The Winslow mail., 1900-04-12
A CHEMICAL CUPBOARD.
For the Safe Keeping of Powerful
Acids and Alkalis Used in
House Work.

The average housekeeper has natur-
chemicals" by which she generally
means powerful acids or alkalis, which
are used in housekeeping and in laun-
dry work. Only in exceptional cases
are such powerful articles used in cook
ing, and they should certainly be avoid
ed in the domestic kitchen, as it re-
quires a practical chemist to handle
them properly. Acids that are classed
as poisonous" yet produce the
powerful effects ascribed to them, may
be very deleterious to health, and in
that sense dangerous to use and poison
Gus in the hands of an ignorant person
who does not know how to use them.
The only powerful chemicals which
should be used about the house are
those simple alkalis and acids used for
cleaning. Virulent poisons, like oxalic
acid, should be avoided, because such
simple ingredients as vinegar and salt
will accomplish the same result. It a
good plan to keep all such articles in
a cupboard by themselves. Such place
Nstll OC 1OI AllOQ O1 OIOOAlHS OII q wi UC1
of the shelf of the pantry where dishes,
not food, are kept. There are many of
these chemicals which are dangerous in
the hands of a young child, hence they
should be kept out of reach of children.
Ammonia, even weak household am
monia, may destroy the hearing when
spilled in the cavity of the ear or de-
lo lo1-
cate part of the eye. It is valuable as a
washing fluid, and is used in the bath to
soften water. 1t should be used. how
ever, very moderately, rs it renders the
skin dry and rough when used too freely
in the water. The same thing may be
said of most of the washing powders
and other compounds which assist in
washing. Soap powders are fruitful
cause of chapped hands. Where any
such article as an alkai or soap powder
is used there should be a simple acid
toilet wash used afterward to correct
its effect on the hands. A proportion of
one-ffth citric acid, two-ffths of glyc-
crime and two-ffths rosewater makes
very good and perfectly safe prepara-
ton to use on the hands. This should be
rubbed over the hands after they have
been subject to dishwater or laundry
suds in which alkali soaps or soap pow
ders or washing fluids have been used.
Ammonia is not so good as little al
cohol in washing windows, kerosene
lamp chimneys or any glass about the
house. Ammonia is apt to leave blur
over the glass which it is difficult to
clean off. Strong ammonia eats into the
glass, so that permanent blur is Gre
ated.
Salsoda is chemical that must be
used very carefully. AS a washing fluid
it Injuries delicate goods, and totally de-
stroys the color of most colored goods.
Borax is a safer article to use, as it is
comparatively mild in its effects.
Galvanized and polished iron sinks
ard cooking utensils of polished sheet
iron are cleaned by the use of boiling
hot vinegar and salt. Let spiders soak
on the back of the stove with strong
solution of hot vinegar and salt in
them. When all signs of black are
gone, polish the spiders we'll and wash
and pc them dry. Sinks may be very
success ally cleaned with turpentine
and boiling water. Turpentine is very
useful chemical to keep in the closet
N. Y. Tribune.