Strong acid removers destroy cotton and linen cloth; even mild acids,
such as lemon juice and vinegar, may injure cotton and linen if allowed
to remain too long on the cloth. If you use a mild acid to remove a
stain, apply a weak alkali such as ammonia water or washing or baking
soda immediately to stop the action of the acid. Wash the material in
water after the treatment. (See p. 10.) Strong alkalies harm these
materials also, but weak alkalies are safe to use if you rinse the
article well in water afterwards.
All bleaches will rot cotton and linen if allowed to remain on the stain
for more than a minute or two and will remove the color, too. Sodium
perborate and hydrogen peroxide are the safest bleaches to use.