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Content about Amyl acetate

May 15, 2013
Dry Cleaners, Name That Chemical Tool

CONCORD, N.C. — These similarly named stain-removal chemicals can be easily confused and/or misused

CONCORD, N.C. — It is hard enough to keep straight all the chemical tools available for stain removal. It is even harder when names are similar but their application and risk of use are drastically different. The chemicals described in this month’s column are ones that can be easily confused and/or misused.

Amyl acetate is a dry-side solvent or co-solvent used on stains such as paint, ink and glue.

Acetic acid (28%) is a wet-side spotting agent used as a tannin removal agent, a booster to tannin removers and to neutralize alkaline pH from protein spotters, bleaching, and color change from perspiration.

Acetone is a spotting agent available for paint and glue removal, but its use should be extremely limited due to its aggressive effect on acetate and acetate-blended fabrics.

AMYL ACETATE

Amyl acetate is a mildly aggressive dry-side solvent that can be used by itself or as a co-solvent “booster” when the dry-side POG you are using needs help removing the last traces of a stain. Due to the distinctive aroma of amyl acetate, many old-time cleaners/spotters referred to this chemical as “banana oil.”

December 5, 2006
Using Amyl Acetate

Amyl acetate is a dry-side agent that is much more aggressive in certain respects than either VDS or POG. It’s important to have amyl acetate on the spotting board, since it helps dissolve stains that usually aren’t dissolved by other dry-side agents. Many spotters don’t use amyl acetate because they don’t understand its purpose.

Amyl acetate has an aroma similar to bananas and is often referred to as “banana oil.” Spotters also confuse amyl acetate with acetic acid and acetone.

December 5, 2006
Using Amyl Acetate

Amyl acetate is a dry-side agent that is much more aggressive in certain respects than either VDS or POG. It’s important to have amyl acetate on the spotting board, since it helps dissolve stains that usually aren’t dissolved by other dry-side agents. Many spotters don’t use amyl acetate because they don’t understand its purpose.

Amyl acetate has an aroma similar to bananas and is often referred to as “banana oil.” Spotters also confuse amyl acetate with acetic acid and acetone.