A seminar focused on textile stain removal attracted industry professionals to a training centre in Prague who were interested in revisiting the fundamentals of one of the most important craft skills in garment care. The programme, led by Ing. Martin Adamy, demonstrated that the correct identification of stains, materials and technological procedures remains a key competence even in the era of modern technologies.
On Tuesday, 10 March, the professional seminar “Textile Stain Removal” took place at a training centre in Prague near Vyšehrad. The event was organized for industry professionals by the Czech Association for Textile Care. The meeting was primarily intended for employees of dry-cleaning and textile care operations who deal with stain removal in their daily practice.
The seminar was led by Ing. Martin Adamy, a textile stain removal specialist and master craftsman in textile care with more than twenty-five years of experience. He is also one of the last graduates of the field Chemist for Laundries and Dry Cleaners and serves as an authorized representative of the Chamber of Commerce within the National Qualifications Framework for the profession of garment cleaning.
The morning session focused mainly on the theoretical foundations of stain removal. Participants were introduced to an overview of garment materials from the perspective of suitable stain-removal procedures, different types of soiling and stains on textiles, and the principles of basic stain-removal methods. Particular attention was also paid to the physical and chemical processes that occur during stain removal and that are essential for selecting the correct technological procedure.
The afternoon block continued with practical topics. Discussions covered the equipment of a stain-removal workstation, correct stain-removal practices, and the most common mistakes that can lead to textile damage or customer complaints. During the seminar, Ing. Adamy emphasized that stain removal is certainly not a relic of the past. “Stain removal is not a dead discipline. On the contrary, it is the foundation of the craft. Today we often forget the original methods and the so-called ‘grandmother’s advice’, which still work and at the same time save costs. In many cases there is simply no other way,” he said during the seminar.
According to him, it is especially important that stain-removal techniques are re-embraced by employees working directly in operations who handle garments every day. Practical knowledge of materials, types of stains and correct procedures can significantly influence both the quality of results and the economics of the operation.
Participants also provided very positive feedback. Marie Hampelová Bohatcová from We Hate Ironing, a company operating dry-cleaning services in Prague, appreciated the practical nature of the lecture. “It was great, everything was very clear and Mr. Adamy is a very engaging lecturer. For our practice, the most beneficial part was the classification of stains according to how they can best be cleaned – when to use water-based methods and when to use chemical cleaning. The information about removing blood stains was also very useful, as this is something we encounter quite often in our operations,” she said.
The Association thanks all participants for their active involvement and looks forward to future meetings.
Czech Association for Textile Care
