Caustic Potash Lye.—The basis of another class of washing fluids fre quently recommended is potash lye, which is perhaps even more injurious than caustic soda lye, requiring the same cautions and being open to the same objections. The addition of various other ingredients, as borax, ammonia, and the like, may be re garded as beneficial, as they tend to increase the cleansing properties of the fluid, and thus lessen the amount of pure lye necessary to do the work. Put pound of concentrated lye in an earthenware jar or iron kettle and pour over it 1 gallon of cold water. Stir with a wooden stick until dis solved, and let stand until cold. Dis solve, each in a separate vessel, I pound of borax, pound of salts of tartar, and pound of lump am monia (not aqua ammonia), using in each case as little water as possible. After the solution of lye is cold, pour into it each of the other solutions in II thin stream, stirring constantly, pour the mixture into large glass bot tles or earthenware jugs, and cork tightly. Use this washing fluid in the proportion of 1 or 9 tablespoonfuls to each pailful of water. In all cases dissolve it in the wash boiler before the clothes are put in, for if the clothes are put in first and the washing fluid afterwards, it will be stronger in some places than others, and be more likely to injure the garments.
Or put 1 pound of crude potash in an earthenware jug and pour over it 1 gallon of soft water. When cold stir in ounce of sal ammoniac and ounce of saltpeter previously dissolved in a little soft water. Use this fluid at the rate of 1 pint to 6 or 8 gallons of water.
Or dissolve separately pound of sal soda and pound of potash lye, each in 9 quarts of water. Mix the two together and pour into a gallon jug. Use as teacupful to a boilerful of water.
Or put 1 can of potash lye in an earthenware jar, pour over it 2 gal lons of cold water, and add 1 pound of borax and 1 pint of liquid am monia. Pour into stone jugs and cork tightly. Use a teacupful to each boil er, and also half a bar of soap shaved fine.
Washing Fluids with Turpentine. —Turpentine as a washing fluid, with or without other ingredients, as cam phor, alcohol, ammonia, and the like, is often recommended, but unless great caution is observed it is very likely to be injurious. These sub stances, especially turpentine and al cohol, open the pores of the skin and thus expose a person to the liability of taking cold in hanging out the clothes. Their frequent use is also debilitating. Hence these substances should not be used when washing is done by hand. They are only per missible where the clothes are pound ed in the old-fashioned way, or the work is done by a washing machine. Even breathing the fumes of turpen tine in the steam of the laundry may be dangerous under certain circum stances, and, on the whole, these reci pes should be used only with the greatest caution. Clothes washed with turpentine should be rinsed very thor oughly to remove all traces of it be fore being worn, as otherwise it will be injurious to the skin.
To a boilerful of hot water add bars of hard soap shaved fine, 1 table spoonful of spirits of turpentine, and 1 teaspoonful of aqua ammonia; bring to a boil and stir until all are dis solved before putting in the clothes.
Or, in addition to the soap, use 1 tablespoonful of spirits of turpen tine and 1 tablespoonful of powdered borax.
Or to 6 or S gallons of water add 1 pound of hard soap shaved fine, ounce of spirits of turpentine, and ounce of aqua ammonia.
Or 1 tablespoonful of kerosene and 1 tablespoonful of turpentine.
Or, for a washing fluid, 9 pounds of hard white or yellow soap into a saucepan, pour over it 1 quart of soft water, and melt with gentle heat, stirring frequently. Stir in 1 tablespoonful of white-wine vinegar, 9 tablespoonfuls of aqua ammonia, and 6 tablespoonfuls of spirits of tur pentine. Pour into large glass bottles or stone jugs and cork tightly to pre vent evaporation. Use this fluid at the rate of 2 tablespoonfuls to 6 or S gallons of the water in which the clothes are soaked, and the same quantity in the wash boiler.
To whiten clothes take spirits of turpentine, 1 tablespoonful; powdered borax, 1 tablespoonful. Mix well and use in the water in which the clothes are boiled.
Or first soap the water in which the clothes are to be boiled, then add the following: spirits of turpentine, 1 tablespoonful; aqua ammonia, 1 table spoonful. Housekeepers who have used this washing fluid value it highly.
Washing Fluids with Sal Soda.— Dissolve pound of sal soda and pound of borax in 1 gallon of boiling soft water. Add 2. gallons of cold soft water and 1 ounce of gum cam phor dissolved in pint of alcohol. Stir well and put in corked bottles or fruit jars. Add 4 teaspoonfuls of this preparation to 1 pint of soft soap or 1 bar of hard soap cut into fine shavings, and dissolve the whole in a boilerful of hot water before putting in the clothes.
Or dissolve pound of washing soda and pound of borax in 4 quarts of boiling soft water. When cold add teacupful of aqua am monia and pour into corked bottles or fruit jars. Dissolve in the wash boiler in the proportion of 1 teacupful to 1 pailful of water before the clothes are put in Or dissolve 1 pound of sal soda and pound of quicklime in 6 quarts of boiling water. When the mixture has settled, pour off and bottle the clear liquid, which is soda lye. This is a very powerful washing fluid. One cupful is added to a boilerful of hot water containing 1 pint of soft soap or 1 pound of hard soap cut in shav ings will thoroughly cleanse and bleach the clothes. This fluid tends to bright en rather than to fade the colors of calico and colored flannels. The clothes must not be allowed to lie in the water. The boiling, sudsing, rinsing, and bluing must follow each other in rapid succession until the clothes are hung on the line, which should be by ten o'clock in the morning.