The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-20
How to Remove Spots.

How to Remove Spots.
In order to remove from any fabric
spot of anything that water will not
affect, there are two things to be done;
first remove the spot, and then remove
the first thing used on the spot. Take
the case of an ordinary grease spot.
Grease is soluble in berzine or naphtha,
and sometimes ammonia will remove
it. The ordinary method in using the
first two is to wet the spot with them
and rub little, then allow the benzine
or naphtha to evaporate, when the
spot is left covering more surface than
in the beginning. The fat is soluble
in the naphtha, and after the rubbing
the cloth is wet with a solution of fat.
The naphtha then evaporating, leaves
the fat deposited all over the surface
which it had previously wet and de-
cided line shows just what this sur
face was.
The proper way to remove a grease
spot is to lay it between blotting paper
and press with warm iron. 1t is best
to leave the iron on the spot for some
time. This will remove much of the
grease, especially if it be tallowy in
nature. Then taking away the blot
ting paper, wet thoroughly with ben
zine, rubbing from the edges towards
the center. Do not rub hard-stroke
would be better word With a piece
of the blotting paper, soak up all of this
benzine that you can, and repeat with
fresh benzine. Do this several times.
until you are satisfied that the grease is
all removed. Lastly, wash out the last
of the benzine with little clear cold
water, and press the goods dry on the
wrong side. The best thing to apply
the benzine with is a sponge.
In using ammonia to remove grease
spots, dilute the ordinary household
ammonia one-half, and test on piece
of the goods. If it turns the color in
the least, dilute until it ceases to affect
it.. Rub the spot with the ammonia.
and rub quite briskly, placing piece
of clean cotton under it. After rubbing
a few moments wash out the ammonia
with clean water and use more am
monia. Be sure and wash clear of all
ammonia in the end, otherwise it may
injure the fabric. The ammonia does
not dissolve the grease, but with il
forms a soap, and may alter the color
of the goods unless used with great
care. Precipitation often alters the
color of dress. The case of brown
wool dress comes to mind. The back
of the waist was turned red by the con-
tact of hands, but on being sponged
with very dilute ammonia the color re-
turned perfectly. Spots caused by acid,
excepting nitric acid, can be removed
by the use of ammonia, always being
careful to dilute the ammonia and to
wash it out thoroughly at the end.
This holds true, quite often, in the case
of lemonade or lemon juice spots.
Ink spots are removed by various
things, according to the nature of the
ink. Old-fashioned tannate Of iron,
now rarely used as an ink, could be re-
moved Ivy sour milk, on account of the
Tactic acid contained in the milk. Any
weak acid, as oXalic acid or lemon
juice or diluted muriatic acid, will re-
move the stains. These latter things
will also remove iron rust from white
cloth. The writing fluids now used
are generally aniline inks, and the re-
moval of spots caused by them seems
to be hopeless, for anything strong
enough to remove them destroys the
fabric The carbon solution sold for
drawing ink can be removed from
wooden goods by a preparation known
as Castiian cream, which will also re-
move wheel grease. 1t can be obtained
from any large druggist, and should be
applied as follows: Sponge with
the cream and wash out with clear
water, repeating the operation until
the spot has disappeared. This will
injure no fabric that water does not
spot. If a spot is to be removed from
goods that water Injuries, try ether,
wetting very wet and absorbing the
ether with blotting paper. Work
quickly, as the ether evaporates 30
quickly. If this does not remedy the
matter, the case is hopeless.
Paint spots, when new, are easily
taken out with turpentine. This will
make the goods stiff if allowed to dry
in, so remove it with naphtha and the
naphtha with water. If the paint spot
is old, allow it to soak in the turpen-
tine until the paint is softened, and
then remove with naphtha.
The blotting paper and warm fat
iron are also useful in removing grease
from wall paper or carpet. The plat
iron must be warm enough to melt the
fat, when the blotting paper will alb
sorb it.-Mary Campbell LOVING, in
Christian Union.