Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-19

Various RenOyAtorS.
From Harrer's Bazaar.
When plain soap and water have failed to
eradicate ink or iron mould. one must have re-
course to salts oflemon, which removes all the
oxide of iron, and which is bought in powder
from a druggists and used in the following
way: Flu up mug, pewter If possible. with hot
water, damp the spot, and with the first and
third finger of the lett hand strain the stuff
against the side of the mug, whilst with the
1orefnger of the right hand. already dipped into
water, take up some of the salts and rub 1t
with circular motion on the spot which will
first turn yellow. and then, with constant rub
bling. entirely disappear. This plan has never
failed us, on account OF the good combination
of the pewter with the salts. An old pewter
plate or saucer will be a good substitute Tor the
mug. In France, salts of sorrel is invariably
sold for erasng ink marks; indeed. it is said
that fresh sOrrel leaf rubbed on newly
made spot will efface it simultaneously. When
sOrrel and lemon both prove unavailing, OXaiic
acid must be tried. This powder too must be
laid on the humid stain with the finger or
sponge, or applied in liquid state, after being
diluted in water six times its weight. Bear in
mind that the mark may not yield at once,
when the operation will need repeating three
or four times, always washing the article in
clear water between each application to prevent
the burning of the acid. Some people leave the
powder awhile on the stain to allow time for it
to work.
The oxalic acid. as its name implies, is also
composed of sOrrel, although OF a different COM
bnation to the sorrel salts, technically called
bi-oxaate and these are often sold indifferentIy,
one for the other, the same mistake being made
with salts of lemon. Their poisonous properties
can be partly cOunteracted by magnesia dis
solved in water. The fumes of alcohol, am
moniac and ether are also excellent for the
cleaners art tho latter hpinp seldom nSpA
account of its comparative cOstliness and rapid
evaporation.
Liquids.-Pure water is evidently the most
natural cleanser alone. and applied at once. it
will sometimes De sufficient to remove grease or
the sickness from sugar, jam, ETC. Lathered
with soap, its power is of course increased. A
rapid way to obtain a lather is to pour boiling
water on some good extract of soap and en-
plOy it in the usual manner. For wooden ma
terials and cOlOred cretOnnes, however, the
most efficacous lather is produced with OX-gall.
Where but few scattered spots are to be re-
moved, it is as well to try the purified ox-call
bought in bottles from chemists, while a thor
Oughly soiled rug, curtain. ETC., has to be
dipped into bath or lather, for which it is
most economical to buy gall from the butcher.
This must be fresh. and dipped into boiling
water to draw out the bile, SO invaluable for
cleansing the grease. About half pint of it is
well stirred into little water, and, as soon as
required. this compound is filed up with five or
Sin Huat Us vi DoulHS Wdlci- lulO IdIueT
the things are dipped up and down. one by one,
without rubbing or wringing. Should they be
very dirty. they must be thrown into second
vessel of gall and lastly, we'll squeezed and
rinsed In third bucket, over which boiling
water Is poured so as to entirely cover its con-
tents; the articles, again squeezed, are hung up
to dry. Other housewives prefer spreading
the material, previously soaked in water, on a
table, which in the trade is purpOsely made to
slope from the operator, so that all the dirty
liquid runs off. after being thoroughly secured
into the material. Just as with soap lather,
the gall water must be thoroughly rinsed from
the article, which is then exposed to the air to
take off the disagreeabe smell. The greenish
color of the gall may affect some hues, and to
avoid this annoyance it Is safer to purchase a
prepared gall from q druggist.
Every one is familiar with the value of the
yelk of egg as hair wash, but perhaps may not
be aware of Its virtue on clothing Beaten up
with alcohol, eau de cologne, or ether, like
ox-gall. it keeps better and is more powerful;
or, in simpler cases, 1t may be used alone, or
merely mixed with water, to be rubbed on with
flannel, for removing from colored materials the
stains of mud. or of coffee and chocolate when
prepared with milk. 1t is frequently applied to
velvet collars and cuffs, etc, and proves
cleanser as we'll as spot extractor. When it
has done It's work, 1t is washed off with soap
water. Egg has specially good effect on
those annoying patches of cart grease belong
ing to the compound class of stains, as they
represent mixture of stale grease iron and
other substances. The first thing to consider is
the removal of the grease, by washing several
times with soap, Or if not sufficient, with gall
and turpentine, The iron often disappears with
the washing, but, If very obstinate, can be
treated in its turn with lemon juice or suphuric
acid freely diluted with water, and then, If still
adherent. will scarcely resist hydrochlorc or OK
alic acid
Homely milk also has it's place in the cleaners
either skim or sour. Formerly sour
milk was largely used at manufactures for the
bleaching of linen. whereas now it is quite ObsO-
ete being replaced by sulphuric acid; it is still
retained, however, by thrifty housewives for
the removal of stains Of ink, wine, etc The
milk is poured on the fresh mark and rubbed
with damp flannel until 1t disappears. When
feasible as for colored table cloths, etc, it is
handy to place saucer beneath, and let the
stain soak in the milk for a little while, after
which, should traces Of the mishap still remain,
the part should be soaked again in a basin of
milk, and when clear of the stain be washed In
hot water. Caustic spots are sometimes eradi-
Gated by leaving the article in saucepan.
while the milk is boiling, till all mark disap-
pears.
Glycerine may be found selviceabe for re-
moving coffee and other spots from white or
light-cOlored materials.
Now we come to the essential oils, the most
prominent amongst which is turpentine known
also as camphine. Being SO inexpensive and SO
frequently In requistion, 1t is naturally ready
at hand for any accident. 1t Is specially good
for any fresh-made greasy or oily spots, and
must be laid on the quite dry material by means
of sponge or rag; then, instead of being
washed off, 1t must be absorbed by fuller's-
earth spread On it in a powder, or by cinder-ash
passed through a fine sieve. When alcohol has
failed in extracting stale grease spot, it is
mixed with few drops uf turpentine and
rubbed on as long as necessary. IT. however,
the turpentine be not fresh, it will leave a mark
much larger than the previous one, and can only
be remedied by spirits of wine heated balm
marie style. Although cleanser and STAIN
remover, turpentine is. further, as we have
seen, stain-maker, Snd O most tenacious one,
specially on CLOTH A good way to get rid of it
is to soak the offending part with hot spirits of
wine, then turn it on the wrong side. spread
smoothly on the table, and over the spot scrape
thick layer or coating of fullers-earth, well
pressed down with the palm of the hand The
heat OF the liquid dissolves the oil, which is
sucked up by the powder; leave the whole to
dry, then shake off the fuller and brush
thoroughly. This dry process answers to what
is called the nett0ydge a sec; however, turpen-
tine has for some time been replaced by BEN
zine, still more intiammable fluid, and hence
not to be applied near q fire OR light. The
things to be cleaned are dipped into bath Of
pure benzne and rubbed on a washing board,
then rlnsed In two or three other baths of ben
zine and passed through a wringing-machine,
lastly thrown over line to allow the spirits
and smell to evaporate. The benZine only re-
moves grease stains; therefore every article has