This is the composition commonly, but erroneously called salt of
lemon, and is excellent for removing ink and other stains from the
hands, and for taking ink spots out of white clothes. Pound
together in a marble mortar an ounce of salt of sorrel, and an
ounce of the best cream of tartar, mixing them thoroughly. Then,
put it in little wooden boxes or covered gallipots, and rub it on
your hands when they are stained, washing them in cold water, and
using the acid salt instead of soap; a very small quantity will
immediately remove the stain. In applying it to linen or muslin
that is spotted with ink or fruit juice, hold the stained part
tightly stretched over a cup or bowl of boiling water. Then with
your finger rub on the acid salt till the stain disappears. It
must always be done before the article is washed.
This mixture costs about twenty-five cents, and the above quantity
(if kept dry) will be sufficient for a year or more.
Ink stains may frequently be taken out of white clothes by rubbing
on (before they go to the wash) some bits of cold tallow picked
from the bottom of a mould candle; Leave the tallow sticking on in
a lump, and when the article comes from the wash, it will
generally be found that the spot has disappeared. This experiment
is so easy and so generally successful that it is always worth
trying. When it fails, it is in consequence of some peculiarity in
the composition of the ink.