The Tide to Go pen is an amazing product that allows the user to get rid of fresh stains. It removes the stain before they get a chance to set and leave a permanent mark on your clothes. So, how to use Tide to Go pen?
The Tide to Go pen is essentially a combination of stain removal ingredients, one of which is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which acts quickly to get rid of common stains while you are on the go. If you are constantly dealing with different kinds of stains in your line of work, then you should have at least one Tide to Go pen in your bag.
What to Prepare:
- The stained article of clothing – The stain should still be fresh and not dried.
- A Tide to Go pen
Instruction:
Step 1 – Prime the Tide to Go pen
Are you wondering how to use Tide to Go pen? Then the whole process is quite easy. It is just like using a paint marker. Before you can start erasing stains, the first thing you should do is prime the pen. This means you press the tip of the pen into the stained area around 4 to 6 times until the contents start flowing to the tip.
If you have used paint pens before, priming the Tide to Go pen uses the same principle.
Step 2 – Test the pen on a concealed part
If this is the first time you will be using the Tide to Go pen on a piece of clothing, it is best to test it first on a hidden portion. It could be the bottom hem of a shirt or the inside cuff of jeans. This is to find out whether the ingredients of the Tide to Go pen will not discolor the fabric.
Step 3 – Dab out as much of the stain as you can
For instance, if a bit of tomato sauce is on your shirt, take a paper towel and dab out as much of it as possible. Be careful not to spread the stain even more than it already is. This will make it easier for the Tide to Go pen to do its job.
Step 4 – Rub the pen on the stained area
Once you got the stain-removing ingredients flowing in the tip, proceed to “write” on the stain. Scrub the “writing tip” of the Tide to Go pen all over the stained portion, and continue until the stain is gone. However, most of the time, the stain is not 100% removed. It is more like an 80% to 90% stain reduction.
Step 5 – Dry the treated area and reapply if needed
Grab another paper towel and dab the cleaned area until it is completely dry. Check if the stain is completely removed. Reapply if you think the stain is still quite visible.
If there is a considerable removal of the stain, you do not have to rinse it off. You can continue with the rest of your day without feeling overly conscious about the stain.
How Does the Tide to Go Pen Work?
Here’s what you need to remember about the Tide to Go pen. It is not a magical tool that will remove all kinds of stains. However, what it does provide is a portable and convenient way to at the very least reduce the fresh stain considerably.
Imagine if you are on a hot date and you accidentally spilled a bit of sauce on your pristine white shirt. You can just excuse yourself for a couple of minutes and get rid of the stain using the Tide to Go pen while you are in the restroom.
Using the Tide to Go pen is much more convenient than frantically using water and the hand soap you usually find in restrooms. Also, Tide to Go pens work a whole lot better than soap and water.
This is why you would want to have one of these pens on you all the time, like carrying one in your EDC bag or the glove box of your car so you will have one at hand whenever you need it.
The key ingredient in the Tide to Go Pen is hydrogen peroxide (H202). This chemical attacks the chromophores, the substance that provides the color for substances. Although the Tide to Go pen also contains mild detergents and surfactants, rinsing is still unnecessary.
Although hydrogen peroxide is not as potent as bleach when it comes to removing stains, it has certain advantages. The biggest benefit of hydrogen peroxide is it does not make colors fade. It does not affect the color-fastness of the fabric in any way.
Another important ingredient contained in the Tide to Go is magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), also called Epsom salt. This helps the treated area dry quickly. Imagine having to go back to your date after cleaning your shirt, but there’s a visible wet spot where the stain used to be. That would be just as embarrassing as having a stain on your shirt.
Limitations of the Tide to Go Pens
As great as the Tide to Go pens are, they are far from perfect. You will have more success at getting stains out using the conventional methods (proper laundering and spot stain treatments), and this product also has certain limitations.
First, the Tide to Go pens cannot remove stains that have already dried and set. So, you won’t be able to remove old stains using this product. For those kinds of stains, it would be better to use oxygen bleach to spot treat the stain.
The Tide to Go pens also don’t work that well with oil stains. The included detergent and surfactant are not strong enough to remove oil. Also, this product has difficulty removing blood, ink, and grass stains.
Conclusion
The Tide to Go pen is surely a nifty little tool that everyone should have for those unexpected food accidents. However, don’t expect it to magically remove all stains that it touches. Do not always assume that it is safe for all fabrics.
If you know how to use Tide to Go pen properly, you will appreciate all the things that it can do for you. This pen will help prevent that ketchup blot on your favorite shirt from becoming a permanent stain. You should always have one with you at all times for the inevitable spills.