Use bleaching chemicals carefully because most bleaches remove the color
as well as the stain, besides weakening the cloth. Colored material in
particular must be treated rapidly and rinsed well in water afterwards.
Javelle water and other chlorine bleaches (sodium hypochlorite
solutions) remove certain stains from uncolored cotton, linen, or rayon
cloth. Do not use them on colored materials or on silk or wool.
To prepare Javelle water: Mix ½ pound washing soda in 1 quart of cold
water. Add ¼ pound of bleaching powder (commonly called chloride of
lime). Strain this liquid through a piece of muslin and store in a
bottle with a tight cork or stopper ready for use.
To remove a stain with Javelle water, stretch the stained part of the
cloth over a bowl filled with cold water and drop the Javelle water on
the stain with a medicine dropper. (If the stain is large, dip the
entire garment in the Javelle water). Never let the Javelle water remain
on the stain for more than 1 minute; it rots even linen and cotton
materials if allowed to remain on them longer. Rinse quickly by dipping
in the water.
Next apply a few drops of a solution made up of ½ teaspoon of sodium
thiosulfate and 1 to 2 teaspoons of vinegar in 1 pint of water. This
stops the action of the chlorine remaining in the cloth after the
treatment with Javelle water. Then rinse the cloth well in clean water.
You may use vinegar alone or oxalic acid solution (1 teaspoon oxalic
acid to 1 pint water) instead of the thiosulfate solution, but they are
not so satisfactory. To remove the stain completely you may have to
repeat the Javelle water-thiosulfate treatment several times.
Sodium perborate is one of the safest bleaches for all types of
materials. The treatment must be rapid and the sodium perborate well
rinsed from the material, however, or it will take out the color. It
will not remove some ink stains, iron rust, dyes and running color, or
metal stains.
For small, fresh stains, sponge with a liquid made up of 4 tablespoons
sodium perborate to 1 pint lukewarm water. Or stretch the stained cloth
over a bowl of hot water, dampen the stain with water, and dust the
powdered sodium perborate on it. Let stand a minute or two; then sponge
or rinse well with water.
For a large stain, soak the entire garment for a half hour or longer in
sodium perborate and soapsuds (4 tablespoons perborate to a pint of
soapy water). To remove grass, beverage, mud, scorch, and some perfume
stains, mix 1 level teaspoon sodium perborate with 1 pint hydrogen
peroxide. But use this mixture immediately, as it soon loses its
strength. Rinse in water.
Sodium perborate is particularly good to use on white woolens; it leaves
them soft and fluffy.
Hydrogen peroxide, obtained at drug stores, is a good bleach for light
scorch stains. The action of hydrogen peroxide is quicker if a few drops
of ammonia water are added just before use. Or you can add 1 level
teaspoon of either borax or sodium perborate to 1 pint of peroxide.
Apply it to the stain with a medicine dropper, a glass rod, or sponge
the stain with it. Follow by careful sponging or rinsing with water.
Oxalic acid is poisonous and should be handled carefully. Label it
“Poison” and keep it out of the reach of children. Prepare a solution as
follows: Dissolve about 3 tablespoons of the crystals of the acid in a
pint of lukewarm water. Put in a bottle, stopper tightly, and use as
needed. Stretch the stained cloth over a bowl of clean water and apply
the oxalic acid to the stain with a medicine dropper or glass rod. Allow
it to remain for a few minutes; then rinse quickly by dipping in the
water. Apply a weak solution of ammonia water, borax, or sodium
perborate to neutralize the action of the acid and rinse again. Never
use oxalic acid on weighted silk.
Hydrosulfites are very useful to remove dye stains, iron rust, ink,
mildew, grass, and fruit stains. Sodium hydrosulfite, the one most often
used, may be bought at drug stores under many trade names as a dye or
color remover for preparing cloth for redyeing. It should be stored in a
tightly closed can so it will not become damp. To use, dissolve 2
teaspoons of the sodium hydrosulfite in 1 pint of warm water and either
sponge or dip the stained article in it. Or sponge the stain with water
first, sprinkle the powder on the stain, and work it in well with the
fingers. Rinse quickly. If used on colored material, hydrosulfites are
apt to remove the color; so apply the treatment quickly and rinse well
in water afterwards. Do not use on weighted silks.