Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-04-01
LADIES' COLUMN,
SPOTS AND STAINS.

Fruit stains OF every sort Will do no
harm to things washable if they are
wet through and through with alcohol
before going in the wash. Very big
stains will come out if they are first
wet with cold water and then have
a stream of boiling water poured
through them for two or three min
utes. Stains upon silk Or a fancy
frock beyond laundry possibilities
may be got of thus: Fold a cheese
cloth square thickly and lay it smooth
upon the board. Over that stretch
the stained stuff smoothly, right side
down. If there is lining, rip it so as
to get at the under side. But first
brush not only the stain but the whole
garment thoroughly SO as to remove
all the invisible dust and prevent the
cleansing from leaving an ugly little
circle, worse than the spot itself.
Pour little alcohol on the spot and
dab the place hard with soft clean rag.
Shift the spot over a fresh place on
the cheesecloth and pour on more al
cohol, using just enough to drench
the spot itself without spreading. Do
this two or three times, then look on
the right side.
An acid stain has most likely take n
out the color. Most times it may be
brought back by sponging the right
side very delicately with ammonia
spirit. But it is we'll to try the am
monia first on a scrap of the stuff, as
it may change the unspotted surface,
and thus do more harm than good.
with weak alum water, but here, as
with the ammonia, try it first upon
scrap.
Greasy and resinous spots, as those
of machine oil, wagon grease, tar,
pine and cedar resins, ought to be
also cleaned right side down on folded
cloth. Wet them first with the alco-
hol, next very plentifully with turpen-
tine, and last of all with benzine.
Between each wetting shift the spots
over clean place. Pour everything
in a very small but steady stream, SO
it shall go right through the spot but
not much outside it. After wetting
rub hard a minute with a soft rag.
when the cloth underneath shows
white turn the spot over and wipe the
right side quickly with a clean rag
wet in alcohol. Dry quickly, in the
sun, if possible; let the garment air
for six hours, then cover with a damp,
not wet cloth, and press with very
hot iron. If the spots want stiffening
dip toothbrush lightly in the gum
arabic, hold it six inches above the
wrong side of the cloth and pass the
finger across it, so as to spatter the
gum in fine spray where it will do
most good; then let the garment lie a
few minutes before ironing.
Grease spots, pure and simple, upon
delicately colored silks are best treat
ed with either French chalk or corn
starch, Powder the chalk fine and
fill two little cheesecloth bags loosely
with it. Lay one bag upon the board,
stretch the grease spot right side
down over it and cover the spot with
the second, patting it out fat. The
chalk ought to be only a quarter of
an inch thick. Set a heavy hot iron
upon top of the upper bag, and leave
it there for several minutes-of course
taking care that it does not scorch
the uncovered silk. Remove the iron
and the chalk bags, then if the spot
has not wholly disappeared, shake up
the bags SO as to bring fresh chalk to
the surface, and repeat the whole
process until the last speck of grease
has vanished Exchange.