Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-01
Efficient Removal of Stains
Accepted Methods of Cleaning Clothing and
Housefurnishings Should Be Studied in Home.

The removal Of stains from clothins
and household textiles is q necessary
feature of the general Spring cleaning
Most stains may be removed easily a,
home II reliable methods are known
and prompt treatment is used Changes
IN the character of the stain, produced
Dy drying, exposure to air, washing
ironing, or in other ways, sometimes
make 1t necessary to use stronger
chemicals for removing old stains
sometimes the staining substance has
so attacked the fabric that it cannot
be removed without destroying the
material. Do not expect miracles.
You must know the nature of the
stain before its removal is attempted.
III an unsuitable remover is used, the
stain VIII be set so that 1t cannot be
removed at all. For instance, IL boil.
ing water, which easily removes most
fresh fruit stains, is applied to stains
containing protein, such as those from
milk, blood, eggs or meat juice, IL
coagulates the albumen and makes II
extremely difficult to remove.
II the nature of the stain is not
known and it does not appear to be
greasy, sponging with wet cloth may
be effective. but it is always best to
try the action of water first on some
part of the material. unless YOU are
sure that the material will not water
spot or the color be affected. Spread
the article on a fiat surface in a good
light. with clean piece of blotting
paper under the stain to absorb the
liquid. Sponge with a clean. soft
lintless cloth. not too wet. Use light,
brushing motions. Chemicals for
cleaning should not be used until after
water has been tried. unless the fabric
10 unsuitable for water treatment.
There are a few common chemicals
which are necessary to remove some
stains, and these. or some of them,
should be kept in every household,
but not in the medicine chest. They
are oxalic acid, ammonia water, n.y.
drcgen peroxide and others. Oxalic
acid Is poisonous. and should be used
carefully and kent out of the way of
children. To prepare a solution. dis
solve as many Of the crystals of the
acid as possible in pint of lukewarm
water. Put into a bottle, cork
tightly, and use as needed. Apply
this solution to an obstinate stain
with a medicine dropper, and after
allowing Ii to remain for a few min
utes rinse thoroughly in clean water.
Neutralize with a solution of am
monia. Use on cotton, linen or silk.
Hydrogen peroxide. as obtained for
medical purposes. has usually been
made slightly acid to give it a better
keeping quality. For use in removing
stains, make a small quantity Of the
peroxide slightly alkaline with am
monia solution. Rinse very carefully,
so as not to affect the fiber Of cotton
or linen. Apply it to the stain with a
medicine dropper or a clean cork, or
sponge the stain with 1t. 1t can also
be used on wool.
Treating Special Stains.
Fresh coffee stains and most old ones
on washable materials can be removed
by ordinary laundering with soap and
water. A slight trace sometimes re-
mains in the case of very heavy or
old stains. Drying the material in the
sun will frequently remove these, or a
bleaching agent may be used. For
stains. that are not more than a few
hours old, pour boiling water on the
stain from a height of two or three
feet.
Stains from chocolate and cocoa are
composed of fat, resinous coloring
matter, fibrous material, starch, sugar
and sometimes milk solids. Chocolate
and cocoa, prepared as beverages, diff
fer from cake chocolate In containing
q larger proportion of milk and less
fat, but none Of these stains is set by
hot water. If the material is wash
able, soap and hot water are often all
that is necessary to remove the stain.
A bad or old stain may be removed Il
the stained portion of the fabric is
soaked in wood alcohol made alkaline
with ammonia solution.
Tea stains contain q brown coloring
matter, which Is not difficult to re-
move when fresh, but which becomes
very persistent when allowed to re-
main for a long time in contact With
the fiber. Stains from tea containing
milk or cream are removed more
easily from cottcns and linens than
are stains made by clear tea. III
stains on cotton or linen are only a.
few days old, soak them in borax
solution, one-half to. one teaspoonful
Of borax TO one cupful of water. and
then rinse in boiling water. Keep tea
stains moist with lemon juice and
expose them to the san for "a day or
two and the stains will disappear. II
boiled in a strong soap solution with
q small quantity of water, stains two
or three weeks old can be removed.
Most fruits contain coIorihg matter
which often causes persistent stains
on materials. Almost all fruit stains
when they are fresh and still moist
can be removed with boiling or even
warm water. After they have dried
they become much more difficult to
remove. Do not use soap on fresh
fruit or berry stains. Fruit stains on
white or fast-colored silk or wool can
he removed by first sponging with
warm water, then with little hydro
gen peroxide made slightly alkaline
with ammonia.
III the stain Is on white or fast.
colored washable material, stretch the
stained material over bowl or other
receptacle, hold 1T by a string or an
elastic band, IL necessary, and pour
boiling water upon it from a. Kettle
held at a. height Of about four feet. so
that the water strikes the stain with
some force. Sometimes little rub
bling is helpful. If stains remain AFTER
treatment with boiling water, Dieacn
by moistening with lemon juice ana
exposing to the bright sunlight. stains
from cooked fruits, including small
fruits and berries, are easier 10 re.
move than those of fresh fruit ana
they often disappear during ordinary
laundering.
To remove stains caused by grass or
fresh foliage, use hot water and soap
AZ in ordinary laundering II the ma
terial Is washable. rubbing the stain
. vigorously. On fabrics that launder.
ing might injure use ether or wood
alcohol or denatured alcohol. Apply
by spongfng.
Iron rust stains often come from
rusty clothes wringers and clothes
lines. Spread the stained place over
a receptacle of actively boiling water
and then squeeze lemon juice on the