Absorbent powders—chalk, talcum, corn meal, cornstarch—work well on
light, freshly made stains such as grease spots or splatters of salad
oil. Also such powders brush off readily and are safe to use on all
materials. This method is not always successful, however, if the stain
is very large or has become set or dry. To remove a stain with an
absorbent powder, lay the stained article on a table and sprinkle a
layer of the powder over the stain. Spread the powder around, and when
it becomes gummy, shake or brush it off. Repeat this several times or
until the stain disappears. If after several treatments the stain still
shows, place the stain between clean blotting papers and apply a warm
(not hot) iron for several minutes. Stains made by solid fats, such as
butter, must be melted before the blotters can absorb them.
[Illustration: Use Javelle water to bleach stains from uncolored
cotton or linen. Apply with a medicine dropper; rinse quickly in
water. Apply a few drops of “hypo,” vinegar, or oxalic acid to stop
the action of the chlorine.]
[Illustration: uncaptioned]