Hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.—Remove any remaining stain by sponging with hydrogen peroxide or with sodium perborate solution (4 tablespoons to 1 pint of water). Sponge or rinse with cold water.
Urine
These stains differ so in composition that it is impossible to give methods which will be successful in all cases. If the color of the cloth is not destroyed but only changed, it may be restored. Normal human urine is usually acid, as is also that of all meat-eating animals. Therefore sponge such stains with a weak ammonia or soda solution. (See Acids, [p. 10].) If the stain is alkaline, sponge with lemon juice or vinegar. (See Alkalies, [p. 11].)
Warm water followed by salt and water.—Sponge with warm water. Warm salt water may be used (about ½ cup salt to 1 quart water). Apply and let stand 15 minutes; then sponge with clear water.
Hydrogen peroxide or sodium perborate.—Apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (see [p. 7]) or sponge with a mixture of 1 level teaspoon sodium perborate to 1 pint peroxide. Powdered sodium perborate may be sprinkled on the dampened stain. Rinse thoroughly in water.
Walnut (Black)
Soap solution.—Boil washable materials in soapy water (a half-inch cube of laundry soap to each cup of water). This will completely remove fresh stains on cotton or linen. If this treatment leaves a gray color, as it sometimes does with an old stain, treat with Javelle water as follows:
Javelle water.—Mix Javelle water with an equal amount of hot water. Soak the stained place for 1½ hours in this solution, and rinse thoroughly. Then treat with oxalic acid solution (1 teaspoon oxalic acid to 1 pint water), and rinse again. This will remove a week-old stain and will not seriously injure the material. Soaking the stain in Javelle water of full strength, however, rots the material. Do not use Javelle water on silk or wool.
Water Spots
Some silks, rayons, and wools are spotted by water. To remove such spots, dampen the entire material evenly, either by sponging with clean water or by shaking in the steam from a briskly boiling teakettle. Then press it while still damp. Scratching with the fingernail or a stiff brush or rubbing the cloth between the hands will sometimes remove the spot.