Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-03-30
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!. HOME DEMONSTRATION !.
!. NOTES. =.
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Removing Stains from Clothing.

Removing Stains from Clothing.
A fresh stain Is more easily re-
moved than an old one, FOR The
longer the stain remains in the fab
ric, the more deeply 1t penetrates
the fibers and the more difficult it
Is Of removal. The nature of tho
stain should be known, If possible,
before it's removal Is attempted. as
this knowledge will determine the
treatment to be adopted. Moreover,
|if an unsuitable stain-remoyer is
used. the stain may be "set" so that
its removal becomes more difficult.
For example, proteins, such as milk,
blood, eggs, are "set! If hot water
is used on them. On the other hand,
fruit juice stains are easily removed
by means Of boiling water. Soap,
which aids in the removal of grease
spots. "sets" many fruit stains.
The kind Of fabric upon which the
stain occurs should also be known.
Cotton and linen are affected by
acids, consequently the use of con-
centrated acids on these fabrics is
dangerous. After acid has been used
some suitable alkali should be ap-
piled to neutralize it. Househad
t'ammonia, diluted with water and
borax, are simple alkalies suitable for
this purpose. Wool and silk are
more delicate than cotton and linen
and require more careful treatment.
The use Of very hot water on these
fbers must be avoided Strong aka
lies dissolve both wool and silk, and
both are injured by washing soda or
strongly alkaline soap. Acids, as
rule. do not attack wool and silk
readily.
Rel owing Specific Stains.
l. Fruit Juice Stains. = Stretch
the stained material over a bowl or
other vessel, securing it by string
II necessary, then pour boiling water
upon 1t from tea kettle at a height
OF three or four feet, so that the
water will strike the stain with
some force. Hang in the sun to dry.
2. Ink.-Owing to the differences
in the composition Of writing inks it
is impossible to find agents which
are equally effective. Begin with the
simplest method, and If that fails,
try more strenuous one.
(a.) Apply an absorbent (salt or
corn meal, French chalk, talcum
powder, etc., to fresh ink. spots to
absorb surplus ink and to prevent
ink from spreading. Work the alb
sorbent around over the spot toltake
up all the ink.
Gb.) Milk.-Soak the stains for a
day or two, If necessary, in sour
milk. changing the milk as often as
1t becomes discolored.
(cD Oxalic acid, saturated solu-
ton. Soak the stain for a few min
utes, then rinse in clear water and
finally infwater that contains an al
kali. Repeat II necessary.
3. Iron Rust.-This stain usually
results either from contact with rusty
iron, wash pots or from the careless
use OF certain laundry bluings. In
the latter case the iron base Of the
bluing comes in contact with the al
kali from the soap and forms iron
rust. To avoid this, clothes should
be thoroughly rinsed from all trace
Of soap. Following are methods Of
removal:
1. Lemon juice and salt. Apply the
salt and lemon juice, and place in
the sun.
2. Oxalic acid. saturated solution.
Apply same as for ink.
4. Paints and Varnishes. taken
when fresh, paint and varnish stains
can sometimes be removed by wash
ing with soap and water. With older
stains. the paint can be softened by
rubbing oil or lard into the SPOT,
and then washed with hot water and
soap. II the stain Is old and the
paint has hardened, try one Of the
following:
l. Turpentine. Sponge the stains
with pure turpentine and allow to
stand. Wash in hot water and soap.
2. Washing soda (three table,
spoons to each gallon Of water)-
Boil the stains in this solution.
S. Mildew.-This stain Is really