science fair project laundry stains
Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 1:53 pm
Why are mustard, spaghetti, and mud stains so hard to get out of clothes?
Hi,
Mustard contains the spice tumeric, which contains a yellow natural diye. Spaghetti contains tomatoes, and tomatoes contain a natural dye. Mud contains iron oxide and decayed plants that contain tannic acid. Iron tannate ( a compound made of iron and tannic acid) which is also a dye. These dyes react chemically with cotton cloth, so the dyes stick hard to the cloth. That makes them hard to remove by washing.
I hope this answers your question.
Best regards,
Barrett L. Tomlinson