some instatices it is greatly to be preferred. Washing-soda
and lye, unless thoroughly linsed from clothing, have a tend-
ency to cause yellowing, particularly when starch is used after-
ward- BorBJLj on the other hand, has a tendency to whiten
fabrics and is added directly to starch, in order to give it good
color and to increase its clearness. When colored fabrics or
wools are to be washed in hard water, borax is one of the best
alkalis to use for softening the water.
Ammonia {ammmdum hydroxide) is another good alkali for
softening water when it is not advisable to use stronger alkalis.
Ammonia is a very volatile substance, consequently it should
be used only when the laundiy process is to be conducted
quickly. It is better and cheaper to purchase the full-strengUi
ammonia from a druggist and then dilute it, than to buy the
article known as household ammonia, which is of unknown
strength*
How to soften tiJoter.
Both permanently and temporarily hard water may l>e
softened by distillation, but that method involves apparatus
not practicable for the average home.
If water is temporarOy hard, however^ it may be softened
by being boiled, then ^owed to stand until the lime settlai.
The top water is afterward drawn off* Boiling water to softrn
it is without doubt the best method if it softens the water ^w^-
ficiently, since no harmful chemicals are left in the water to
injure fabrics.
Either temporarily or permanently hard water may he*
softened by adding lime or washing-soda to the water, tli(*ii
blowing it to stand in open kegs for several days before its u^t^
The water should then be drawn from the top. If the water
is boiled after the addition of the softening agent, the time fi>^
standing may be considerably 1^3ened, Neither of the tu'i*
processes just described is much in use in the household, ij^i^*''^'
the time consumed by them is often considered unwarranted
The more common method is to add washing-soda^ lye, bonix,
or ammonia at the time of washing. The addition of one t>f
[ill
THE LAUNDRY
251
/^pt to clothing, owing to the deposit of mmute particles of
^,ri-nist in the pores of the fabric.
( irgiinic matter may be present in the water used for laundry
,.;irj>oscs, which causes clothing washed in it to become dan-
[^ mi»i5 to the wearer. It is very desirable in all the cited caaes
-tj eliminate mischievous substances.
Maknolsfor Bofiening water.
\ number of materials for softening water are on the market.
j\w cheapest and best of them are alkalis, known as washing-
^nb, lye, borax, and ammonia. In softening water, the objec-
rttin to the use of any chemical is the injury it may do to the
fabric.
Washing-soda (sodium carbonate) is the best alkali to soften
water for geneml household use, for, while effective in its action,
it is not so corrosive as to render its handling difficult or its
u<e unduly harmful, nor is it expensive. It should never be
used in its dry form, however, for it is an alkaH sufficiently
strong to eat holes in a fabric if it is used in full strength, and
wherever a particle of the dry substance falls, a strong solution
Ls formed* Carelessness causes many of the complaints against
present-day laundry methods.
Page 139
Presented as published in 1919. 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
A modernized reading is not available for this page yet. You are seeing the original text.
some instatices it is greatly to be preferred. Washing-soda
and lye, unless thoroughly linsed from clothing, have a tend-
ency to cause yellowing, particularly when starch is used after-
ward- BorBJLj on the other hand, has a tendency to whiten
fabrics and is added directly to starch, in order to give it good
color and to increase its clearness. When colored fabrics or
wools are to be washed in hard water, borax is one of the best
alkalis to use for softening the water.
Ammonia {ammmdum hydroxide) is another good alkali for
softening water when it is not advisable to use stronger alkalis.
Ammonia is a very volatile substance, consequently it should
be used only when the laundiy process is to be conducted
quickly. It is better and cheaper to purchase the full-strengUi
ammonia from a druggist and then dilute it, than to buy the
article known as household ammonia, which is of unknown
strength*
How to soften tiJoter.
Both permanently and temporarily hard water may l>e
softened by distillation, but that method involves apparatus
not practicable for the average home.
If water is temporarOy hard, however^ it may be softened
by being boiled, then ^owed to stand until the lime settlai.
The top water is afterward drawn off* Boiling water to softrn
it is without doubt the best method if it softens the water ^w^-
ficiently, since no harmful chemicals are left in the water to
injure fabrics.
Either temporarily or permanently hard water may he*
softened by adding lime or washing-soda to the water, tli(*ii
blowing it to stand in open kegs for several days before its u^t^
The water should then be drawn from the top. If the water
is boiled after the addition of the softening agent, the time fi>^
standing may be considerably 1^3ened, Neither of the tu'i*
processes just described is much in use in the household, ij^i^*''^'
the time consumed by them is often considered unwarranted
The more common method is to add washing-soda^ lye, bonix,
or ammonia at the time of washing. The addition of one t>f
[ill
THE LAUNDRY
251
/^pt to clothing, owing to the deposit of mmute particles of
^,ri-nist in the pores of the fabric.
( irgiinic matter may be present in the water used for laundry
,.;irj>oscs, which causes clothing washed in it to become dan-
[^ mi»i5 to the wearer. It is very desirable in all the cited caaes
-tj eliminate mischievous substances.
Maknolsfor Bofiening water.
\ number of materials for softening water are on the market.
j\w cheapest and best of them are alkalis, known as washing-
^nb, lye, borax, and ammonia. In softening water, the objec-
rttin to the use of any chemical is the injury it may do to the
fabric.
Washing-soda (sodium carbonate) is the best alkali to soften
water for geneml household use, for, while effective in its action,
it is not so corrosive as to render its handling difficult or its
u<e unduly harmful, nor is it expensive. It should never be
used in its dry form, however, for it is an alkaH sufficiently
strong to eat holes in a fabric if it is used in full strength, and
wherever a particle of the dry substance falls, a strong solution
Ls formed* Carelessness causes many of the complaints against
present-day laundry methods.