Introduction/ContextA problem that many people encounter in their daily lives is dealing with stains. The problem with stains is that by the time people figure out which solvent to use, it may be too late to remove the stain. Not everyone knows about the different types of stains and stain removers. Knowing which stain remover works best on which stains can help someone save their favorite item of clothing. Starting from the basics is the composition of stain removers. One ingredient in stain removers is ammonia (NH3). When ammonia is in its alkaline state, it is very effective at destroying bacteria and dissolving stains. The next component is bleach (NaClO), otherwise known as sodium hypochlorite, which disinfects and whitens fabrics. “It works by oxidizing (or stealing electrons from) the compounds that make up germs and stains, effectively breaking their molecular bonds” (ehow.com). Another factor in stain removers are enzymes. Enzymes speed up the reaction process and are also produced in living organisms. These substances particularly help to decompose protein stains. The final ingredient in most stain removers is D-Limonene (C10H16) which “is a neutral compound that manufacturers extract from the peels of citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges” (ehow.com). Since D-Limonene is not soluble, companies must first mix it with a surfactant that will reduce its surface tension. This process allows it to combine easily with solvents. Then, here's how stain removers actually work. The first step in removing stains is to dissolve the stain. Stain removers contain solvents that dissolve chemicals. The basic guideline for dissolution is "like dissolves like" (chemistry...... middle of paper ......xygen-bleach-oxy-clean/Stain Removers: Reviews. (2014). In consumersearch.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.consumersearch.com/stain-removersUniversity of Illinois Board of Trustees (2014. Retrieved from University of Illinois Extension web.extension). .illinois.edu/stain/ (2014). http//www.apartmenttherapy.com Retrieved December 15, 2013 Works Cited (images in order) http://home.yourway.net/laundry-stain-removal. http://www.odorkill.com/ http://www.spotshot.com/faqs/ http://instoresnow.walmart.com/article.aspx?center=cleaning&id=77498 http://www.examiner.com /article/safety-precautions-for-pregnancy-exercise http://www.ecocarpetutah.com/blog/juicespills.html http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/17/garden/17roadtest html?_r =0 http://cotton.missouri.edu/Classroom-Chemical%20Composition.html