Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

HOLD
HINTS

These are the days, with the grass at it's
Boftest and greenest, that every woman
feels the stirring of heredity from her ma
ternal ancestors-more or less remote-and
longs to go forth and bleach something.
Grass bleached' linen from the shops.
Rlack, there is no more!
Chemicals do all the work in these days
of hustle-bustle. even in Ireland. save only
one establishment at Belfast, whose prices
for grass-bleached linens make them pro-
hibitive to the rank and file of housewives
While the old process Of bleaching was
the work of weeks and months, the modern
chemical bleach is accomplished In a few
hours.
The linen, unwound from revolving cylIn-
ders, Is passed through big tank of some
approved solution, then rewound its whiten-
Ing accomplished. To the canny purchaser
OF linen who realizes that the extreme
Wmteness Is always obtained at the ex-
pense OF the strength of the fabric and
therefore prefers for her everyday linen at
least the unbleached or half bleached, this
season, given little plot of grass permits
her to do her own bleaching
This means simply spreading on the grass.
sprlnkling thoroughly several times a day
ana leaving the good, warm sun and fresh
air to do the rest
Our thrifty Dutch grandmothers set great
store by buttermilk a blea aching agency
sleeping their Holland first In an alkaline
solution, then in buttermilk. after which
the fabric was thoroughly washed and ex-
p 3seu 10 Ihe sun, day after day, until as
white as the driven snow
Buttermilk. or "loppered'' milk is often
used today for removing ordinary fruit or
red wine stains, leaving the fabric In soak
Tor several hours, then washing In luke
warm water.
To Remove Fruit Stains.-All fruit stains.
particularly peach. are said to come ont
easier at this season than at any other The
hardest stains to remove are those that
have been boiled In and set by a careless
laCndress.
On this account II is important that all
table linen be examined and the stains re-
moved before the various pieces are sent 70
the wash. Nearly all fruit stains will dis
appear II boiling hot, soft water Is poured
through them Spread the stained portion
tightly over the top of a pan or tub and
pour the water from the tea kettle directly
through. Obstinate stains can be removed
by oxallc acid, but this should be applied
by the mistress herself as, unless used
carefully, and rinsed II rots the cloth.
While bottle of the dry acid should be
Kept with the laundry supplies il should be
plainly labeled and kept where children
cannot possibly get hold of 1t. BY the acid
from the chemist in crystallized FORM put
in bottle and pour cold water over it, Use
well diluted at first increasing the strength
II necessary. Touch only the spots and as
soon as they disappear rinse quickly and
thoroughly.
A Working knowledge of Simple Chemis-
try.-A working knowledge of simple chem
istry is most valuable in the removing al
unsightly spots on garments that seem
hopelessly spoiled.
stain caused by an acid requires ar
alkan to remove 1t. while fading from al
kali needs an acid to neutralze and restore
II.
Acid stains come frequently from the per-
spiration of the body. while one of the prin-
cipal causes of alkali stains is found in the
potash, soda or even borax used in laundry
work.
The best treatment for goods faded by ar
alkali Is TO dip carefully In a weak solution
OF vinegar and water experimenting until
the right strength is reached.
An acid stain is more difficult to remove
but soda and water will usually prove eff
fectual.