AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CLEANING UPHOLSTERY, TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, WOOL, HAIR, FUE, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 12th August 1875.-A communication from abroad by George
F. Blake, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR CLEANING
UPHOLSTERY, TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, WOOL, HAIR, FUE, AND THE LIKE,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the cleaning of household furniture, carpets,
bedding, woollen and other fabrics and fibrous materials, fur, feathers,
and the like, by the process and means herein described. According to
the said Invention I immerse the article or material to be cleaned in a
bath of naphtha or other suitable light product of the distillation of
petroleum or coal oil which is a solvent of oil, grease, and other matter,
whereby such articles or materials are usually soiled and injured and
which is a destroyer of insect life, but which on the other hand does
not injure the materials of which such articles are composed, or their
colours, or dissolve glue or varnish or similar substances, or rust metals.

page_text: After immersion the articles or materials are withdrawn from the bath
and exposed to the atmosphere to evaporate the liquid absorbed from the
same.
The time of immersion in the bath will depend upon the nature of the
article or material to be cleaned.
be cleaned. In treating upholstery or household
furniture, including carpets and bedding, and also in treating furs or
articles of wool or hair, and other articles or materials subject to the
attacks of moths and other vermin, the bath must be continued long
cnough to kill them, and also to destroy their larvæ and eggs while
ensuring the removal of oil, grease, and dirt of any kind. This process
leaves any article of furniture or upholstery of whatever fabric or
substance it may be formed thoroughly clean no matter how long it may
have been neglected. Carpets, blankets, clothing, and other similar
fabrics, so treated will not be shrunk nor will the colours of carpets and
other articles be changed or faded, and in many instances their original
lustre will be restored. It is well known that many articles of clothing
are by the ordinary process of washing caused to shrink to a great extent,
and the linings and other portions of them shrink very unequally, thereby
imparing the value of the article. But when my improved process is
employed the use of water will be unnecessary for cleaning such articles,
and they need not be subsequently pressed.
By the use of a liquid which possesses the above described detergent
properties, and which is not injurious to the wood, textile fabrics, metals,
or other materials, used in the construction of furniture or upholstery
work, I obviate the necessity for taking to pieces or unmaking any
article to be cleaned and immerse the same entire in a tank or vessel
containing the aforesaid liquid without danger of injury to any of its
parts.