Cotton shrinks in a strong alkaline solution, and becomes slightly burned,
having a brownish appearance. A weak solution does not injure cotton.
Effect of Acids on Cotton:
Cotton is destroyed by strong acids, but weak acids are not harmful to it.
Coloured cotton looses its colour if exposed to the sun.
Linen.
Linen is manufactured from flax, it is the inner fibre of the stem that is used.
A linen fibre under a microscope appears as a round, long, transparent tube,
with thick, smooth walls and a central canal. Owing to its smooth walls it is
smooth to the skin.
Linen is stronger than cotton, has more lustre, and is a better conductor of
heat, which makes it cool to the skin.
The effect of alkalies and acids is the same as upon cotton.
Wool.
Wool grows on the skin of sheep and goats, from which it is cut each year.
A wool fibre under a microscope is seen to consist of a number of overlaying
cells, the outer ones being irregular and serrated. These cells, as the wool is on
the sheep’s back, all point one way, from the root downwards, and they cannot
interlock and shrink. But when wool is made up into material the fibres lie in
different directions and the serrated edges are liable to interlock and the wool to
shrink,
Wool shrinks if put into waters of different temperature, if a strong soap or
soda is used in washing it, if rubbed in water, if dried too near heat, or if ironed
with a hot iron.
Effects of Alkalies on Wool:
Wool is destroyed if put into a strong solution of soda or lye, the alkali
dissolves the wool. Use neither in washing woollens.
Effect of Acids on Wool: \
Weak acids do not injure wool, but strong mineral acids will destroy it.
Silk.
Silk is made from the silk fibre which the silk worm spins round its body in
the chrysalis stage.
The silk fibre is smooth, round and glossy.
Silk is a delicate fabric and requires careful laundering.
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LAUNDRY WORK 165
It is injured if rubbed or twisted, as this breaks the fibres. Hot water, strong
soap, and all alkalies injure silk, and turn white silk yellow.
Effect of Alkalies on Silk:
Strong alkaline solutions destroy silk by dissolving it. They also destroy
the colour and rot the material if used as a weak solution,
Effect of Acids on Silk:
Weak solutions of vinegar are not harmful to silk, but strong acids destroy it.
166 GIRLS’ HOME MANUAL
CHAPTER V.
STAINS AND THEIR REMOVAL
Stains must be removed before washing, as soap and hot water fix many
stains.
General Rules for Removing Stains.
(1.) Ifa garment is stained more or less all over, steep it in a weak solution
of whatever will remove the stain.
(2.) A single stain should be stretched over a bowl or saucer, and before
treating it moisten with water a ring round it to prevent the stain spreading.
(3.) Whenever a stain has been removed the fabric should at once be
washed out to remove all trace of the solvent.
(4.) All utensils used for removing stains should be washed up separately
from other things.
(5.) All chemicals used to remove stains should be labelled poison, and
kept out of reach of children and away from all food and medicine.
See note under “Cleaning Materials” on the effect acids and alkalies have on
one another, page 123.
Fruit and Wine Stains:
(a) Stretch stain over a bowl, if wet, rub stain with common salt and lemon
juice, pour through boiling water until stain disappears.
(b) If dry, stretch stain as before, moisten with javelle water and then pour
through boiling water, ;
(c) An article with many stains should be soaked for half an hour in a solu-
tion of one part javelle water to four of clear water.
Always after using javelle water rinse the article in clear water,
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Page 98
Presented as published in 1913. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Cotton shrinks in a strong alkaline solution, and becomes slightly burned, having a brownish appearance. A weak solution does not injure cotton.
Effect of Acids on Cotton:
Cotton is destroyed by strong acids, but weak acids are not harmful to it.
Coloured cotton loses its colour if exposed to the sun.
Linen.
Linen is manufactured from flax, it is the inner fibre of the stem that is used. A linen fibre under a microscope appears as a round, long, transparent tube, with thick, smooth walls and a central canal. Owing to its smooth walls it is smooth to the skin.
Linen is stronger than cotton, has more lustre, and is a better conductor of heat, which makes it cool to the skin.
The effect of alkalies and acids is the same as upon cotton.
Wool.
Wool grows on the skin of sheep and goats, from which it is cut each year.
A wool fibre under a microscope is seen to consist of a number of overlaying cells, the outer ones being irregular and serrated. These cells, as the wool is on the sheep’s back, all point one way, from the root downwards, and they cannot interlock and shrink. But when wool is made up into material the fibres lie in different directions and the serrated edges are liable to interlock and the wool to shrink,
Wool shrinks if put into waters of different temperature, if a strong soap or soda is used in washing it, if rubbed in water, if dried too near heat, or if ironed with a hot iron.
Effects of Alkalies on Wool:
Wool is destroyed if put into a strong solution of soda or lye, the alkali dissolves the wool. Use neither in washing woollens.
Effect of Acids on Wool: \ Weak acids do not injure wool, but strong mineral acids will destroy it.
Silk. Silk is made from the silk fibre which the silk worm spins round its body in the chrysalis stage.
The silk fibre is smooth, round and glossy. Silk is a delicate fabric and requires careful laundering.
ee ee ee ee ee
Sia — aA i i
It is injured if rubbed or twisted, as this breaks the fibres. Hot water, strong soap, and all alkalies injure silk, and turn white silk yellow.
Effect of Alkalies on Silk:
Strong alkaline solutions destroy silk by dissolving it. They also destroy the colour and rot the material if used as a weak solution,
Effect of Acids on Silk:
Weak solutions of vinegar are not harmful to silk, but strong acids destroy it.
STAINS AND THEIR REMOVAL
Stains must be removed before washing, as soap and hot water fix many stains.
General Rules for Removing Stains.
(1.) Ifa garment is stained more or less all over, steep it in a weak solution of whatever will remove the stain.
(2.) A single stain should be stretched over a bowl or saucer, and before treating it moisten with water a ring round it to prevent the stain spreading.
(3.) Whenever a stain has been removed the fabric should at once be washed out to remove all trace of the solvent.
(4.) All utensils used for removing stains should be washed up separately from other things.
(5.) All chemicals used to remove stains should be labelled poison, and kept out of reach of children and away from all food and medicine.
See note under “Cleaning Materials” on the effect acids and alkalies have on one another, page 123.
Fruit and Wine Stains: (a) Stretch stain over a bowl, if wet, rub stain with common salt and lemon juice, pour through boiling water until stain disappears.
(b) If dry, stretch stain as before, moisten with javelle water and then pour through boiling water, ;
(c) An article with many stains should be soaked for half an hour in a solution of one part javelle water to four of clear water.
Always after using javelle water rinse the article in clear water,
Iron Rust: