Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-09-29
TO CLEANSEIFABRICS.
Some Valuable Information i'm
Small Compass.
Mrs. Kris Kringle in The Housekeeper.

it most satisfactorily, and is superior
to alcohol, chloroform, ether, or tur.
pentine for this purpose.
Grass stains should be treated to an
application OF alcohol, before they
have been washed and become dry
upon the fabric. These stains are
very stubborn if not treated while
fresh. :
Grease spots and other stains may
be more easily removed from floor
coverings than is generally supposed
by inexperienced housekeepers. Fine
ly pulverized soap stone, rubbed upon
creased carpet, will soon draw out
the oil, especially if it be warmed, and
the powder may easily be brushed
away after it has served its purpose.
Soiled spots upon garments and fur
nishings are likely to make the ar
ticles unpresentable long before they
need a general renovation. Even if
garments or fabrics are to be dyed,
they must be first thoroughly cleansed,
for the dirt, especially If Of an oily de-
scription, would prevent the dye en-
tering the fibres of which they are
composed.
On certain shelf OF the family
foreroom, or in little closet set apart
FOR the purpose, should De placed all
the substances, both mineral and veg
etable, that are used for cleansing
wearing apparel, carpets, rugs, marble,
woodwork, ETC., and each box, bottle,
or parcel, should be labelled, either
with the name of its contents, or,
with written account OF the articles
virtues and the method of its applica-
ton.
The most obstinate of all defile-
ments to remove from fabrics, is mil
dew, which is a fungus growth. In
fact, if it has been allowed to become
firmly established, and is very dark,
nothing that is now known will en-
tirely destroy the evidences OF its pres
ence, without injuring the goods.
Mildew that is of light hue, how
ever, may be faded away by boiling,
summing, and wearing the garments
frequently.
Stains caused by whitewash are
alkaline, and may be eradicated with
vinegar or muriatic acid. Spots OF tar
or pitch should first be scraped with a
dull blade until there is danger of in
juring the fabric, and should then be
soitened with clean oil. The tar and
oil may be rubbed away together with
a small stiff brush, or cloth, dipped in
turpentine or benzine. Sometimes q
second application of both oil and tur-
pentine, or benzine, will be needed.
Lay the garment in the air to allow
the fumes to disperse.
Liquid ammonia, carbonate Of am.
monia in crystals, and oxalic acid in
crystal form, or dissolved in water, are
prime necessities Of good housekeep-
ing. 1t will be found most convenient
to place crystallized oxalic acid in a
bottle, and at once pour water upon
it. A considerable quantity will very
likely remain undissolved, after all
the liquid has been used, and more
water may then be added. This acid
quickly removes ink stains and leather
stains on white hosiery, fruit stains
upon fabrics or upon the fingers, black
(not red) iron rust, and also alkali
spots on any fadeless material.
Acetic acid is white vinegar, and
is very useful in restoring colors that
have been injured by the alkali in
soap, or by an accident with soda, am
monia, or other substance OF a similar
nature. Soda will cause a black fab
ric to turn brown, but a touch OF
acetic acid, which will not in any way
injure the fibre, will Immediately re-
store the spot to its original hue.
Lemon juice and other acids are equal
ly hostile to certain dark colors, and
stain OF this kind may be removed
with touch Of dissolved soda. The
first application OF soda will not be
wholly successful, if the solution is
less strong than the acid that caused
the stain; in this case a second ap-
plication will be needed.
Muriatic, or hydrochloric acid, is a
compound of sulphuric acid and salt.
1t dissolves readily in water, and is
one of the most valuable OF restora-
tives for certain faded tints. 1t is
particularly efficacious with many
aniline or coal tar dyes. Red iron
rust, which is not affected by oxalic
acid, quickly disappears when touched
with muriatic acid. If delicately-
colore1 cotton fabric is stained with
rust OF this kind, place the spot over a
deep basin partly filled with boiling
water, and when it has become well
moistened by steam, touch the spot
once, or oltener, with a tiny brush or
feather, dipped in muriatic acid. The
spot will quickly disappear, and the
lately disfgured portion of the material
should be Immediately dipped in water
to remove the acid, and afterward
rinsed in another water containing a
small amount of soda, to prevent the
acid eating away any part of the fibre.
Enamelled tubs that are rusted. and
stained china or porcelain may be per-
fectly cleansed with muriatic acid.
THE members OF the Sons of Temper.
ance, organized at Walla walla some
! two weeks AGO have two oroo,;,or. =;