KEEPING LIFE COLOURFUL: CHEMICALS
What kinds of chemicals can affect colours?
Outdoor pollutants, such as dust and pollen, can easily be brought in to a site through open doors and windows. Industrial emissions as well as natural processes of erosion create pollutants. Cleaning products, building materials, paint, carpeting, and other indoor materials can generate pollution from within a site. Cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke are also harmful forms of pollution.
Dirt disfigures fabrics, dulls colours, and often stains. Dirt and dust also contain a high proportion of silica dust. The sharp surfaces of this silica can cut and abrade textile fibers, damaging dye sites, especially when the fibers expand and contract in response to changes in humidity.
Sulphur dioxide bleaches, discolours, and embrittles textiles. Hydrogen sulphide in the presence of moisture darkens lead pigments, tarnishes metals threads, and reacts with finishes and some embellishments. Formaldehyde found in some paints, varnishes, wood products, and adhesives found in furniture and in carpeting can damage some dyes. Tar and particulates from tobacco products stain textiles and are difficult to remove.
Household cleaners containing ammonia, borates, perborates, harsh aggressive detergents, products that are extremely acidic or alkaline in nature all will cause damage to dye structures.
Improper maintenance performed by well meaning but under educated cleaners is perhaps one of the most frustrating causes of colour damage. Proactive programs of fabric care go much further then knee jerk reactive processes in maintaining colour. Stain protective treatments go a long way in helping to preserve colour.