The Method for Removing a Potassium Dichromate Stain From Clothing

Successful stain removal requires a bit of basic chemistry. To eliminate unsightly spots from clothing, a solvent must be applied to the material to dissolve the stain-causing compounds. Unfortunately, not every solvent is capable of dissolving every compound and certain substances require more than one cleaning agent in order to be totally removed. Accordingly, successful stain removal often involves a fair amount of guesswork. Potassium dichromate is a bright, reddish-orange chemical that clings tenaciously to fibers and fabrics. Luckily, potassium dichromate is soluble in water and can typically be removed by treating garments with a combination of water and ordinary detergent. Once the garment is wet, the surfactants in the detergent lower the surface tension of the water, allowing the molecules to penetrate the fibers and wash any lingering residue away.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid detergent
• 1 tbsp. oxygen bleach

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Remove the soiled garment and turn it inside out.

   • 2

     Hold the stained portion of the item beneath a stream of cold, running water to flush the chemicals from the fibers of the fabric. Potassium dichromate is more soluble in hot water than cold, but heat can cause the stain to set, making it almost impossible to remove.

   • 3

     Wring the garment lightly, and then dab the spot several times with a cloth that has been dipped in liquid detergent. Rinse in cold water and repeat, if necessary.

   • 4

     Pour 1 tablespoon oxygen bleach into 1 cup cold water and stir until the powder is fully dissolved. Sponge the solution over any stubborn stains. Wait five minutes, blot the fabric with a white towel, rinse thoroughly and air dry. Repeat as required.