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XII. New Method of cleansing Silk, Woollen, and Cotton 

 Goods, without Damage to the Texture or th? Colour. 

 By Mrs. Ann Morris, of Union Street'*. 



_F ifteen guineas were voted by the Society of Arts to 

 Mrs. Morris, for communicating this new process, which 

 is as follows : 



Take raw potatoes, in the state they are taken out. of the 

 earth, wash them well, then rub them on a grater over a 

 vessel of clean water to a fine pulp, pass the liquid matter 

 through a coarse sieve into -another tub of clear water; let 

 the mixture stand till the fine white particles of the potatoes 

 are precipitated, then pour the mucilaginous liquor from 

 the fecula, and preserve this liquor for use. The article to' 

 be cleaned should then be laid upon a linen cloth On a table, 

 and having provided a clean sponge, dip the sponge in the 

 potatoe-liquor,and apply the sponge thus wet upon the article 

 to be cleaned, and rub it well upon it with repeated portions 

 of the potatoe-liquor, till the dirt is perfectly separated; 

 then wash the article in clean water several times, to re- 

 move the loose dirt ; it may afterwards be smoothed or 

 dried. 



Two middle-sized potatoes will be sufficient for a pint of 

 water. 



The white fecula which separates in making the mucila- 

 ginous liquor will answer the purpose of tapioca, will make 

 an useful nourishing food with soup or milk, or serve to 

 make starch and hair-powder. 



The coarse pulp which docs not pass the. sieve is of great 

 use in cleaning worsted curtains, tapestry, carpets, or other 

 coarse goods. 



The mucilaginous liquor of the potatoes will clean all sorts 

 of silk, cotton, or woollen goods, without hurting the 

 texture of the article, or spoiling the colour. 



Jt is also useful in cleansing oil paintings, or furniture 

 that is soiled. 



Dirty painted wainscots may be cleaned by wetting a 



• from Transactions qf tht Society of Mis, &c. 1805. 



E 4 sponge 



