Evening star., 1942-07-29


working on them while they are still
any case remove them before you
launder the fabric, for alkalis, such
as IN soap, and heat from an iron
"set" some fruit and berry stains,
making them difncult and some
times impossible to remove. Simple
remedies will take out some stains,
but it's best to be sure Of the origin
and the cure" so be cautious,
please.
Boiling water will remove most
fruit stains Except those of peaches,
pears and plums) from white or COL
orfast cotton or linen. Stretch the
fabric over q bowl, fasten securely
with string to prevent its slipping,
and pour on the wlter from height
of 3 or 4 feet. II necessary, rub the
fabric between applications Of boil
Ing water. II the stain is not COM
pletely gone after this treatment,
put q little lemon juice on the spot
and put 1t in the sun to bleach. Or
you may use one of the chemical
bleaches such as hydrogen peroxide
and sodium perborate, hydrosulphite
or Javelle water.
To use hydrogen peroxide and
sodium perborate, mix l teaspoon
Of sodium perborate to pint of
peroxide. Before starting to work on
the stain, test the effect Of the solu-
ton on the fabric, using a place that
won't show-such as the inside hem.
II the color is fast and doesn't fade.
sponge the stain with the solution
and rinse thoroughly with water. If
the stain Is stubborn, sprinkle pow
dered sodium perborate on the
dampened fabric, let 1t stand for
half hour and rinse well again.
Hydrosulphites are good bleaches
for removing fruit stains from white
material. just follow the direc-
tions on the package you buy at
the drugstore.
Javelle water, another bleach, Is
used for stains OF WHITE cotton or
linen fabrics, and Is composed Of
one-haf pound Of washing soda in
l quart Of cold water with one
quarter pound Of chloride OF lime
added. Strain the solution through
piece Of muslin and store In q
bottle with . tight cork or stopper.
To use Javelle water, stretch the
stained cloth over a bowl filled with
cold water and drop on the solu-
ton with medicine dropper, or II
the stain Is terrific you may dip
theI whole garment in tho solution.
However, never let the bleach stand
on the stain more than / minute
or 1t will rot the material. After
using Javelle water. rinse the fabric
In luke warm or cool water imme-
diately. Then apply = few drops Of
another solution to combat the
rotting action Of chlorine remaining
In the cloth as the result Of using
Javelle water. This combatant one
is made Of one-half teaspoon Of
sodium thiosulphate and to 2
teaspoons Of vinegar In l pint Of
water. After using, rinse the fabric
well In clear water. You may have
to repeat the Javelle water tho
sulphate treatment several times.
Those exceptions we mentioned
earlier, namely peach, pear and
plum stains on cotton and linen,
may be treated with cold water
and glycerine combination. Sponge
the stain well with cool water.
Then put several drops Of glycerine
or soapless shampoo on the stain,
enough to cover 1t, and work In by
rubbing the fabric between your
hands. Let 1t stand for several
hours, then put on q few drops Of
vinegar Or oxalic acid. Allow that
to remain for a minute or two, then
rinse we'll in water. In case Of
citrus fruit stains, wash the fabric
In warm, soapy water. II the stain
is an old one or the fabric has been
pressed since 1t was stained, use
one Of the bleaches mentioned
above. When citrus fruit acid
changes the color, you may restore
1t by using ammonia or baking
soda, after washing and rinsing the
stain in cold water. To use am
monia, hold the dampened stain
over an open bottle of strong am
monia water, or put on a few drops
Of ammonia water diluted to half
strength, but the latter Is to be
used only II the material doesn't t
water-spot. Have white vinegar
ready In case the ammonia affects
the dye, and sponge the stain
quickly with cloth wet with vine
gar. To use baking soda, sprinkle
it on both sides of the stain, dampen
with water and let it stand until
the bubbling stops. Then rinse in
water.