Temporary_User

The Bars I frequent seem to have a lot of black lights; Which I hate!
They all seem to make all your lint and other stains that cant be seen elsewise.
the question I have is about the stains on my clothes that don't show up elsewise. It seems that after I wear my jeans a couple of times, there are stains that show up on my jeans that I can't see and cant get out no matter how much I was them. What could these stains be? How can I get rid of them?

SiN

dunno ...

but I do know that

1. I looove black lights

2. laundry detergent glows like a motherfucker in black lights. from the phosphors, a quick gis tells me.

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TexanAvenger

Plenty of things leave residue that you can't readily see. Including *ahem* protein... Dry cleaning'd probably get it out, but if you don't want to bother with an actual dry cleaner, you could try those home-version things. But I don't know how well those work.

Val_1

Laundry detergent. Shows up in black light like nobody's business. Don't pour it over your clothes, dissolve it in the water first then add your clothes.

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FloydianOne

I hate that! It always shows up when im bowling in those after midnight bowling times. I feel like everyone thinks I "protein" all over my clothes

Bobaphat

I don't know, but I love how my vodka glows in the blacklights. maybe you should be less sloppy with your drinks... in all seriousness, its probably the detergent.

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Temporary_User

hmm detergent that is probabley it. I know it isnt protein, because it is in all different areas, and I don't protein all over my pants.
Ill maybe take my jeans to the dry cleaner and see if that does anything. If I soaked my jeans or washed w/ no detergent do you think that would do anything?

iamnormal

Try the detergent for dark clothes.
From what I've heard it's the whiteing agent in the detergent thats showing up. I would think the detergent for dark/black clothes would not have the whiteing agent in it.

P-Naughty

I'm with SiN on this one. I love the things. I was kinda pissed when I learned my uni. didn't allow them. They are considered a fire hazard along with lavalamps and George Foreman grills. We can have toasters and coffemakers, but a blacklight is considered contraband. I'm not taking a risk with one. Kinda hard to remove from the wall when we have room inspections. An electric grill on the other hand can be stuck or hid just about anywhere.

Another thing that reacts well is highlighter fluid. You can scribble all over just about anything with a yellow one and people can't tell. Test a spot before you go all willy-nilly, though. Also, keep in mind that a fresh coat of paint may not keep it from showing up under a UV light.

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Pip

Most washing machines have an option of extra rinses with clean water at the end of the program to flush out all the detergent, mostly for people with sensitive skin and allergies. That might help.

Blackthorn

Sin hit it right on the head. I use era as a fantastic all purpose stain remover. I used on a coffee spill on a pair of my favorite jeans the stain was completely removed. What was left behind however will be forever visible under the hue of a black light. It's pretty funny when I forget about that and wear those jeans out somewhere and my secret becomes known!! Oh well....

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Craven Morehead

Next time you check into a hotel, take along a black light. Turn out the lights, turn on the black light and shine it on the sheets.

Then try to sleep in that bed.

Cylvre

I looooooove blacklights! If it's just detergent then I second the recommendation of diluting it in water before adding it to the wash and/or extra rinse cycles. That's what I do (both, sensitive skin) and my main source of light in my bedroom is a blacklight, no problems.

I'm always amused when people walk in wearing polar fleece...

Ug, or not...

Sp0rAdiC

I read this thread this afternoon before work and thought about blacklights throughout the day. Then I unexpectedly went bowling with a bunch of friends, and it was cosmic bowling night(black lights and disco balls ) Of course, the pair of jeans I grabbed had a stain on them right below the left pocket, which isn't the best place to have a stain like that... I'm not sure if anybody noticed though . And the topic came up, If you had blacklights in your room and used them as a light source, would it cause any harm to your eyes after a while? If the blacklights were the only source of light in the room, besides a TV or computer monitor or LEDs.

Robaggio

Yes! Blacklights do hurt your eyes! Be careful!

I grew up with blacklights. My dad used them to attract bugs when we went collecting every other night. (he's an entomologist) Prolonged exposure will damage your eyes. Try not to look directly at the blacklights either. That makes things much worse.

snowy

What kind of lights do you have at your uni? We had these huge overhead fluorescent lights and I had some friends go out and buy their own black light tubes and switch out the fluorescent tubes. You could always give that a shot--it was super-nifty and probably isn't against the rules.

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P-Naughty

They are flourescent. I have considered replacing them in the past, but we have room inspections about once a month. Plus, I don't think my roommate has the same love for them as I do. I would replace the bulb in my room, but my window is covered over to keep the annoying street lamp right outside my window from keeping me up all night, so I need some form of white light. But back on topic, they don't allow them because they produce more heat than a standard bulb and is therefore deemed a fire hazard. I know it seems stupid, but my uni. isn't ran by the brightest of people. Besides, I'd be in enough trouble if I was caught with my candle and George Foreman.

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mmm...kyle

I also love them, made one about 5ft long about two years ago for a house party, had a lot of UV reactive stuff in the room as well so looked really good. Agree though that they can be a bit of an annoyance when they show up those hidden stains...

hosti|e

Nothing worse that spilling your drink on your jeans/pants at a previous club and then walking into one with a proliferation of black bulbs. Good excuse to find a nice quiet seat in the dark tho

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