The Effect of Stains on

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The Effect of Stains on Whiteness of Fabric
Science Project 2005-06
Science Student Science 9 1/14/06
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How I Became Interested

• I noticed that some stains in my clothes left a
  stronger residue than others
• I noticed that stains that sit longer without
  attention are much harder to get out
• Some detergents and stain sprays work better than
  others

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What's The Problem?
Ketchup Stain Residue

• I experimented to figure out which stains are the
  toughest to get out
• Ketchup
• Grass
• Grape Juice
• Chocolate Syrup
• Coffee
• I wanted to know why stains reacted the way they
  did

Ketchup Stain
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Important Background Information
My Research Paper Statements

• Cotton fabric is most commonly used for clothing-
  best fabric to remove stains from
• Spray n Wash removed stains the best
• Apply stain remover before washing
• Use warm water instead of hot or cold
• Most stains are visible to the naked eye
• Never rub the stains

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My Research Hypothesis

• If the stains were changed, then the whiteness of
  the fabric will change.
• Welchs Grape Juice will stain the most out of
  all the stains
• Warm water will remove stains the best
• Spray n Wash will remove stains the best

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Experimental Design
Title The Effect of Stains on Whiteness of
Fabric   Hypothesis If the stains were changed,
then the whiteness of the fabric will change.  

I.V. Stains (types)
Coffee Grape Juice Ketchup Chocolate Syrup Grass
8 8 8 8 8
Levels
Trials
D.V. Whiteness of Fabric (gray
scale)   Constants (1) 1 yard of
fabric (100 white cotton) (2) ½ cup
Detergent (Purex) (3) Temperature
of water (warm wash cycle in electric washer)
(4) Amount of wash time (min.)
(5) Time detergent and stain spray was applied
(min.) (6) Stain remover brand
(Spray n Wash) Control Unstained piece of
same cotton fabric
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Experimental Procedures

• I cut the cotton fabric into 41 -10cm x 10cm
  squares
• Labeled each piece with an abbreviation of each
  stain
• Stained each square of fabric with the
  appropriate stain
• Applied stain remover (Spray n Wash)
• Let them sit at room temperature for 2 hrs.
• Placed all the squares with the same stain into
  the washer and then dryer
• Placed them on a white piece of paper and
  compared them to the grayscale to measure the
  darkness of the stain after they have been washed
  and dried

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How Data was Analyzed
Gray Scales
Grape Juice

• I created five gray scales (zero meaning darkest
  and 100 meaning white)
• Compared them to the stained fabric after they
  have been washed and dried
• Recorded the data in the data table
• Example

Grass
This was a 84 on the gray scale
Grass Stain
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Results

• Bar Graph
• The Effect of Stains on the Whiteness of Fabric
• 100 white zero darkest
• Ketchup was the strongest stain

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Description of Results

• Ketchup stained the most out of all the stains
  (68.88 on the gray scale)
• Coffee left the least amount of residue on the
  cotton fabric (86.63 on the gray scale)
• As the stain type changed, the whiteness of the
  fabric also changed.- results statement

After stains and stain spray has been applied
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Summary of Major Findings

• As the stain type changed, the whiteness of the
  fabric also changed- this statement supports my
  hypothesis
• Ketchup left the most stains residue with mean of
  68.88 on the gray scale
• Coffee left the least amount of stain residue
  with a mean of 86.63 on the gray scale
• I have concluded that some stains are stronger
  and more potent than others

Coffee Stain
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Findings with Prior Research

• Cleaning and identifying the stains immediately
  would help with reducing the stain- Family
  Circle, Super Stain Solutions
• Ketchup has more/stronger color pigments in it
  making it a very tough stain to remove
• Warm water would be best to use, hot and cold
  water set in the stains- Cold Water and Stain
  Removal

Chocolate Syrup Stain
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Improvements, Topics for Further Study,
Applications

• Perform the exact same experiment again but with
  cold and hot water
• Record data immediately after stains have been
  removed from the washer/ dryer step
• Try experiment with different types and brands of
  detergents and stain sprays
• Important for detergent and stain spray companies
  to make the best product possible

Grape Juice Stain