Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-20
Soap.


10 live In clean house, to wear clean
clothes and to have clean skin are
privileges not to be lightly esteemed. A
Tree use OF the compound which bears
the honorable name of soap aids very
materially In attaining these. All OF us
who labor on the farm, in the shop, fac
tory, kitchen or elsewhere know that
the material among which we work very
often gets out Of place, becomes dirt,
sticks where it should not, and, though
water alone be applied ever SO freely,
the "spot will not out" and our only
chance OF presenting an immaculate ap-
pearance after our work is done is by
the application Of soap.
The quantity of soap used by the peo-
pie of country, it has been said, is
measure of their civilization. A proper
use, of course, is meant; and there is
truth in this. Habitual personal clean
illness is as sure a sign as can be
named by which to recognize the man or
woman living under the influences of
civilization.
Chemically, soap is the union of fat
or oil with an alkaline base, either pot
ash or soda. The ak ali, on which its
cleansing action depends, used alone,
would tend to destroy the substance to
be cleansed; this is why washing pow
ders are injurious to the texture of the
clothing on which they are used, and the
use of the fat or oil in making soap is to
neutralize this tendency and to act as a
lubricant.
There are many extensive soap facto-
ries in the country, and those house
keepers who wish can be supplied with
every kind and quality by the soap,
grocery and country stores; but many
the majority in the country-yet prefer
that made by themselves. They have
the fat necessary, in the shape of refuse
lard, tallow, bacon, skins, ETC., and the
potash or soda can now be easily OBJ
tanned for use with much less labor than
was formerly required when the potash
had to be extracted from the pile ofwood
ashes at home. Where wood is used for
fuel this is yet done; but we think moth
ing is gained by it; the unleached ashes
can be profitably used on the farm and
garden and there is always so much to
be done, especially about farm house,
that no extra labor should be engaged in
where it can be avoided without loss.
We would then say if you want to
make soap land this is generally one of
the first jobs in order On the approach of
spring. 90 and buy caustic soda-you can
get it at IN apothecary's if nowhere else
and use it in this way: For hard soap
take to one pound of caustc soda three
pounds of fat, or five or six pounds of
ordinary soap fat and three gallons of
water pu: all together in kettle over
the fire and boil, adding three or four
handfuls of salt before the boiling is
quite finished; from two to three hours
boiling will be necessary. The expert
enced soap-boiler will know by its APP
pearance when it has boiled sufficiently.
The novice will soon learn.
Where caustic soda cannot be obtained
get COMMON washing or sal-soda, and by
the addition of lime make it causric, at
ter the following plan, which is the one
generally in use at present, and which
makes an excellent soap: Take six
pounds of washing soda and three pounds
of fresh, unslaked lime; place together
in any water-tight vessel--an iron kettle
is best-and pour on two gallons of boil
ing water; stir occasionally, until the lime
is slaked and the soda dissolved, then
allow it to settle. Take the clean I've
from the. top and pour 1T on the fat of
which three pounds common scrapings
are to be taken-and commence boiling;
then add another gallon Of water to the
settings of the soda and lime, stirring as
before. This I've is then to be added to
the other while boiling; also throw in
about SIX single handfuls of salt about
half an hour before it is done boiling.
Boil two hours.
Without the salt either of these
methods will make a semi-soft soap; but
for real soft soap potash must be used.
This you can buy for the purpose; or, if
you prefer, extract from wood ashes by
simply mixing a little fresh lime with
them and pouring on water. An old bar
rel or tub will do to hold them; if there
is hole in the bottom for the liquid to
drain out. The ash-hoppers formerly
used tor this purpose are yet standing
alongside of some outhouses on many
farms, but seldom used now.
For toilet purposes a soap made with
vegetable oil is to be preferred-cas-
tile, palm or cocoa, rather than those
highly perfumed, but which are some
times made from the most impure ma
terials, Ii perfumed soap is wanted
the common soap above can be melted,
and perfume OF any desired kind can he
added; but it will be rather strong for
delicate skins, and CASTLE is much to be
preferred
Soap-making need no longer be dread
ed by the women to whose lot ii falls,
as by the methods we have given, as well
as other similar ones, all the soap needed
in a family for six months can be easily
made in single day.
1t is sometimes said that home made
soap costs more than it could be bought
for, Perhaps it does; but then You have
the satisfaction of knowing from what it
is made.
We would specially recommend the