The Laundry. 685 



injurious. They are often used for this purpose in connection with a 

 neutral or mild soap for washing flannels and delicate colored fabrics. 



Turpentine, paraffin, kerosene and benzine are all valuable aids to 

 the laundress for they exert a solvent action on matter of a fatty nature 

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

 process. The disadvantage in the use of turpentine, paraffin and 

 kerosene is that the clothing may be insufficiently rinsed after it is 

 washed, and the odor of these substances may cling to it. Benzine is 

 dangerous to handle because of its inflammability and cannot be used 

 with very hot water because of its volatile nature. 



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. 



Manufacturers have put upon the market various soaps and powders 

 which have incorporated with them some one or more of the above 

 substances. Naphtha and borax soaps and soaps containing Fuller's 

 earth may be purchased and give good satisfaction. Good results 

 may be obtained at less cost by the use of soap and the accessory material 

 direct, though it may often be more convenient to use the manufactured 

 article. 



Something further may be said of washing powders. These are 

 mixtures of soap and some alkali and may have incorporated with ^em 

 some one or more of the following substances: turpentine, paraffin, 

 Fuller's earth, etc. In the case of the poorer powders a "filler" is used, 

 that is, some substance giving weight. to the material, and very properly 

 considered as an adulterant. The best powders contain large amounts 

 of soap and only small amounts of alkali. A report is made of one of 

 the poorer varieties containing only ten per cent soap. Enough has 

 been said in connection with the effect of alkalis and their use to guide 

 the housekeeper in her purchase and use of these powders. There may 

 be occasions when the use of a washing powder is an advantage, but 

 indiscriminate use of these strong detergents is inadvisable and should 

 not be generally practiced. 



DIRECTIONS AND FORMULAS 



Homemade soap. 



I lb. can of lye dissolved in 3 pts. cold water. 



5 lb. fat melted, i^ tablespoons borax, § cup ammonia. 



When the lye mixture has cooled add it to the fat, stir until as 

 thick as honey and pour into wooden or pasteboard boxes 

 lined with oiled or waxed paper and set away to harden. 



