310 



REMOVING STAINS. 



To remove Ink Stai)i6. 



The stains of ink on cloth, paper, or wood, may 

 be removed by ahnost all acids; but those acids 

 are to be preferred which are least likely to injure 

 the texture of the stained substance. The muriatic 

 acid, diluted with five or six times its weight of 

 water, may be applied to the spot, and, after a 

 minute or two, may be washed off, repeating the 

 application as often as may be found necessary. 

 But the vegetable acids are attended witii less risk, 

 and are equally effectual. A solution of the oxalic, 

 citric (acid of lemons), or tartareous acids, in water, 

 maybe applied to the most delicate fabrics without 

 any danger of injuring them; and the same solu- 

 tions will discharge writing, but not printing ink. 

 Hence they may be employed in cleaning books 

 which have been defaced by writing on the margin, 

 without impairing the text. Lemon-juice, and the 

 juice of sorrels, will also remove ink stains, but notso 

 easily as tiie concrete acid of lemons, or citric acid. 



To remove Iron Stains. 



These may be occasioned either by ink stains, 

 v^hich, on the application of the soap, are clianged 

 into iron stains, or by the direct contact of rusted 

 iron. They may be removed by diluted muriatic 

 acid, or by one of the vegetable acids, already men- 

 tioned. When suffered to remain long on cloth, 

 they become extremely difficult to take out, because 

 the iron, by repeated moistening with water, and 

 exposure to the air, acquires such an addition- of 

 oxygen, as renders it insoluble in acid^. It luis 



