Blue Light Breakthrough: Scientists Discover Gentle Way to Erase Stubborn Clothing Stains
September 10, 2025 — American Chemical Society
Say goodbye to harsh bleach and damaged fabrics. Scientists have unveiled a promising new method to remove tough yellow stains from clothing—using high-intensity blue LED light. The technique, reported in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, effectively lifts discoloration caused by sweat, food oils, and natural pigments like beta carotene and lycopene, all without harming delicate materials such as silk.
“Our method utilizes visible blue light in combination with ambient oxygen, which acts as the oxidizing agent to drive the photobleaching process,” said Tomohiro Sugahara, the study’s lead author. “This approach avoids the use of harsh chemical oxidants typically required in conventional bleaching methods, making it inherently more sustainable.”
The research team tested the method on common stain culprits including squalene and oleic acid—compounds found in skin oils—as well as orange and tomato juice. After simulating aging on fabric swatches, they compared treatments using hydrogen peroxide, UV light, and blue LED exposure. The blue light not only outperformed chemical treatments but also avoided the discoloration side effects caused by UV light.
Even delicate fabrics like silk and polyester showed no damage after treatment, making this a potential game-changer for both home and industrial laundry care. While further testing is needed before commercial rollout, the findings point to a cleaner, safer future for stain removal.
The study was conducted by researchers at Asahi Kasei Corporation, with no external funding.
