how to remove ferric chloride from natural wool carpet - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: amateur_25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 09:24:22 am
content: HiI kinda made the mistake of mixing the stuff in doors within a cracked container. I obviously didn't know it was cracked.So I have ferric chloride stains on the carpet in my room. IT's an expensive natural wool so my mum isn't too happy with me at the moment.I have felt the wrath of my mum and my sister. Believe me my mum is bad enough with my volcanic sister that is some combination.Would greatly appreciate it if someone could advice me on how to remove this mess.quadro face palm!!

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 09:29:18 am
content: I'd be amazed if you could get anywhere close to removing it.You may have some joy employing a specialist cleaning company, but it may be cheaper to buy new carpet.

author: fcb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 09:33:44 am
content: Almost no chance of removing Ferric Chloride stains from carpet... but you might be lucky with:http://www.megauk.com/datasheets/4150_MSDS_600-039_Ferric_Chloride_Stain_Remover.pdf

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 10:23:06 am
content: You're a dead man!

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 10:29:54 am
content: Depending how bad the stain is, (mainly how deep it goes down) you maybe able to get on the floor with some side cutters and cut the stain off each individual carpet fiber.I found this works quite well for stains that are only on the surface. You just trim off the 1-2mm of carpet fiber and the stain is gone.The slightly shorter pile isn't usually noticeable unless you look hard enough.You can also trim the surrounding fiber to blend in the new length if needed.Failing that, if you can find some of the same carpet around the house which is not critical, like carpet that goes under a permanent fixture. You can cut out a square of it the same size as the stain and do a transplant.(Im assuming the stain is small, like a few drops, if you lost an entire dish of the stuff there isn't much to be done.)

author: jaxbird
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 10:42:48 am
content: I think you got (at least) 3 options:1. Come clean and take the wrath.2. Plan and stage some event that makes your sister think she did it3. Pack your most valuable belongings. Run and never look back.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 11:00:56 am
content: Quote from: fcb on May 17, 2014, 09:33:44 amI think that's oxalic acid. Got to be worth a try

author: Bryan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 11:40:44 am
content: Blame the dog, that's the only excuse that's going to work with the missus.

author: Mitz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 01:54:06 pm
content: My Mosaic floor had to be scrubed ith mettalic scrub to remove Ferric chloride but it scrubbed of the polish too

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 02:18:12 pm
content: Oxalic acid ( caution this is pretty toxic) or use concentrated vinegar and scrubbing gently with a brush to lighten it. To get the acid out after cleaning use some ammonia ( ordinary household ammonia water not a white ammoniated cleaner) afterwards to rinse, with a final water and carpet shampoo rinse. The best is to go rent a carpet wet extraction unit and use that as a final clean, or just use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner to remove the liquids.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 02:39:55 pm
content: Best solution to remove FeCl is scissors.Simp,y cut a neat square around the stain and replace the affected area. Woeks every timeAnything else gives mediocre results....FeCl becomes FuCl when spilled ...

author: Towger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 03:21:35 pm
content: From experience many years ago, when I were a lad. If not cut out or fully washed out it will rot the natural fibers which hold the wool piles together and you will be left with holes, after a year or so.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 04:11:03 pm
content: You could try soaking the area with spirit vinegar and then covering the area with bicarbonate of soda then leave for a few days (cover with something like a plate) the stain just soaks up into the bicarbonate then you hover it all up, works with most stains.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 04:28:30 pm
content: From my experience spilling FeCl3on organic material is hopeless if not washed within couple of minutes.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 05:00:57 pm
content: Just how big a stain? Pic with something for scale will be nice, as well is it visible and where in the room.

author: ion
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 06:36:04 pm
content: I've had good luck removing Ferric Chloride stains from my lab coat with commercial rust stain removers. Not sure what that would do to wool though. Also, I have no idea how you would rinse it out.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 06:48:38 pm
content: Quote from: ion on May 17, 2014, 06:36:04 pmWell, I have a 20l drum of that, used to remove rust stains from vinyl seats. All I need now is the ferric chloride. It probably is only a weak organic acid and an acid based surfactant to help it get through grease and grime on the vinyl seats.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2014, 11:53:48 pm
content: I once worked in an manufacturing plant that used ferric chloride for etching. It was supplied from a room with chemical resistant cement on the floor, plastic drain covers, solid PTFE pumps, plastic drums, and every precaution taken in the handling of it. In spite of that, the ferric chloride pumping stations soon looked like the messiest, most stained, ugliest area you could imagine.Ferric chloride is bad news. There are no circumstances you should bring it inside the house.

author: FrankenPC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 12:03:13 am
content: If the carpet is relatively new, you may be able to get a replacement patch from the manufacturer. A repair expert can come out, lift the carpet, cut out the patch, and stitch/glue in a new patch.You can't get away with hiding it though.

author: BurningTantalum
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 03:25:27 am
content: When I first started work, it was my job on alternate Fridays, to clean out the ferric spray booth. The 3 phase was switched off in the factory on Friday afternoons because the whole workforce went down to the pub at lunchtime thus it was unsafe to operate any machinery anywhere. It was called 'Dhoby Day' and the whole place was cleaned.I used to remove the lift-up door to clean it, which involved disconnecting the interlock. One day I refitted the door and ran the machine with the spray nozzles removed and new ferric loaded to clean through the internals. I left for 30 seconds to fetch a tool and my boss, walking past, wondered what was being etched so lifted up the door...From his chest down to his shoes he was yellow-green. His wife never found anything to even touch the stain. He claimed for his 'Armani' suit from the company and I got a severe rocket !! Happy days.

author: LukeW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 10:59:00 am
content: This is why you don't use ferric chloride. You're probably completely stuffed.I wonder... maybe, possibly, some sort of reducing agent capable of reducing the strongly coloured Fe(III) to pale green Fe(II) chloride might work to make it a little less visible.

author: con-f-use
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 04:41:05 pm
content: A colleague of mine knocked a canister of the stuff over, when another one just left it for a second. He had to refill the machine and was opening the cap. We ended up painting most of the walls and dyeing the lab coats. A lot of shoes were lost in die incident. Back then I didn't know anything about board manufacture or electronics. I was just an innocent bystander. It was a long wft for me.I can confirm, rust remover works on light stains.Some people claim citric acid plus salt worked for them on some surfaces right after the material was stained. I can debunk that myth for cotton and synthetic clothing.I'd advice dyeing the whole carpet in a new colour.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 04:55:58 pm
content: So basically get 10l and do the whole carpet then.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 08:12:17 pm
content: Just be careful. I once had a stain I found on a carpet when I was moving out of an apartment and was worried I'd get charged. Since I had already boxed everything up, all I had was some bathroom cleaner. I sprayed it on the stain and it started smoking and melted down to the concrete base. Turns out it was 10% HCl.But I learned my lesson.... Never use Toilet Duck on carpets!

author: eliocor
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 18, 2014, 09:50:55 pm
content: as previously suggested, useOxalic acidto remove FeCl3stainssee its applications/usage as a cleaning agent:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid#Cleaning

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 12:53:17 pm
content: I'm glad my office/workshop floor is concrete. Doesn't matter to me if I get a stain on it, no one comes in my space. I'v never spilled it on the floor though, even when I had an apartment. I've spilled it on the work surface for sure. The stains add character.

author: orbiter
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 01:37:54 pm
content: I think I'd forget about trying to getting rid of the staining. It'd be almost impossible. I remember walking dog sh** into a wool carpet once and even after professional cleaning you could still see a brown patchThe easiest thing now would be to spill it on the rest of the carpet too so it all looks the same ;-)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 02:20:17 pm
content: Black paint. Works every time.Or scissors.

author: KJDS
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 02:31:36 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on May 19, 2014, 02:20:17 pmWouldn't a 12 gauge be quicker?

author: DJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 02:42:16 pm
content: Deny everything. Make counter-accusations.If successful, become a politician.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 06:09:14 pm
content: Quote from: DJ on May 19, 2014, 02:42:16 pmAccuse the dog.

author: Fank1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 10:53:03 pm
content: Check and see if the French Foreign Legion will take you.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2014, 11:08:25 pm
content: It is like the perfect storm. Few stains are worse than ferric chloride, and few things are easier to stain than natural wool carpet.I can add a couple of warnings from personal experience...1) Never try to stand on your head right next to a big glass window NOT made of safety glass.2) Never try to examine a black vinyl record with a strong magnifying glass under a very strong light.We probably all have similar personal warnings we could add.

author: FrankenPC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 20, 2014, 12:50:31 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on May 19, 2014, 11:08:25 pmI've done the plate glass thing. Although, I didn't even know it was closed as it was recently cleaned.

author: jlmoon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2014, 03:06:56 pm
content: You could always spot up the entire carpet with FeCl3 and call it a room remodel by accident.