Grease Spots—Hot water and soap generally remove these. If fixed by long standing, use ether, chloroform or naptha. All three of these must be used away from fire or artificial light.
Mildew—Soak in a weak solution of chloride of lime for several hours. Rinse in cold water.
Sewing Machine Oil Stains—Rub with lard. Let stand for several hours, then wash with cold water and soap.
Scorch Stains—Wet the scorched place, rub with soap and bleach in the sun.
Fruit Stains—Stretch the fabric containing the stain over the mouth of a basin and pour boiling water on the stain. In cold weather fruit spots can frequently be removed by hanging the stained garments out of doors over night. If the stain has been fixed by time soak the article in a weak solution of oxalic acid or hold the spot over the fumes of sulphur.
Here is an excellent cleansing fluid that will leave no rings or water lines: One pint of benzine, an ounce of ether and an ounce of chloroform. Shake well before using and keep tightly corked. An absorbent pad (white blotting paper or thick towel) should be placed beneath the material. Apply cleanser with a soft linen cloth and rub stain lightly until it disappears. Beware of fire.
Cover the grass stains with common black molasses—the thickest you can get—and rub it in with the finger until the fabric is saturated. Leave it on for a day and wash out with clear water. A homely but an effectual process.
For a rust stain, wet the spot and cover with oxalic acid, rub it in well, and then wash off with clean, tepid water.
Soak the white articles in sour milk or in buttermilk all night. Rinse in the morning and sun all day, wetting hourly with cream of tartar water. Rinse again in the evening and repeat the soaking. If one trial does not wholly remove the mildew, repeat the process.
REVIVING BLACK DRESSES.—Wash black cashmere, mohair, voile or other black dress goods, in soap suds until clean, then rinse well. Put bluing into water enough to cover the cloth well until it looks almost black. Put in the cloth and rinse it about in the water, then be sure it is all under water and leave it over night. Lift from this bluing water directly to the line without wringing and let hang until almost dry, then press on the wrong side on an entirely smooth ironing sheet.