REMOVING STAINS
TO REMOVE BLOOD STAINS FROM COTTON
To remove blood stains from cotton, wet the spots with cold water, sprinkle with salt and rub lightly.
Or soak the material in salt and water, afterwards washing in soap and water.
A spot on a starched garment may be removed by applying a thick paste of corn starch and cold water.
TO REMOVE BLOOD STAINS FROM SILK
Use strong cold borax water.
TO REMOVE CHOCOLATE AND COCOA STAINS
Wash first in cold, then pour boiling water through the stains.
TO REMOVE COFFEE STAINS
Spread the stained part over a basin, rub in powdered borax and pour boiling water through, and let soak.
TO REMOVE FRUIT STAINS
Spread the stained part over a basin, and pour boiling water through, let soak for thirty minutes and launder as usual. Let dry in the sun.
Another method is to moisten the spots with camphor before wetting with water, then launder as usual.
TO REMOVE GRASS STAINS
Rub the stain with molasses, laundering as usual, afterward. Another way is to saturate the spot with kerosene, and launder. Alcohol will remove grass stains in materials that will not launder.
TO REMOVE CANDLE GREASE
Use gasoline on a soft cloth.
TO REMOVE AXLE GREASE
To remove axle grease on washable garments, cover thickly with butter, let stand a few minutes, wash in gasoline, and then in soap and water.
Grease may be removed from overalls by putting them in cold water, with plenty of soap, and as soon as the water boils, add about three tablespoonfuls of kerosene and boil a few minutes. Do not pour kerosene from a kerosene can near a fire, but pour it from a can into a dipper away from fire, and then pour from the dipper quickly into the boiler.
Chloroform will remove grease from the most delicate fabrics, but it is apt to leave a mark and for that reason, ether is more universally used.
French chalk put around the edge of a spot before cleaning with gasoline on cloth, will prevent a mark from showing.
TO REMOVE INDELIBLE INK OR PENCIL MARKS
Dampen the spot with water, and rub with the head of a common match.
TO REMOVE INK STAINS
Cover the ink stain on any fabric with Hydrogen Peroxide, lay in the sun and air, and repeat till the stain disappears.
Ink may be removed from wash goods by melting a piece of tallow, putting the spot in the hot tallow and washing as usual. On colored garments that will not wash, drop melted tallow and scrape off with a knife. If the stain does not all come out, put a clean piece of blotting paper over it, and press with a hot iron.
TO REMOVE INK FROM WOODEN FLOORS
Use lemon juice and salt, without soap.
TO REMOVE RED INK
Use ammonia and water.
TO REMOVE IODINE STAINS
Cover the stain on cloth as soon as possible with a paste of corn starch and water. Change for fresh paste and repeat till stain disappears.
If the stain is on wood, apply the paste, let stand a few minutes, and rub with a soft cloth.
TO REMOVE IRON RUST FROM WASH GOODS
Wet the spot with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt, and hold over boiling water so the steam can go through. If very badly rusted, add three tablespoonfuls of cream of tartar to three gallons of water, and boil the stained garments in it for about one hour.
Another way is to boil pie plant in enough water to soak the dress, remove the pie plant and soak the dress in the water for some time, then wash as usual.
TO REMOVE LEMON JUICE STAINS
Mix one tablespoonful of ammonia in four tablespoonfuls of water, and sponge lightly.
TO REMOVE MACHINE OIL
Apply kerosene to the spots, and launder as usual.
Cover an oil spot on silk with block magnesia shaved in fine powder. Leave on for a time, shake off, and repeat if necessary.
TO REMOVE MILDEW
Cover the mildew on wash goods with molasses, then launder as usual.
Or soak the stains in buttermilk several hours, then wash.
TO REMOVE MILK STAINS
Wash first in cold, then hot water.
Apply absorbent cotton at once when milk is spilled on woolens.
Alcohol will remove milk on colored garments.
TO REMOVE MUD STAINS FROM CLOTH
Use water in which a sliced raw potato has soaked.
TO REMOVE PAINT
Rub turpentine thoroughly into the material. If the paint is very dry, mix a little ammonia with the turpentine. Keep all cleaning fluids away from fire.
Ether is also good for removing paint.
TO REMOVE PERSPIRATION STAINS
To remove perspiration stains from white waists, soak the stained part in baking soda and cold water. Repeat, if necessary, after thirty minutes.
For silk waists, sponge the spot carefully with a little cold water, and cover with powdered prepared chalk. When thoroughly dry, brush carefully with a soft brush.
To remove perspiration stains on white cotton from wearing black silk, boil the garment in one-half gallon of water containing a handful of peach leaves.
TO REMOVE SCORCH STAINS
Apply Peroxide of Hydrogen.
TO REMOVE TEA STAINS
Wash in cold, and then pour boiling water through the spot. Soak an obstinate tea stain in glycerine.
TO REMOVE VARNISH STAINS
Saturate in gasoline, then wash in cold water with naphtha soap.
TO REMOVE VINEGAR STAINS
Mix one tablespoonful of ammonia in four tablespoonfuls of water and sponge lightly.
TO REMOVE WINE STAINS
Moisten a red wine stain in cold water and keep covered with salt, and the wet salt will absorb the stain.
Wash yellow wine stains in cold water, then in warm suds.