K2R spot remover - first test

[buler]

During my search on the internet about stains/stain removal I ran across many spot removers. I've also been trying to find a source for dry cleaning fluid or perc (perchloroethylene). One spot remover that I found was K2R and depending on which material safety data sheet (msd) you read its supposed to contain perc. Its also listed as containing naptha on another msd. Anyways, this was also a hard to find for sale product, but I found where I could order a case of it. Just received it today and gave it a whirl on a dark spot on a medium brown Knox Twenty. First test is a success! See pics below. I'm going to try it on a light color felt next and will post results.

The stuff is an aerosol spray that you shake up (has a BB inside the can). Then you spray it on and can brush it in with the bristle top on the can. I just sprayed it for this test. Once it dries it turns to a white powder. Brush off the powder and voila, stain gone.

Not sure how long it took to dry because I went out to buy more hats. Came back in around an hour and it was white/dry.

Just for the record I have no connection with whoever makes K2R or anyplace that sells it.

B



Stain before:






Stain after:

[billysmom]

Buler -

Thanks for testing the product - and especially the pictures!

Now, about those new hats you bought ...... ???

Sue

[colps]

Looks like it works, I will wait a couple of days see if you end up with any holes.If not then you can tell us were to get some.

[RBH]

Looks like good stuff. THANKS!

[Belegnole]

My Mother used to use that stuff on my fathers suits and ties....now I just have to find some and test it as well.

[buler]

I got mine from ace hardware outlet. Had to order 6 - 5 oz bottles.

K2Rlink

B

[Ephraim Tutt]

Good pickup Buler.

They have an Australian website too - which mentions its application to felt hats among other things.

http://www.k2r.com.au/

[cookie]

Thanks Eph!

[Ephraim Tutt]

And you'll be pleased to know Cookie, that I just picked up a can from Woolworths! Costs $10.59 a can - and we don't even get the natty little scrubber attachment. Everything is dearer here!

[Ledfeather]

im gonna have to get some of this stuff. thanks for testing.

[mayserwegener]

Originally Posted by buler

I got mine from ace hardware outlet. Had to order 6 - 5 oz bottles.

K2Rlink

B

Thanks for the info and test run.

[Ephraim Tutt]

It worked well on a stain or two on the felt so I thought I'd try it on a stubborn sweat mark on the ribbon. Mistake. It's left a residue on the ribbon that I'm having difficulty removing. I don't think it's discoloured the ribbon, just the fine powder is caught in the furrows. Water has failed to remove it. I'll try orange oil next and in future will keep it away from the ribbon.

[buler]

Originally Posted by Ephraim Tutt

It worked well on a stain or two on the felt so I thought I'd try it on a stubborn sweat mark on the ribbon. Mistake. It's left a residue on the ribbon that I'm having difficulty removing. I don't think it's discoloured the ribbon, just the fine powder is caught in the furrows. Water has failed to remove it. I'll try orange oil next and in future will keep it away from the ribbon.

I got some on the ribbon also. At least for me, it brushed off. But I wouldn't purposely spray it on the ribbon just in case.

Oh yeah, if you use a lot the smell is very strong!

B

[Ephraim Tutt]

It successfully removed a food stain from a favourite silk tie too.

The residue on the ribbon is proving to be very hard to remove for some reason. I'll try again tomorrow when it's properly dried.

And the puff of powder when I first brushed the hat almost choked me....it's quite pungent. Perhaps I should get a mask.

[Ephraim Tutt]

Yep...it proved to be a bugger to get off the ribbon. The powder is very fine and gets caught in every nook and cranny.

So my verdict is:

1. This is a very useful product for use on stained felt hats (or anything else that's dry cleanable).

2. But use with caution on ribbons.

3. I'd restrict usage to spot stains and would not use it for overall cleaning.

4. Use it outside with a mask - that powder'll choke ya.

[J.T.Marcus]

Originally Posted by Ephraim Tutt

It worked well on a stain or two on the felt so I thought I'd try it on a stubborn sweat mark on the ribbon. Mistake. It's left a residue on the ribbon that I'm having difficulty removing. I don't think it's discoloured the ribbon, just the fine powder is caught in the furrows. Water has failed to remove it. I'll try orange oil next and in future will keep it away from the ribbon.

Sweat stains, left for a long time, will change the color of a ribbon so that nothing can clean it, at least not so that the entire ribbon will be uniform in color!

[hatted]

Amazon has all kinds of sizes & prices of K2r including this travel size version:

http://www.amazon.com/American-Home-...7814913&sr=8-5

[Ephraim Tutt]

Originally Posted by J.T.Marcus

Sweat stains, left for a long time, will change the color of a ribbon so that nothing can clean it, at least not so that the entire ribbon will be uniform in color!

You're absolutly right JT. Some of what may have started as sweat stains had become discolouration, and no stain remover can fix that. My problem was that the K2r powder had become trapped in the ribbon and difficult to remove. It's almost all gone now, but it took some work - and the discolouration, of course, (now that I know that's what it is) remains.

The stains on the felt, however, were removed by this product with no effort at all.

[Woodfluter]

Originally Posted by Ephraim Tutt

////
And the puff of powder when I first brushed the hat almost choked me....it's quite pungent. Perhaps I should get a mask.

Eph my friend, and the rest of you too...I haven't done an exhaustive search but the ingredients are listed in one place as heptane and pentane - not too awful - but a separate MSDS (materials safety data sheet) with Dow as manufacturer lists perchloroethylene and methyl chloroform as the active ingredients. Maybe changes with distribution or over time? Or licensing?

In any case, as a an environmental geologist who has taken many certification courses for work in hazardous environments, I strongly urge you all to use this outdoors only and either hold your breath while spraying and move away periodically, or use a respirator - a chemical one, not a dust mask which won't do you any good. Perc is pretty bad. Even if not perc, you just don't need the exposure!

And thanks Buler, for testing and being the guinea pig!

- Bill