Coffee revisited

[mrotto]

recent post on coffee remover suggested using a red dye remover. OK, my understanding is that a red dye remover is a reducer / opposite that of an oxidizer.

However, oxidizers such as Stain 1 and Proxy labels indicate that they are effective on coffee stains.

Please realize that I am under chemistry educated. But what gives?

PS I did use Red 1 on a coffee stain today and it worked!

 

[Todd the Cleaner]

I always use an oxidizer (StainZone) and it pretty much always works.

 

[wandwizard]

recent post on coffee remover suggested using a red dye remover. OK, my understanding is that a red dye remover is a reducer / opposite that of an oxidizer.

However, oxidizers such as Stain 1 and Proxy labels indicate that they are effective on coffee stains.

Please realize that I am under chemistry educated. But what gives?

PS I did use Red 1 on a coffee stain today and it worked!

I think reducers were being used on coffee in particular probably long before oxidizing that particular stain became popularized. Many coffee stain removers on the market either in liquid or powder form contain sodium metabisulfite, a reducer. A chemist could probably explain it better, but it boils down to just using a different action to remove the color. There are a number of products on the market right now that either are this chemical or contain it. It has a strong sulfur type smell too it which I think turns many to using the peroxide spotters instead. I know of at least 2 red removers that have this in it. Red 1 is one and Red B Gone from Matrix has it in the part A. Matrix CSR and Chemspec Browning treatment I'm pretty sure are identical. I have used Matrix CSR alone with a steamer to remove food dye all by itself. Sometimes it's very effective and others not as good as the specially formulated food dye removers. Sodium metabisulfite is definitely helped with heat which can be in the form of hot tap water, iron and towel, or better yet, a steamer. If I run into a coffee stain that just won't seem to budge I will either use a steamer on it or mix up the powdered form in hot water. Anyone who's been cleaning a long time will eventually run into a really tough coffee stain that just doesn't seem to respond. I know I have and sodium metabisulfite was just the ticket,

If you want to read more on the chemical aspect on this there is plenty of info on reducing agents and oxidizers. It sounds cool, but doesn't really help me. Oxidizers gain an electron and reducers lose them. Still, imho, if the reducer works by all means use it. That's what I have done for years and will continue to do.

http://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Ana...Redox_Chemistry/Oxidizing_and_Reducing_Agents

 

[Turboman]

After trying all my standard tannin chemistry I just use my 17% peroxide (pet stain treatments) and It's gone after long dwell time and final rinse.

 

[jtsunbrite]

I generally use a reducer on them , unless I have stain zone on the truck then I use that but ive never really had a problem with getting out coffee

 

[CcCleaner]

Many brands have seemingly identical "Coffee Stain Remover" products, but as wand wizard said-- they stink. They work well though but sometimes need hours to fully work. They also work well on yellow pee stains, but careful not to overdue it and remove the color in the rug.

 

[george8585]

Decaffeinated coffee has a brown dye in it and makes it harder to get out than caffeinated coffee.

 

[agrantnz]

Decaffeinated coffee has a brown dye in it and makes it harder to get out than caffeinated coffee.

Do you have a link to this please? I've never heard that before.