Types of clothing stains and the basics of the stain removal process

• Classification of stains: basic principles and types
• Stain detection methods: how to recognize the origin of contamination

In cleaning practice, stains refer to various types of contaminants of organic and inorganic origin. They remain on clothes, floors, walls, interior items and other surfaces. Correct recognition of stains contributes to the accurate selection of methods for removing them, which is very important for high-quality cleaning work (cleaning, dry cleaning). In this article we will look at what types of stains there are and how to accurately recognize contamination according to different criteria.

Classification of stains: basic principles and types

There are different principles by which cleaning service specialists classify contaminants. The most common is the division of spots into groups according to their origin. The main categories here are food, household, medicinal, cosmetic and metabolic stains. Let's look at each of them in detail.

• Food stains are the largest group. It includes several subcategories, among which most often employees of cleaning companies have to deal with wine, protein, grease stains, stains from fruit and berry juices, as well as from various drinks (coffee, tea, cocoa and others). In turn, some of these subcategories are also classified into several groups. In particular, grease stains can be easily removed or difficult to remove, while protein stains can be soluble in water or other solvents or insoluble.
• Household stains are the second largest category. It includes all pollution that is the result of human activity (work process, leisure). Examples of stains of household origin are contamination from glue, oil paints and varnishes, ink, shoe polish, rust and other non-food products of human activity.
• Medicinal stains , where the most common are stains from iodine and brilliant green. Also, stains of medicinal origin include traces of fish oil, lapis and other medicines and drugs.
• Cosmetic stains , which include remnants of lipstick, creams, hair and nail polishes, perfumes, blush and other decorative cosmetics.
• Stains from metabolic products - a category that includes residues of sweat, urine, blood and other waste products of the human or animal body.

As already noted, for high-quality removal of certain contaminants, an accurate determination of their origin is required. How to correctly recognize stains before cleaning or dry cleaning will be discussed in the next section of our article.

Symptoms and causes of skin spots

A change in color in a particular area of ​​the skin may indicate hemorrhages, chronic diseases and infections. Their appearance can also be due to external factors: allergies, burns, prickly heat, diaper rash. The color of the macula is determined by the level of melanin: in brown and black spots there is most of it, in white formations there is no melanin, red spots appear on the body during inflammatory processes. Also, by the appearance of the exanthema, one can assume its nature and cause of origin.

White spots

Content:

• Symptoms and causes of skin spots
• Treatment and diagnosis

Like all other types of rashes, white macules on the body appear suddenly and can cover large areas of the skin. Spots with a white or transparent tint indicate hormonal imbalance, infection or chronic pathologies. In appearance, there are formations that resemble a birthmark, only lighter. Such an exanthema never protrudes above the surface of the skin, does not crust over, or itch. In this case, the cause may be vitiligo, a hereditary disease that is not life-threatening, but also cannot be cured. Similar symptoms occur with leukoderma, a disorder of pigment production. There are syphilitic and false leucoderma. The first is treated with drugs for internal and external use (only under the supervision of a doctor). The false one appears and disappears on its own, and is most often localized on the neck and chest.

A rash in the form of white spots with a rough surface appears with pityriasis versicolor. In this case, the exanthema first looks like white formations, and over time it can turn into the form of red macules. The rashes often flake and itch and appear on any part of the body. Requires treatment, as lichen is easily transmitted through contact. Also, colorless formations with a red rim indicate dry skin, lack of vitamins and minerals. They appear more often on the shoulders, outer thighs, wrists, and under the breasts.

Red spots

Often redness does not threaten the patient; it passes quickly and without a trace. This happens when in contact with nettles or poison ivy, minor burns, or allergies. The most harmless cause of stains is insect bites. They are easy to distinguish from all other types of exanthema, since they are single, itchy and protrude slightly above the surface of the skin. The cause of such spots is easily traced, and no special treatment is required in this case.

In some cases, red spots on the arms, legs, or torso may indicate a more serious problem. Most often, such exanthema appears when:

1. Infectious diseases. Scarlet fever, rubella, measles, and chickenpox are characterized by a specific rash. As a rule, in such cases, spots appear simultaneously with an increase in temperature and general malaise. The rash progresses rapidly, covering the face, neck, limbs and torso. The spots in such diseases are small in size and sometimes cover a large area of ​​the body. The rash can transform into blisters or pustules when scratched.
2. Allergies are the most common cause of blotchy rashes. Appears on the palms and fingers upon contact with an allergen. Also, if you are allergic to the material, spots can cover the entire body. Food allergies are often characterized by a rash on the neck, face, and chest. Along with exanthema, concomitant symptoms of the disease may appear: sneezing, coughing, lacrimation, runny nose.
3. Eczema. Pinkish or red areas appear on the body that are very itchy and painful. Over time, crusts and blisters from itching form in place of the macules. This disease must be diagnosed and treated.
4. Depriving. A characteristic feature of lichen is the rash itself: it occupies a separate area of ​​the skin without spreading throughout the body. At the same time, lichen, like other infections, can occur against a background of fever and general malaise.
5. Hemangioma is a benign formation. May be pink, red or purple. Localized on the face: at the wings of the nose, on the eyelids, near the ears, near the mouth. This disease can be congenital, but manifests itself at different ages and is usually removed with a laser.
6. Psoriasis. A disease in which recurrent exanthema forms; the spots are often covered with a light crust. The rash appears due to stress, alcohol consumption, infections, etc. In the absence of treatment, it can go away on its own, but in conditions of poor hygiene and a low standard of living it progresses.
7. Stress. In sensitive people, individual red macules may appear in stressful situations, in moments of anger or fear. More often, this phenomenon occurs in people with disorders of the autonomic nervous system. They do not require special treatment and go away during a period of calm.
8. Diaper rash. It is also a safe phenomenon, which is more common in young children on the legs, genitals, buttocks, and armpits. Bright scarlet spots are formed from high temperature and sweating and do not require special treatment. To eliminate the symptoms of formation, you need to treat it with talcum powder and maintain hygiene.

Any of these diseases manifests itself in both adults and children. In pregnant women, rashes in the form of red spots may appear due to hormonal changes. If exanthema appears regularly, you need to consult a dermatologist to accurately determine its cause.

Brown spots

The rash, which appears as brown spots, may be congenital or develop over time. In most cases, they are not dangerous and do not require treatment. They get rid of them mainly because of aesthetics, for example, when brown spots appear on the face. The main reasons for their appearance:

• hormonal imbalance or changes;
• genetics;
• pregnancy;
• very fair skin;
• aging of the body;
• liver diseases;
• melanoma;
• fungi;
• impaired thyroid function.

As you can see, the reason can be completely harmless, or it can be dangerous. Brown spots on the face are called chloasma; they most often appear in pregnant women and go away on their own after childbirth. The same symptom occurs in women who use hormonal contraceptives and in adolescents during puberty.

Lentigo pigment spots form on the chest of women and men, back, shoulders, and rarely on the inside of the thighs. The first manifestations occur in children under 10 years of age, occupy large parts of the body, but do not cause discomfort. Also, such symptoms are observed in older people - senile lentigo.

Brown macules may indicate infection with a fungus. If changes in the skin occur for no apparent reason, do not itch or hurt, and are not covered with hairs, this may indicate a fungal infection. If the microorganism settles in the upper layers of the skin, only exanthema will appear, without other symptoms. If such formations itch, there is a fungus in the deep layers of the dermis. The disease is treated with antifungal drugs and external agents. More often it affects people who shower with gel or soap 2 times a day.

Blue and purple spots

Maculae with a purple, wine or blue tint appear when there are disturbances in the circulatory system. A common occurrence is bruises after blows and contusions; they are formed from minor hemorrhages and blood clotting in certain areas of the body. The same shade occurs in birthmarks, which are extremely dangerous to remove on your own. Bluish spots with smooth edges on the face, chest, arms and legs appear when:

• thrombocytopenic purpura;
• meningococcemia;
• capillarotoxicosis;
• toxic shock syndrome;
• Kaposi's sarcoma;
• rheumatoid arthritis;
• leukemia;
• vitamin deficiency.

Any of these conditions must be treated, so if single macules of a wine or purple hue appear, you should visit a dermatologist. If a dark blue rash appears suddenly, grows and occupies large areas of the skin, seek emergency help immediately. Such symptoms appear in toxic shock syndrome, which is very life-threatening for the patient.

Parents of small children should also not ignore small and large spots with a bluish tint on the child. If macules appear regularly, do not go away, and their nature cannot be traced, it is better to consult a pediatric dermatologist or pediatrician.

Stain detection methods: how to recognize the origin of contamination

Experienced cleaning company employees have all the necessary skills to accurately determine the origin of stains. We list the main criteria that help specialists recognize contamination:

• Color . Using this indicator, you can determine the origin of most food, household and medicinal stains.
• Smell . This criterion is relevant when determining spots of all categories. However, it is almost impossible to identify long-standing pollution by smell.
• Borders . The presence of clear boundaries indicates that the stain does not contain fat. However, over time, even spots of fatty origin become blurred.

For some types of contamination, the criteria listed above are not decisive for recognition. Here the optimal method would be analytical. These types include stains from proteins, rust, tannins, silicate glue, blood and oil paints. For example, you can recognize blood stains by moistening the contaminated area with a three percent solution of hydrogen peroxide. If foaming occurs when such a composition gets on the stain, it means it really is blood.

Legis Cleaning specialists undergo special training to recognize contaminants.
This allows our employees to accurately determine the origin of stains and select the best methods for removing them. By ordering cleaning services in Moscow from us, you can be sure of a successful result, even with very complex stains. Order service

Before removing a stain from clothing

If you find a stain on your clothing, first find out its nature. 1. What kind of stain is this? Let's say, fat mixed with tomato sauce or a stain from spilled juice. 2. Remove dirt remaining on the surface without rubbing it in, using a vacuum cleaner, brush or scraper, and only then handle the solvent or stain remover. 3. Try to remove as much dirt as possible from the stain using a porous white cloth (say, a waffle towel) or a loose paper towel. Avoid using old rags, as they will only rub the dirt deeper. BLOTT - but don't rub or scrub! 4. To ensure that after removing the contamination there is no ring-shaped stain left, at all stages of stain removal, treat the contaminated area from the periphery to the center.

If the stain can be removed with water and detergents, then soak the item first. Make a paste out of washing powder and apply it to the dirty area. Leave the contaminated item to sit for half an hour, and then rinse with cold water. Avoid using hot water, which will only set many stains.

If the stain requires treatment with a liquid other than water, try using the liquid on an inconspicuous area of ​​the garment to make sure it does not discolor or discolor.

When using stain removers, first read the instructions on the packaging and follow them exactly. If possible, use environmentally friendly stain removers. For small stains on clothing, you can try using hair spray and rinsing in soapy water.

Causes of age spots

The color of human skin depends on the concentration of pigments. A lack or excess of melanin, carotene and other pigment substances leads to the formation of pigment spots of different colors and sizes. Discolored patches of skin may be congenital or appear with age. Ultraviolet light often triggers the process - when tanning in the sun or in a solarium. This is because melanin, which gives the brown color, protects the skin from the effects of ultraviolet radiation. The more it gets on the skin, the more melanin is produced.

There are many other reasons why pigment spots form on the face and body. Often this is a consequence of serious disorders in the body. Therefore, if you notice new age spots, you should consult a doctor. The production of pigments is enhanced by:

• Natural and premature aging.
• Hormonal problems associated with thyroid diseases, pituitary tumors.
• Liver diseases.
• Neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Vitamin deficiency, metabolic disorder.
• Gynecological diseases.

Medicines and cosmetics can provoke the problem. Also, age spots are not uncommon during pregnancy.

Do not confuse pigment spots and malignant skin tumors - these are completely different processes. If pigment spots can be left untouched or removed, and in both cases this will not affect general health, then oncological formations require long-term, serious treatment.