Actichem CTR 5 ltr
Product Overview Actichem CTR is a high-activity formula for neutralising and removing coffee and tannin stains. It is a blend of sodium metabisulfite and specialist low-pH compoun ds selected to break down tough tannin staining, coffee marks, cellulosic browning, water marks, and many dye and beverage stains. CTR is a reducing agent, not a bleach. It works by chemically reducing the stain molecule so it no longer reflects colour, rather than by oxidising it away. That is why it succeeds on tannin and browning where oxidisers and general spotters do not. Which pack size do you need? This is the 5 litre bulk pack. The 500 ml trigger spray is the ready-to-use spotting pack for the truck. The product inside both is identical. Benefits Purpose-built chemistry — a blend of metabisulfite and low-pH compounds, the recognised approach to tannin and dye removal. Penetrates the fibre — wetting agents and emulsifiers carry the active into each discoloured fibre rather than leaving it sitting on the surface. Cellulosic browning — neutralises the alkaline browning that follows over-wetting and flood damage on wool. Broad fibre suitability — usable on natural and synthetic fibres, with the important exception noted below. What are tannins? Tannins are naturally occurring plant compounds found in tea, coffee, red wine, fruit juice, timber and many plant materials. They bind readily to fibre and darken as they oxidise, which is why a coffee spill that looked faint on the day is stubbornly brown a fortnight later. Read more about tannins. Cellulosic browning is a related problem with a different cause. When a wool or jute-backed carpet is over-wet, alkaline moisture draws lignin and tannin compounds out of the cellulose backing and up the pile by wicking. The result is a brown or yellow cast that appears as the carpet dries — often after the technician has left. CTR is the corrective for it. Application areas and surface suitability Suitable for use on wool and synthetic fabrics, including carpeting. Important — not for stain-resistant nylon Do not use CTR on stain-resistant nylon. Stain-resist treatments are acid-based fibre blockers, and an aggressive low-pH reducing treatment can damage or strip them. Once the stain-resist treatment is gone it does not come back, and the carpet will soil faster from that day on. If you are not certain what the fibre is, find out before you reach for CTR. Pre-test delicate fabrics for colour stability. CTR reduces dye molecules as readily as it reduces stain molecules — that is the whole mechanism — so an unstable dye can be lifted along with the stain. How to Use Always pre-test in an inconspicuous location for substrate sensitivity and colour stability before you start. Note the stain-resistant nylon exclusion above. Dilution Severe staining — use undiluted. Light stains and upholstery — dilute 1:1 with clean water. Application Spray the solution onto the fibre or fabric until it is wetted out. Agitate with a carpet rake or upholstery brush. Allow 10–20 minutes reaction time. CTR is not an instant product — the dwell is doing the work. Rinse extract with Actichem Rinse Pro or an Actichem Emulsifier. Allow to dry. Assist drying with increased ventilation and air movement. Rinsing is not optional. CTR is left at pH 2.7 in the fibre if it is not rinsed out. Residual acid will attract soil, can affect the hand of wool, and will keep working on dyes long after you have gone. Always neutralise and rinse. Safety Please read this section before your next job. This listing previously recorded “Safety: Non-hazardous”. That was wrong and has been corrected. Actichem’s safety data sheet for AP490, version 2.2 issued 22 September 2025, classifies CTR as a hazardous chemical with the signal word DANGER. H318 — causes serious eye damage (Serious Eye Damage Category 1) H315 — causes skin irritation (Skin Corrosion/Irritation Category 2) Poisons Schedule: none applicable. Not regulated for transport as a dangerous good. ⚠ H318 — serious eye damage This is the highest eye classification in the GHS system. It is damage, not irritation — a splash can cause permanent injury. CTR is applied by spraying, which is exactly the application method most likely to put product in an eye. Chemical goggles, not safety glasses, whenever CTR is being sprayed or decanted. Safety glasses do not stop a splash arriving from below or the side. If CTR does get in an eye, hold the eyelids apart and flush with running water for at least 15 minutes, then obtain medical attention without delay. Fifteen minutes is longer than it feels — time it. ⚠ Never mix CTR with anything else Do not mix Actichem CTR with any other cleaning solution. This has always been on this page and it is the single most important line on it. CTR is an acidic sulfite, and that chemistry reacts with a great deal of what is on a normal truck: Never mix with chlorine bleach or any hypochlorite product, including Chlorosan. Acidic sulfite and hypochlorite react vigorously and can release chlorine gas. Never mix with alkaline preprays, boosters or emulsifiers in the same tank. Beyond the reaction risk, neutralising CTR simply destroys it — you are paying for a product and then switching it off before it reaches the fibre. Acidic sulfites release sulfur dioxide. That is the source of CTR’s pungent odour, and it is a recognised respiratory irritant and asthma trigger. Ventilate the space, and take it seriously if anyone in the building is asthmatic. A note on the manufacturer’s documentation. Actichem’s SDS records incompatible materials as “none known”. Based on the chemistry of the product we do not think that is complete, and we have raised it with Actichem. Until they clarify it, follow the mixing advice above, which is the more cautious reading. Ventilation and personal protective equipment Work with ventilation — CTR has a pungent odour for a reason. Chemical goggles, and protective clothing. An eyewash unit should be available wherever CTR is used or decanted. First aid Eyes. Immediately hold the eyelids apart and flush continuously with running water for at least 15 minutes. Obtain medical attention without delay. Skin. Immediately remove all contaminated clothing and flush the skin with water. Seek medical attention if irritation occurs. Inhalation. Remove from the contaminated area to fresh air. Swallowed. Immediately give a glass of water. Seek medical advice. Specifications Product code AP490.05 Pack size 5 litres Product type Acidic reducing agent for coffee, tannin and cellulosic browning Appearance Clear colourless liquid Odour Pungent — metabisulfite Dilution Ready to use, or 1:1 with water for light stains and upholstery pH 2.7 as supplied (Actichem SDS v2.2). This listing previously stated pH 1–2; we have asked Actichem to confirm which figure is current. Relative density 1.0 Key components Sodium metabisulfite (CAS 7681-57-4); glycolic acid (CAS 79-14-1); ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (CAS 111-76-2); isopropanol (CAS 67-63-0); hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid (CAS 2809-21-4). All under 10%. WHS classification Hazardous chemical Signal word DANGER Hazard statements H315, H318 Dangerous goods Not regulated for transport Poisons schedule None applicable Not suitable for Stain-resistant nylon SDS referenced Version 2.2, issued 22 September 2025 Related Products Actichem CTR 500 ml spray — the same product in a ready-to-use trigger pack. Actichem Brownaway — the other product in this family for browning and cellulosic discolouration. Worth comparing before you choose. Actichem Rinse Pro — the recommended rinse after CTR. Actichem Emulsifier Plus — alternative rinse. Safety Data Sheet Actichem CTR safety data sheet (AP490, version 2.2, 22 September 2025) SKU: AP490.05 Not sure whether the discolouration in front of you is a tannin stain or cellulosic browning? They look similar and they need different handling. Send us a photo and tell us the fibre — we would rather help you get it right than have you buy the wrong product.