Here are a few safety rules to follow in removing stains from rayon
material. Never use strong acids or alkalies; they injure the material.
Mild acids or alkalies usually do not harm it if properly rinsed. Water
weakens rayon; do not pull or twist it when it is wet. Sodium perborate
and hydrogen peroxide are the safest bleaches to use, but mild chlorine
ones can be used with success.
Three kinds of rayon are made in this country—viscose, cuprammonium, and
acetate. In removing stains from viscose and cuprammonium rayon, treat
the material like cotton or linen. But acetate rayon is different. It
dissolves in acetone, alcohol, or chloroform, so test a sample of any
rayon material before using these liquids to remove a stain. Mixtures of
alcohol and ether, or alcohol and benzene also are unsafe to use on
acetate rayon or on colored material. Always mix alcohol with 2 or 3
parts of water before using it. Pressing with a hot iron may melt
acetate rayon.
Synthetic materials, such as nylon and vinyon, are not harmed by either
acids or alkalies. Water does not weaken them, as it does the rayon.
They take up very little moisture, and as a result, stains such as
coffee, tea, and fruit juice, remain on the surface and wash off easily.
You may use bleaches safely on nylon or vinyon. But vinyon, like acetate
rayon, dissolves in acetone and chloroform, so test a sample of the
material before using either of these to remove a stain. Press nylon
with a warm (not hot) iron.
Other synthetic materials are made from peanut, corn, soybean, milk
casein, and fish protein, but as yet they are not common and are not
generally recognized. Treat them as you would silk and wool in removing
stains.