REMOVING, NOT MASKING ODORS

In removing odor, it is important that the odor should not just be camouflaged with a sweet scent. The most common odors that cleaners deal with originate from smoke, perspiration, mildew and solvent contamination.

Methods of odor removal

Ozone. This is a highly effective method for removal of odor that involves the use of free oxygen which combines with odor producing bi-products. Garments made from acetate or spandex should not be subjected to ozone treatment.

Drycleaning. Drycleaning using perchloroethylene destroys mildew spores but does not necessarily remove odor. Smoke odor requires other treatments for its removal. Additives used in the drycleaning machine may improve odor.

Wetcleaning. Wetcleaning using alkali and bleaching is highly effective in odor removal.

Controlling odor in drycleaning

Pre-spotting. I have found one of the principal causes of odor in drycleaning is excessive use of oily-type paint remover. This causes contamination of the solvent. The odor is not necessarily removed in distillation.

Distillation. Improper distillation causes odor-forming impurities to boil over into distilled solvent. This frequently occurs when excessively high steam pressure is used for distillation and the solvent is highly contaminated with impurities and water.

Water. Separator water should be drained on a regular basis. Impurities and odor can build up after a period of time.

Sweetener powders. Some cleaners that I know use sweetener powders or activated clays to control odor in their solvent. Activated clay has the ability to reduce fatty acid and absorb other odor forming substances.

Resin-treated draperies. Be cautious of cleaning draperies with a resinous odor. This can contaminate your entire solvent with an odor that is difficult to remove.

Damp rags. Running damp rags on a batch run will attract odor forming impurities in the solvent. The solvent should then be sent to the still.

Excessive fatty acid. This occurs from drycleaning and lack of distillation. Your soap salesperson can conduct a fatty acid test for you.

New odor removal products

I originally developed and patented the concept of using a laundry dryer to dryclean lightly soiled clothes and remove odor (patent #5,940,988). This concept is currently being used by many cleaners throughout the country.

Recently I have worked with Cleaners Chemical Corp and guided them in formulating chemicals that can easily be used in any laundry dryer and do not need expensive or sophisticated equipment for its use.

Aeroclenz 1 smoke odor remover was formulated for use in any laundry dryer to remove petroleum based odor, smoke and soot odor on clothing. It is an odor removal process and not a perfumed camouflage of the odor. It will also remove odor from clothes resulting from cleaning in impure solvents. The effectiveness of the process is similar to results obtained by using ozone machine treatment.

Aeroclenz 2 perspiration and body odor remover was formulated for use in any dryer to remove perspiration, urine and other body odors on clothing. It is an odor removal process and not a perfumed camouflage of the odor.

How they are used

Put dry clothes in the dryer and spray Aeroclenz 1 or 2 directly into the basket. Do not spray directly on the clothes. Run the dryer for three to four minutes with medium heat. Stop the dryer and spray two more times into basket. Run the dryer for seven more minutes. Repeat the process if necessary.

Note: Plan to come and visit with me at the Pennsylvania Delaware Cleaners Association trade show September 16-17 in Atlantic City, NJ. I will be at the Cleaners Chemical Corp. booth #612 and look forward to seeing previous students and friends. Bring your analysis questions, and suggestions of topics you would like to see in my articles. I will give live demonstrations on the use of the Spectralight and will have my manuals available to browse.