total of all these things is a soap which may be filled with imptifitieS 

 and which is likely to be both greasy and excessively caustic owing to 

 the presence of free fat and an undue amount of free alkali. However, 

 for the benefit of those housekeepers who wish to try this method of 

 manufacture, some formulas will be given, later. 



SOAP SUBSTITUTES AND ACCESSORIES. 



Soap is the best all-around detergent to use in the laundry, but there 

 are other substances which have similar cleansing properties that may 

 be used with good results in its place. 



■ Soap bark. In the leaves, stems, roots or bark of some plants occurs 

 a saponaceous substance which is closely allied to soap in its power to 

 remove dirt. Quillaia bark or soap bark, as it is commonly called, is 

 a familiar illustration of this kind of detergent. 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 of similar properties but of animal origin 

 is known as ox-bile or ox-gall. Soap bark and ox-gall are doubtless 

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

 garments which are easily injured by the strong alkalis, as woolens, and 

 fabrics which are printed in delicate colors. 



Bran, rice, potatoes and starch are frequently recommended as good 

 substitutes for soaps in. washing dehcate fabrics and colors. A story 

 is told of one laundress who replaced soap altogether with a well-cooked 

 potato mixture. 



Various substances are used with soap to facilitate or accelerate the 

 washing process. Among these may be mentioned caustic soda, washing 

 soda, borax and ammonia, turpentine, paraffin, kerosene and benzine, 

 and Fuller's earth. 



We have already considered the action of the alkalis in softening 

 water, their use in soap-making and the effects of their use upon the 

 various textile fabrics. They are often 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 upon it. In many cases it is a mis- 

 taken course to pursue if the alkali used is caustic soda. The same 

 objections may hold with washing soda, but in lesser degree. If the 

 fabric is of such nature that limited amounts of these alkalis will not 

 seriously injure it, a strong soap will contain all the free alkali that it 

 is wise to use, and in a far less injurious form. Borax and ammonia 

 are mild alkalis and may be very useful in those cases in which the pres- 

 ence of some free alkali is needed and the effect of a strong soap is 



