The Laundry 1117 



Soap hark. — In the leaves, stems, roots, or bark of some plants ocoirs 

 a soap-like substance that is closely allied to soap in its power to remove 

 dirt. Soap bark (quillaia bark) is a familiar example of this kind of cleans- 

 ing agent. When powdered soap-bark is put into water it gives a good 

 lather, and it acts quickly and effectively to remove dirt and stains. 



Ox gall. — Another substance with soap-like characteristics, but of animal 

 origin, is known as ox bile, or ox gall. Soap bark and ox gall are doubt- 

 less well known to the housekeeper, for they are often used to wash garments 

 easily injured by the strong alkalis, as, for instance, woolens, and fabrics 

 printed in delicate colors. 



Additional soap substitutes. — Bran, rice, potatoes, and starch are fre- 

 quently recommended as good substitutes for soaps in washing delicate 

 fabrics and colors. A story is told of one laundress who replaced soap 

 altogether with a well-cooked potato mixture. 



Substances that facilitate the washing process. — Various substances are 

 used with soap to facilitate or accelerate the washing process. Among 

 them may be. mentioned lye, washing soda, borax, and ammonia; tiurpen- 

 tine, paraffin, kerosene, and benzine; and fuller's earth. 



We have already considered the action of the alkalis in softening water, 

 their value in soap-making, and the effects of their use on various textile 

 fabrics . They are of ten used in connection with soap , in excess of the amount 

 needed to soften hard water, to facilitate the removal of dirt by their 

 direct action on it. In many cases it is a mistake to pursue such a course 

 if the alkali used is lye. The same objections may hold with washing soda, 

 but in lesser degree. If the fabric is of such nature that limited amounts 

 of lye or washing soda will not seriously injiire it, a strong soap will con- 

 tain all the free lye that it is safe to use. Borax and ammonia are mild 

 alkalis and may be very useful when the presence of some free alkali is 

 needed and the eft'ect of a strong soap would be injurious. They are often 

 utilized in connection with a neutral or mild soap for washing flannels 

 and delicately colored fabrics. 



Tiirpentine, paraffin, kerosene, and benzine all are valuable aids to the 

 laundress, for they exert a solvent action on matter of a fatty nattu^e and 

 thus soften and loosen dirt, materially facilitating the washing process. 

 The disadvantage in the use of tiu^pentine, paraffin, and kerosene is, that 

 clothing in the washing of which they have been used may be insufficiently 

 rinsed afterward and retain the odor of them. Benzine is dangerous to 

 handle because of its inflammability, and cannot be used with very hot 

 water because it evaporates. 



Fuller's earth is a valuable adjunct in cleaning, and is sometimes used 

 partly to replace soap in the washing process when the articles to be washed 

 are in a very greasy condition and the use of a strong soap is not sufficient, 

 and when the use of a strong alkali is not advisable. 



