With a couple of modifications, Erin’s 5th-grade science project was approved. After so much turmoil and distress, it was very welcome news. If you missed the story about Erin and me brainstorming potential projects, then you really should start there. You may pick up a few brilliant ideas for your child’s own science project. (You can thank me later.)
Erin’s teacher-approved science project is entitled, “What Homemade Solution Gets Stains Out the Best?” And guess what type of stain she is using? Red wine, of course. (I’m so proud. Or embarrassed. I’m still not sure.) In her background information, she states, “I decided to choose red wine stains because we get red wine a lot for family parties, and sometimes there are accidents.” I’m sure I have no idea what she is talking about. Okay, truthfully, I’m just relieved she didn’t report that her mom is an enthusiastic wine-drinking klutz.
Anyhow her investigation is going very well. She has researched exactly what causes red wine to stain carpet. She has researched various homemade solutions for removing such stains. And she has come up with three different homemade cleaning solutions to use for her experiment:
- Dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and hot water
- Dish soap, ammonia, baking soda, and warm water
- Hydrogen peroxide and non-gel toothpaste
Erin also created her test wine stain carpet grid for the experiment.
I wept a little when she measured out the wine for each stain and poured it on the carpet. Eventually, I had to leave the room because I was distracting her with my muffled cries. Fortunately, I gave her the dregs of a bottle of a not-fantastic Malbec so my grief was relatively short-lived. Still, it was no small sacrifice because, normally, I would have finished that bottle myself. But I sacrificed my wine LITERALLY in the name of science. Regardless of how her project does in the Science Fair, I should win some sort of award for that sacrifice.
Erin is now researching what reactions will occur with the ingredients in her three homemade solutions so she can come up with her hypothesis of which one will clean the red wine stains the best. And then she will perform her tests later this week. It’s a very tense and exciting week here in the Fox household. I’ll keep you posted on her results.
Are you going to be able to wait until the end of the month? Can you stand the suspense? Any guesses on which solution will clean the best? I know I’m very invested in the results of this project. However, it’s highly likely, given the amount of Nature’s Miracle I have around right now, that I’ll just keep using that for wine stains. Not that I have any. Ever.
4 Responses
12 stain samples but only 3 test solutions? What am I missing? and what are the 3 blank squares for?
It will all be revealed, I promise. (That sounds a lot more intriguing than “controls.”)
I *AM* excited to know! We are big spiller/droppers here in ComfyTown! Combine that with beige carpeting and couches, and we NEED TO KNOW about stain removal! You’re a good person to make such a sacrifice! Hopefully the gods of wine will bless you for your selfless act. I too, could not part with even the WORST red wine we won at a charity event, I used it for cooking and/or added fruit and amaretto to make a weird sangria. We waste no wine, at any time.
It was definitely difficult to sacrifice the wine, but I can now officially tell my daughter that I love her more than wine. Test results will be in soon!