Odor removal – How does it work?
Hang, spray, repeat is our simple guide for biological spray cleaning. But what is odor, and how does Pure Effect's odor removal work?
Why does it smell?
Odor arises when organic residues are broken down by odor-producing bacteria. Surfaces around us are populated by microorganisms that continuously break down organic matter. Gram-negative bacteria release foul-smelling substances, such as hydrogen sulfide and esters, during their degradation process. This causes the unpleasant odor, found in places like shoes, armpits, or bad breath. For more on sweat, odor, microbial ecology, biotechnology, and genetics visit our blog.
Four ways to remove odor
1. Washing: Dissolving organic residues and rinsing dirt out of the fabric.
2. Some try to perfume over the odor (ventilation might suffice if the smell isn’t strong). However, the organic residues, the dirt, that attract odor-producing bacteria remain, and the smell returns.
3. Other methods aim to remove the bacteria, using bactericidal substances like silver, alcohol, or ozone. However, a surface cannot stay bacteria-free long-term, as the organic residues and dirt remain, and the smell comes back.
4. Pure Effect’s method removes odor by biologically breaking down the source of the odor through applying a neutral bacterial flora to the surface, which outcompetes the odor-producing bacteria.
What happens when you spray a garment with Pure Effect:
1. You experience a faint, pleasant fragrance. The perfume is there for your experience but does not contribute to the function of our garment mist.
2. Biologically manufactured enzymes begin breaking down the volatile compounds you perceive as bad odor. The odor fades as the enzymes work.
3. The bacteria are activated. Our bacterial culture comes to life and starts consuming the organic matter that has been nourishing an odor-producing microbiome.
4. Our bacteria work, consuming the organic material and breaking it down into odorless components. Their efficiency leads to the unwanted microorganisms being outcompeted and prevented from growing. This is a local, strategic cleaning process that occurs while the garment hangs, ideally overnight.
5. The garment is refreshed, biologically cleaned, and ready to be worn again.
If you find it hasn’t worked:
Microorganisms require certain conditions to work optimally, related to moisture, temperature, and nutrients to grow.
- Is the temperature too warm or too cold? The odor-eliminating bacteria thrive and grow at room temperature, and stop working in freezing temperatures (e.g., cold garage in winter) or excessive heat (e.g., steamer steam).
- Is it too dry? The odor-eliminating bacteria grow in moisture, so spray more mist to create a humid environment.
- Is the material too thick (e.g., a hockey glove) so the mist doesn’t reach everywhere? Spray more to let it penetrate.
- Is the material layered? Remove the insole from a shoe and spray all surfaces to win the microbial battle on all surfaces and outcompete the odor-producing bacteria.
Have questions?
We’re happy to guide you - give us a call!
Joachim Åhlander 070-781 04 64
Linda Rosendahl Nordin 070-378 43 55