KINDS OF SPOTS AND STAINS The principal stains and spots the laundress has to do with are tea, cof fee, and wine stains, iron rust, and ink; paint and tar, grass stains and mildew, blood stains, grease spots, and mud stains. These should all be removed from washable articles be fore sending them to the laundry. Hence many housekeepers set apart Tuesday for wash day, and take oc casion Monday to sort the wash and carefully remove all stains, and sponge or scrub or dry-clean any articles that may require it.
Grass Stains. — White and other light-colored summer gowns, duck and flannel trousers, and children's garments frequently show grass stains in summer. The green stain is pro duced by chlorophyll, a coloring mat ter present in growing vegetation. This, when exposed to the action of the air, becomes changed into chloro phyllan, which is insoluble in water. Grass stains when fresh may be re moved by sponging with alcohol, bid after the chlorophyll has been con verted into chlorophyllan, the action of alcohol will leave an insoluble brown stain in place of the green. Neither oxalic nor muriatic acid is ef fective with grass stains, but a hot solution of tartaric acid changes the green stain to light brown, that yields readily to boiling soapsuds in the laundry. If tartaric acid is not at hand, wet the stain and apply cream of tartar or salts of lemon.
Or dissolve cream of tartar in boil ing water and apply hot.
Or rub grass stains with molasses and wash in clear, soft water without soap. Do not use oxalic or muriatic acid.
Tea and Coffee Stains. — These, when fresh, all yield readily to the action of boiling water, especially if the fabric be stretched tightly and the boiling water poured upon it with some force. If stains have been neglected and fixed by soap in the laundry, it may be necessary to ap ply dilute oxalic acid or chloride of lime, or to treat them with lemon juice and salt, salts of lemon, and other remedies, afterwards exposing the article to the air and sunshine.
The stains of berries, especially of blackberries, and of plums and peaches, are very refractory. Hence, if possible, these should have imme diate treatment.
Paint. — Paint and resin may be quickly dissolved by the action of turpentine, benzine, chloroform, or sulphurous ether, the treatment de pending upon the nature of the fab ric. Tar may be rubbed with lard and afterwards removed by washing. Oils may be dissolved by alcohol, ether, or spirits of turpentine. For colored goods, these may all be com bined with ammonia and glycerin.
Mildew. — Mildew is a fungous growth of certain plants. It forms on cloth that is exposed to dampness in patches of various col ors, red, black, yellow, or even green. Various substances may be used to prevent its forming. Mildew pro duces a stain which is very refrac tory. The treatment depends upon the nature of the fabric and the ex tent and depth of the stain, and varies from simple remedies, such as soap, lemon juice and salt, and the like, to chloride of lime and the more power ful acids. Other substances recom mended are French chalk, starch, and buttermilk. These must, of course, be used with proper caution and a due regard to the liability of injury to the fabric. They should be after wards assisted by the bleaching agen cies of air and sunshine.
To Prevent Mildew.—Canvas, duck, and similar fabrics used for awnings, tents, and the like may be preserved against mildew by first soaking them in strong suds made by dissolving pound of hard white or yellow soap in 2 gallons of water, and afterwards immersing the fabric, for a period of 24 hours, in a solution of 1 pound of alum dissolved in 1 gallon of water.
To Remove Mildew. — Dissolve 1 ounce of chloride of lime in 1 pint of boiling water; then add 3 pints of cold water. Soak the article in this from 3 to 12 hours. Remove, rinse thoroughly, and send to the laundry. If the chloride of lime is not thor oughly washed out the fabric may be injured.