The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-05-18
A.a.,R,J,G.!U a.,R,J J,G CO LTURAL, &C.
'a''fT iron the solsasIao ASsfilGoiaSSs.
The Chemist In the Laundry.-..Washinp.

iron the soINsSatiao Ansflo66.
The Chemist In the Laundry.---Wash
b 2AtT2 - 7RUI HpI.n
Washing has for its object, not only the re-
movai from our clothing of acoidental dirt; but,
alsoto carry away certain ainnnoniacaf salts, che
product of respiration, which are absorbed from
the body by all the clothes that we wear, es-
pecialiy those nearest the skin A change Of
under garments issessentialgto healthfzto this
very account, and The aft df fSwashing@is more
useful in removing the hardened perspiration
from the cloth (to which,it elings mort pertina-
ciously, like the matter of contagion,) than in
removing tho superauous dirt which merely
of'ends the eyeS until recently ,the lan1ndsess
first operation was to prepare IN lye" of potash
which she did by putting wood ashes into a
tub having a perforated bottom. The tub
was then filled with water, which, trickling
through, dissolved in its course the potash
contained in ali wood ashes. This process is
still extant in some parts Of thoI country, cs-
pecially where wood is used for fuel.
The startling process of washing now is, to
prepare lye of soda. Hard water requires
more soda than soft; and when, rain water, can
be procured, nlkali may dispensed with entire
ly. The utility of soda, or of potash, in wash
ing, arises from the powers these' alkaliesl pos
sess of uniting grease of all kinds, foaming
soap; and to disunite the ammonia Of the per
spiration from the clothes, thus: purifying the
fabric, and rendering it capable of tho like
absorption when again worn out. This imp5or-
tant action has hitherto been unnoticedS Now
although we admit great utility, we particular
ly caution all parties not TO- uscg too much of
these powerful alkalies, because cotton fabrics
arc partially dissolved by o. strong, hot soda,
potash, or lime lyc. It is to this cause that the
chad color" mayt Be attributed, which the
housewife justly complains of in the linen.
When the other coatings of the flaments are
thus acted upon, they are quickly influenced
by the air, and become of yellow tint. .i
There is another cause of sbaei color" and
that is an insufficient supply,of water, or wash
ing too many things in the same liquor This
gives rather gray tint. The yellow color IS,
however, the great thing to guard against, as
this partakes of a permanent evil; and we
mention 1T i'll particular. because, there, are
strong washing fluids sold containing lime and
soda. In nine laundrics out.of ten, too much
soda isialreadySused we need not, therefore,
desire to increase the evil. g :
Many glaundresses, when they hear complaints
of the color of the articles they send home, will
make their alkaline lyc little stronger next
washing day, and thus unwittingly increase the
evil. A judicous use of soda or pcarl-nsh, is
highly beneficial, and saving of labor; but, if
in excess, is very injurious
The'strong .lixivium recently recommended
for washing linen, las, long been known to
those who require to cleanse metals from I'M
pulitiess on the surface oply.-Printers, for in
stance, may use it with safety, to clean the
face of their types from the unctuous ink used
in printing, because the lyc is not strong
enough to effect tho mctal--Thc very low
priced soaps are; ny no means the cheapest in
use; and they also impart q very unpleasant
odor to the linen, which cannot be cot rid off,
The use Of "blue'ttn rinscd wator is too we'll
known to'need comment further than TO our
purpose. The ordinary blue is compoud of
Prussiann blue and starch. Tho color that It
gives merely covers the yellow tint. on the
goods without doing morai We could suggest
the use, of pure indigo ipstead ofcommon blue
This advice is founded upon practice, as well
as theory Indigo, in this operation, is with
out any bad action on the fabric Persons en-.
ployed in the ''indigo department" of tho docks,
have ielwhitest Ilipcalof all people in. Lonr-
don.
t;.i;aH2 tfIt JTC{l.