LABOR-SAVING METHODS, WASHING FLUIDS, ETC.
Certain compounds added to the water in which the clothes are boiled are recommended as labor savers. Washing fluids and powders contain two kinds of ingredients: volatile sub stances, such as kerosene, turpentine, alcohol, ammonia, and camphor gum; and alkaline substances, as potash and soda lyes from wood ashes, sal soda, and various brands of commercial lye. These powerful chemicals must be used with the most intelligent caution.
First Caution.— If the hands and arms are immersed in hot water con taining turpentine, alcohol, ammonia, camphor, and similar substances, these are absorbed through the pores of the skin and may seriously imperil the health. Paralysis is said to some times result from this cause. Hence it is best to use these compounds only in the boiler, and to take the gar ments out of the first rinsing water with the clothes stick, especially if hot water is used, rather than to im merse the arms therein.
When turpentine has been used in the boiling water the clothes must be very thoroughly rinsed, as if any of it remains in garments worn next the skin it may cause mischief.
Second Caution. — Substances that are strong in alkali, as potash and soda lyes and the like, are powerful cleansers, but clothes should not be allowed to lie in water that contains them for any length of time. If they are used in the boiling water the clothes must be boiled for ei limited time and immediately removed and rinsed thoroughly. The alkali, as has already been explained, continues its action after decomposing greasy sub stances and attacks the fabrics them selves. It is injurious to the skin if not thoroughly rinsed from under wear.
Third Caution.—All washing pow ders should be thoroughly dissolved in the boiling water before the gar ments are added, so that the alkali and other ingredients may be present in equal strength in all parts of the water. If these compounds are add ed after the clothes have been put in they may settle in spots in the folds of the garments and eat into the fab ric.
Washing Fluids. — Most washing fluids amount to neither more nor less than potash or soda lye. In other
words, they are liquids containing an excess of free alkali. Their use is quite customary on the ground that they do the work quickly and well and save labor, but they are open to the objection that unless used with great caution they tend to rot the clothes and to roughen and chap the hands and arms of the laundress. They are, at best, only suitable for the coarser articles, and it is probable that their constant use weakens any thing which they are employed to clean.
Caustic Soda Lye.—A common fam ily recipe for washing fluid is caustic soda lye. Dissolve 1 pound of sal soda in 1 gallon of boiling water. Slake separately 8 ounces of fresh quicklime in 2 quarts of water. Bring the soda solution to a boil, pour in the slaked lime in a thin stream, stir ring constantly, and let the mixture stand over night. Pour off the clear lye, taking care not to disturb the sediment, and preserve in glass bot tles or stone jugs. When this fluid is used it is customary to soak the clothes over night in clear watea, wring them out, and soap the soiled places. The boiler is then half filled with water which is brought to a boil and 1 teacupful of this fluid is stirred in thoroughly, after which the clothes are added and boiled for half an hour, when they can be cleaned with very little rubbing. The injury that the lye may do the fabric is not likely to be noticed as a result of a single washing, and the gradual weakening of the garment is likely to be attrib uted to ordinary wear. Hence it is often asserted that this and other washing fluids can be used without rotting ordinary fabrics. But the in jury, though slight, is certain. At all events, if such fluids are used the greatest care must be taken not to let garments lie long in the suds, to rinse them very thoroughly in two or three waters and hang them out as quickly as possible. This washing fluid may be used in hot water for scrubbing floors, removing grease spots, and cleaning greasy pots, kettles, and the like. But care must be taken not to use it on tinware or aluminum or strong enough to inj ure the hands.