369. To Remove Claret or Port Wine Stains

369.    To Remove Claret or Port Wine Stains. Apply a little table salt to the spot stained, and also moisten it with sherry. After washing, no trace of the stain will be left. The acid contained in claret decomposes the salt, and sets free chlorine (bleaching gas), which removes the vegetable coloring matter of the wine. If the stain is from port, sherry should be added, as it also contains acid.

370. To Remove Stains of Wine, Fruit, etc.

370.    To Remove Stains of Wine, Fruit, etc., after they have been long in the Linen. Rub the part on each side with yellow soap; then lay on a mixture of starch in cold water very thick ; rub it well in, and expose the linen to the sun and air till the stain comes out. If not removed in 3 or 4 days, rub that off and renew the process. "When dry it may be sprinkled with a little water.

371. To Remove Stains of Iodine

371.    To Remove Stains of Iodine. Stains of iodine are removed by rectified spirit.

372. To take out all Stains which are not Metallic

372.    To take out all Stains which are not Metallic. Mix 2 tea-spoonfuls of water with one of spirit of salt (muriatic acid); let the stain lie in it for one or two minutes; then rinse the article in cold water. This will be found particularly useful in removing stains from white napkins.

373. Prepared Ox-gall for taking out Spots

373.    Prepared Ox-gall for taking out Spots. Boil together 1 pint of ox-gall and 2 ounces powdered alum; to which add 2 ounces common salt; let the liquor settle;

add a few drops essence of lemon, pour it off into a bottle, and cork tightly.

374. Scouring Balls for General Purposes

374.    Scouring Balls for General Purposes. In order to remove a stain, the cause or origin of which is doubtful, a composition is requisite which possesses various powers. The following is a good one for such purposes : Dissolve some white soap in alcohol, and mix with it the yolks of 4 or 5 eggs; add gradually a little spirits of turpentine, and sufficient fuller's earth to make the mixture into balls. To remove a stain, wet the spot with soft water, rub it with a ball of the above composition, then rub the cloth and wash out. This will remove almost any stain, except ink and other solutions of iron.

375. To Remove Iron Mould or Ink Stains

375.    To Remove Iron Mould or Ink Stains. For iron mould or ink stains, lemon juice or salt of sorrel (oxalate of potash) may be used. If the stains are of long standing, it may be necessary to use oxalic acid, which is much more powerful. It may be applied in powder upon the spot, previously moistened with water well rubbed on, and then washed off with pure water. It should be effectually washed out, for it is highly corrosive to textile fibres. (See also No. 127.)