572 EVERYDAY SCIENCE 



Salts of Lemon. This is the common name for oxalate of potash. 

 It may be purchased at a drug store under either name. It may be 

 used in solution, but is generally applied to a stain after the fabric 

 has been soaked in water as in the case of cream of tartar. 



Javelle Water. Dissolve one fourth of a pound of chloride of 

 lime in a quart of boiling water, and a pound of washing soda in a 

 second quart of boiling water. Pour the two solutions together and 

 set the mixture aside to settle. Pour off the clear liquid and store 

 it in bottles or a stone jug. This is Javelle water, a very effective 

 bleaching solution for white cotton or linen. 



Helpful Hints on the Treatment of Stains 



Direction for removing stains must always depend both on the 

 nature of the fabric and on the kind of stain. Vegetable fibers, 

 such as linen and cotton, will stand more vigorous treatment than 

 wool, silk, or other animal fibers. The most common stains are 

 those of acids, alkalies, ink, grass, iron rust, fruit, mildew, tar, paint, 

 grease, and oil. The last four enumerated are more easily removed 

 by substances that will dissolve them or absorb them. They will 

 be discussed later. Here we are interested chiefly in stains that 

 may have to be removed by undergoing chemical changes. 



Many stains may be removed by solution (Project XXVIII) or 

 absorption (Project XXXIV) before long exposure to the air brings 

 about certain chemical changes that set the stain. Since strong 

 acids and bases must be employed to remove such stains after they 

 are set, it is especially desirable that stains on delicate or colored 

 fabrics be treated while fresh. Thus the use of strong chemicals, 

 with consequent risk of injury to the cloth, may be avoided. 



Where chemicals must be used, the milder agents should be tried 

 first, and the stronger acids or bases used only as a final resort. 

 When the stronger acids are used, they should be followed by 

 ammonia in order to neutralize the acid. It is often wise, especially 

 in the case of a valuable fabric, to make tests with a scrap of the 

 same or a similar piece of goods before running any risk with the 

 treasured article. 



