murphy, who is a researcher at Novozymes and specializes in clothing stains.
Leigh Murphy knows what he is talking about. Every year, he investigates thousands of stains to figure out how they can be removed from our clothing.
“During the summer, we eat lots of ice cream and strawberries, and we love being out on the lawn. All this can lead to some really stubborn stains on our clothes. Fortunately, however, modern detergents and household remedies can get the most part of these stains,” says the stain expert.
Novozymes cooperates with the world’s largest manufacturer of detergents. Novozymes develops the enzymes that clean your clothes even at low temperatures. It is good for the energy bill and for the environment. Enzymes are proteins which, when used in detergents, can break up many different stains, including those caused by fruit, grass, and grease.
Here are tips for the worst summer stains:
Ice cream stains
Delicious ice cream also contains something called locust bean gum, which helps it retain its shape. Luckily, this is a natural product, and ice cream stains can be removed with a detergent that contains enzymes.
Moisten the stain, apply dishwashing liquid — preferably with the enzyme mannase —to the ice cream stain with a soft sponge. Leave the clothing in an airtight bag for 5–6 hours or overnight, so that the stain and dishwashing liquid are kept moist. Rinse the soap off in cold water. Wash the clothing normally — according to its washing instructions.
Stains from strawberries
So many of us end up throwing away our white shirts once the summer is over, thanks to stains from strawberries. But you don’t have to. However, it is a good idea to pre-treat strawberry stains with a so-called pre-spotter, which contains the enzymes pectate lyase and amylase. Let the pre-treatment work for 5–6 hours and then wash the clothing according to the washing instructions. If the stain still persists after washing, you can soak the clothes in a citric acid solution (1part citric acid to 9 parts water). Let the clothing soak for a few hours, then rinse and wash at 40 degrees.
Grass Stains
Grass can cause tough stains, but you can use a detergent that has the enzyme protease. If the stains are not entirely removed, you can dab them with lemon juice before washing. Delicate clothing (30-40°C) should be dipped in whole milk, dabbed with dishwashing liquid and left to soak for 4–6 hours before washing. For colored clothing, rub the stain with 8% ammonia solution. Rinse and wash.
About Novozymes
Novozymes is the world leader in biological solutions. Together with customers, partners and the global community, they improve industrial performance while preserving the planet’s resources and helping build better lives. As the world’s largest provider of enzyme and microbial technologies, their bio-innovation enables higher agricultural yields, low-temperature washing, energy-efficient production, renewable fuel and many other benefits that we rely on today and in the future. We call it Rethink Tomorrow. www.novozymes.com
