PROJECTS 571 



To keep a sink drain in sanitary condition, flush it daily, prefer- 

 ably in the evening, with a dishpanful of clear boiling water in which 

 a tablespoonful of washing soda has been dissolved. Once a week, 

 flush with a wash-boilerful of boiling water in which a teacupful of 

 chloride of lime has been dissolved. Lye must be handled with 

 such great care that it is best not to use it unless its use is made 

 necessary by clogged pipes. At any rate, chloride of lime is 

 fully as effective for disinfecting and almost as effective for 

 cleansing. 



PROJECT VI. How to Prepare Certain Acids and Bases for Re- 

 moving Stains, page 57 



The most common acids for removing stains are lemon juice, 

 lactic acid (the acid found in sour milk and buttermilk), tartaric 

 acid, oxalic acid, and salts of lemon in solution. If spots can be re- 

 moved without the use of oxalic acid or salts of lemon, so much the 

 better. They are more apt to cause injury to fabrics than milder 

 acids, and besides they are rank poisons. 



The most common bases for taking out stains are ammonia, bak- 

 ing soda, washing soda, borax, and Javelle water. 



The least familiar of these acids and bases are probably tartaric 

 acid, oxalic acid, salts of lemon, and Javelle water. 



Tartaric Acid. This may be prepared by dissolving any given 

 quantity of cream of tartar in an equal or even smaller bulk of water. 

 The same effect may be had by wetting the stain thoroughly with 

 water and applying the dry cream of tartar. This is the more 

 common way of using it, because tartaric acid prepared as above 

 indicated will not "keep." 



Oxalic Acid. Dissolve commercial oxalic acid crystals in ten 

 times their bulk of water. If this solution proves too weak, add 

 crystals until desired strength is obtained. Painters use a very 

 strong solution of this (about one part of oxalic acid crystals to two 

 parts of water) for bleaching stains out of wood. The crystals dis- 

 solve much more quickly in boiling water, and the solution should 

 be used hot for bleaching wood. 



