Untreated oxidation stain

This is one of the more severe cases of oxidation that Jeeves has seen in quite some time. A client brought in a vintage dress that was put away some years ago after wearing and not cleaning. Something spilled on the hemline of the dress during the last wear and over the course of many years, the stain site oxidized.

What is oxidation? It is the slow reaction to the sugar component of a stain with the oxygen in the air, over time the untreated stain will yellow and it extreme cases (see above) turn brown. Oxidation is the same chemical reaction that causes an partially eaten apple to brown when left out on the counter.

Oxidation stains are very difficult to remove as they are the by product of the reaction of the staining agent with oxygen. Depending of the type of fabric, stability of the dye and the construction of the garment, Jeeves has had success with removing oxidized stains. The above example was treated using the Jeeves process and we were able to remove about 80% of the stain on the first attempt (see image below).

Our advice to you is to never put a garment away with a spill, even if there is no evidence of a stain, as the spill may oxidize over time. If you are in the market for vintage garments, be concerned about oxidized stains as they may not be removable in cleaning.

If you need further advice, contact Jeeves New York.

Oxidation stain after treatment using the Jeeves process.

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