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What gets this stain out?

Andy L , Sep 05, 2010; 03:59 p.m.

I did some printing in a lab the week before last, and I was stupid and wore a white shirt. I must have got some chemistry on it, because today I did laundry and it came out of the dryer covered with brown spots that smell like darkroom.

Does anything get that stain out?

Responses

Michael Axel , Sep 05, 2010; 06:18 p.m.

Andrew, I've used this stuff before and it works well, but I don't know how well it will work on a stain that has sat there for as long as it will take to get the product<g>: http://www.porters.com/clearance/clearance-film-darkroom/rexton-photochemical-stain-remover-2-oz.html

John Elder , Sep 05, 2010; 07:54 p.m.

I never were "good" clothes in the darkroom. Almost always a old t shirt and sweat pants. I have a shirt that I use just for loading film onto reels that hasn't left the darkroom in 12 years, when it got designated for this purpose do to a rip in the shirt.

Alan Marcus , Sep 05, 2010; 09:02 p.m.

Let us assume the stain is silver or a salt of silver. This is the likely culprit. First, you should try soap and water and also alcohol. No luck? This will sound crazy; dab the spot with fluid from a bottle of iodine. I am talking about the stuff you put on cuts as an antiseptic. Now iodine is a staining solution that ruins shirts. After allowing iodine to soak for a minute or two, immerse the stained area of the fabric in clean fresh fixer. "Shazam!" the iodine stain and the silver stain are vanished.

Silver is an opaque metal, the stuff of the image. A dab of iodine causes the silver and the iodine combine forming a crystal. Fixer (ammonium or sodium thiosulfate) is a solvent for silver salts and iodine. Try this technique; it might work.

Bethe Fisher , Sep 05, 2010; 09:06 p.m.

If it's been heat set by the dryer, you're probably out of luck. Magic eraser may work (I've heard it's pretty good). I got one spot of fixer on a white blouse several years ago and caught it before it went through the dryer. It still took me about 8-10 subsequent washes using spray 'n' wash on the spot before it was unnoticeable.
Ever since then, I don't go near the darkroom (especially the sink) with good clothes. I have certain things designated as darkroom jeans, shoes, etc...

Andy L , Sep 05, 2010; 09:24 p.m.

Thanks guys. So it doesn't sound promising - oh well, that's a lesson I won't forget.

John Tonai , Sep 05, 2010; 10:29 p.m.

If the previous suggestions don't work just use a good pair of scissors to cut out the stains and create a new photo-based fashion trend!

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