Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: thedoc on 29/04/2012 11:20:01
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Janet booth asked the Naked Scientists:
Please can you help?
I placed a dehumidifier containing calcium chloride crystals in my motorhome over the winter months, it was accidentally knocked over and the oily liquid spilt onto the carpet.
I washed it twice with hot soapy water (fairy liquid used) but it still leaves a film of oil on my hands when I touch it, I have placed old bed sheets over the affected area in the hope of absorbing the substance.
How can I remove the residue without harming the carpet?
Thank you
Janet Booth
What do you think?
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soap is useless. I would simply try dissolving it with (a lot, if you can) of water and then absorbing it away with tissues.
As an alternative, but don't know if it works, trying to absorb it with tissues previously wet with a solution of sodium carbonate: calcium chloride precipitates as calcium carbonate:
Ca2+ + CO32- --> CaCO3
and, maybe [:)] it does it in the tissue only...
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Precipitating it won't help.
The only real answer is lots and lots of water.
Most carpets will survive being taken outside and hosed down. (I don't accept responsibility if yours doesn't.)
Perhaps equally importantly the stuff is a bit corrosive so you may also need to make sure you clean up whatever is under the carpet.
Of course since we are currently in the middle of the wettest drought on record, that might not be appropriate at the moment.
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You may try a little vinegar (which hopefully won't damage the carpet). Then rinse well.
I'm surprised that you are getting an oily feeling from calcium chloride.
Do you have access to a deep cleaning a water vacuum? In which case I still might add a little vinegar to the first rinse, followed by plain water.
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What's the vinegar for?
Calcium chloride is freely soluble in water.
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I'm surprised that you are getting an oily feeling from calcium chloride.
It's not surprising because CaCl2 can dissolve in a tiny amount of water (less than its weight) making a continuous from solid to pasty to creamy to oily to... a normal water solution. If you put the solid substance in free air, after some minutes it will absorb water from air becoming oily; for this reason is extremely difficult to dry, in open air.
If he couldn't use a lot of water he could precipitate it as carbonate or sulphate and then dry the carpet. The white powder of carbonate (or sulphate) is much easier to remove (he should hit the carpet as when he wants to remove dust from it).
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or buy new carpets! [;D]
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I'm surprised that you are getting an oily feeling from calcium chloride.
It's not surprising because CaCl2 can dissolve in a tiny amount of water (less than its weight) making a continuous from solid to pasty to creamy to oily to... a normal water solution. If you put the solid substance in free air, after some minutes it will absorb water from air becoming oily; for this reason is extremely difficult to dry, in open air.
If he couldn't use a lot of water he could precipitate it as carbonate or sulphate and then dry the carpet. The white powder of carbonate (or sulphate) is much easier to remove (he should hit the carpet as when he wants to remove dust from it).
If you really think that precipitating a solid in the fibres of a fabric makes it easy to remove how do you explain this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordant
Since the stuff is probably slowly corroding whatever is under the carpet, it's a good idea to lift the carpet.
If you can do that then washing it with lots of water is a really good idea.
If you want it to smell funny you can always add the vinegar later.
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If you really think that precipitating a solid in the fibres of a fabric makes it easy to remove how do you explain this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordant
Do you mean I've found a way to petrify a carpet? The Carpet of the Flintstones? [;D] Great!
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If you really think that precipitating a solid in the fibres of a fabric makes it easy to remove how do you explain this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordant
Do you mean I've found a way to petrify a carpet? The Carpet of the Flintstones? [;D] Great!
No, I think you have found a way to stain a carpet and get it to smell iffy.
As I recall, the Flintstones had a cat, so I don't think you have made much progress here.
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If you really think that precipitating a solid in the fibres of a fabric makes it easy to remove how do you explain this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordant
Do you mean I've found a way to petrify a commercial carpet cleaning gold coast (http://www.goldcoast-carpetcleaners.com.au/commercial-carpet-cleaning-gold-coast/)? The Carpet of the Flintstones? [;D] Great!
No, I think you have found a way to stain a carpet and get it to smell iffy.
As I recall, the Flintstones had a cat, so I don't think you have made much progress here.
Hello this is still very old thread but I still want to ask some there could help me with cleaning of ink from carpets. I dont want to damage them so experience persons are well appreciated.
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Hello this is still very old thread but I still want to ask some there could help me with cleaning of ink from carpets. I dont want to damage them so experience persons are well appreciated.
If you knew which kind of ink it is, it would help.
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Whatever type of ink it may be, you are in a whole different ball park here. Inks contain a number of different dyes. A simple chromatagraph can be made by dropping some of the ink on to a piece of kitchen or toilet tissue, then slowly, one drop at a time, drop some spirit onto the dot of ink. You could use lighter fluid, nail varnish remover or something similar. this will reveal the different dyes in the ink. You may find yellow, reds, greens and blue have been used in the make up of the final colour. Some of the dyes may be innsoluble in water, some may be soluble in one spirit, but not another.
If your carpet has a man made pile, cleaning may be possible, if it is natural fibre, ie wool or cotton, these are absorbant and will prove extremely difficult to clean. Water and soap or detergent might help, but they might also serve only to spread the dyes. I would suggest you seek professional help. Failing that, you might try a proprietry stain remover such as Vanish (other stain removers are available). It may take several treatments. Failing that, I think Geezer has the only solution: buy a new carpet.