J. HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY. 377 



If the place be subsequently rubbed with a dry cloth the lus- 

 tre will be restored. 13 C,May, ix., 596. 



REMOVAL OF SPOTS AND STAINS FROM CLOTHING, ETC. 



In an elaborate article published in the German Master 

 Zeitiing upon the eradication of spots of different kinds from 

 clothing, we are informed that benzine is undoubtedly by far 

 the best and cheapest substance for removing grease, resin, 

 stearine, paraffine, tar, wagon-grease, etc., the purest kind to 

 be applied to the more delicate fabrics. Ether and petroleum 

 ether are said to be of almost equal efficiency in this respect. 

 Such spots are often complicated by the adhesion of dust or 

 other matters, which, even if insoluble themselves, readily 

 fall off when the substance with which they are combined is 

 removed. For spots of oil it is best to add a little alcoholic 

 ether. Silver spots and indelible ink can be removed, even 

 after a long time, by means of cyanide of potassium or iodide 

 of potassium applied in a concentrated solution. Rust spots 

 can be made to disappear by treatment with a weak solution 

 composed of one part nitric acid and twenty-five of water, 

 and afterward rinsing with water and ammonia ; copper spots 

 by diluted sulphuric acid and ammonia, and subsequently 

 with water and ammonia. Spots of paint, when not soluble 

 in water and alcohol, can almost always be removed by oil 

 of turpentine. For complete removal, it is necessary to wash 

 the spot afterward in a good deal of turpentine. Fruit, wine, 

 and similar spots are to be treated by sulphurous acid, which 

 may be replaced sometimes, but not always, by chlorine. The 

 acid may be applied either in the form of gas or dissolved in 

 water ; in the first case the substance to be treated is to be 

 stretched at the proper height over burning sulphur, and in 

 the latter moistened with the solution and then washed with 

 pure water. For fine white table-cloths the dilute acid is 

 preferable. Printing-ink can be readily taken from any arti- 

 cle by means of ether or oil of turpentine. Pure benzine will 

 also have a similar effect. Spots produced by alkalies, such 

 as soap-boiler's lye, soda, ammonia, etc., can generally be 

 made to disappear completely by the prompt application of 

 dilute acetic acid and a good deal of water. Spots produced 

 by hydrochloric or sulphuric acid can be removed by the ap- 

 plication of concentrated ammonia, while spots from nitric 

 acid can scarcely be obliterated. 



