(a) Water is the most important cleansing agent, for it
dissolves more substances than any other liquid.
Water is hard or soft. The hardness depends upon the
amount of calcium (lime) or other salts it contains. Soft
water is best for cleansing, since neither soap nor dirt dis-
solves readily in hard water.
To soften water, certain softening agents are added, such
as borax, sal soda, ammonia, potash or lye. Temporary
hard water can be softened by boiling.
(b) Cleaning powders are of two kinds, — those that are
mechanical and those that are chemical in their action.
The mechanical powders contain minerals that assist in
cleaning by producing friction. Among these are : —
(1) White sand, for scouring iron and wood.
(2) Bath brick, for scouring steel knives.
(3) Rotten stone, for copper, brass, and tin.
(4) Whiting, for silver, aluminum, and brass.
(5) Commercial preparations on the market, which are
very good for cleaning and come in very convenient form
ready for use.
The chemical cleaning agents are chiefly alkalies, which
are most important in the removal of grease. Any alkali
unites with grease to form a compound soluble in water,
like soap. The chemical substances used for cleaning are : —
(1) Sal soda, which is very strong, but is best for
general use. It is cheap and is the basis of most washing
powders, which cost many times their value. To use sal
INSTRUCTIONS TO HOUSEKEEPERS 7
soda, dissolve one pound in a quart of water over the fire;
then cook, bottle, and label. Use a little when needed.
(2) Ammonia, which is not as strong as sal soda, and is
used chiefly in laundry work, but is very good for general
cleaning.
(3) Kerosene. This is useful for cleaning polished
woods, which alkalies would injure, and may be used in
many other ways.
(c) ioap is a combination of an alkali (soda or potash)
with a fat. Describe the old-fashioned way of making soap.
There are hard and soft soaps: hard soap is made with
soda. The harder the fat used, the harder the soap. Soft
soap is made with potash instead of soda.
Action of Soap. — When used with water, soap dissolves
and unites with any grease it touches, and loosens and
washes away the dust and dirt.
CARE OF EQUIPMENT
Care of Dishcloths and Towels. — Have two enamel-
covered pails in which to soak the towels. Use enough
warm water to cover them well, and add two tablespoons
of cleansall or soap solution. Cover, and let stand over
night.
To Wash Towels. — Use warm water, good soap, and a
wash board. Rub each towel well until all the stains are
removed. Put the towels in clean, hot suds on the stove
to scald; bring slowly to a boil and boil 10 minutes; remove
from the fire, rinse the towels in plenty of clean water
wring well, shake out, and hang evenly on the rack to dry
Place in the sun and air, if possible.
To Remove Stains. — Iron rust is easily removed by
dipping the spot into a solution of oxalic acid and then
rinsing at once with clear water. Dissolve one teaspoon of
8 DOMESTIC SCIENCE
oxalic crystals in }/8 cup of boiling water for the acid solu-
tion.
Apply lemon juice and salt to the spot in the direct rays
of the sun until rust disappears. This takes longer.
Page 8
Presented as published in 1914. 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
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(a) Water is the most important cleansing agent, for it
dissolves more substances than any other liquid.
Water is hard or soft. The hardness depends upon the
amount of calcium (lime) or other salts it contains. Soft
water is best for cleansing, since neither soap nor dirt dis-
solves readily in hard water.
To soften water, certain softening agents are added, such
as borax, sal soda, ammonia, potash or lye. Temporary
hard water can be softened by boiling.
(b) Cleaning powders are of two kinds, — those that are
mechanical and those that are chemical in their action.
The mechanical powders contain minerals that assist in
cleaning by producing friction. Among these are : —
(1) White sand, for scouring iron and wood.
(2) Bath brick, for scouring steel knives.
(3) Rotten stone, for copper, brass, and tin.
(4) Whiting, for silver, aluminum, and brass.
(5) Commercial preparations on the market, which are
very good for cleaning and come in very convenient form
ready for use.
The chemical cleaning agents are chiefly alkalies, which
are most important in the removal of grease. Any alkali
unites with grease to form a compound soluble in water,
like soap. The chemical substances used for cleaning are : —
(1) Sal soda, which is very strong, but is best for
general use. It is cheap and is the basis of most washing
powders, which cost many times their value. To use sal
INSTRUCTIONS TO HOUSEKEEPERS 7
soda, dissolve one pound in a quart of water over the fire;
then cook, bottle, and label. Use a little when needed.
(2) Ammonia, which is not as strong as sal soda, and is
used chiefly in laundry work, but is very good for general
cleaning.
(3) Kerosene. This is useful for cleaning polished
woods, which alkalies would injure, and may be used in
many other ways.
(c) ioap is a combination of an alkali (soda or potash)
with a fat. Describe the old-fashioned way of making soap.
There are hard and soft soaps: hard soap is made with
soda. The harder the fat used, the harder the soap. Soft
soap is made with potash instead of soda.
Action of Soap. — When used with water, soap dissolves
and unites with any grease it touches, and loosens and
washes away the dust and dirt.
CARE OF EQUIPMENT
Care of Dishcloths and Towels. — Have two enamel-
covered pails in which to soak the towels. Use enough
warm water to cover them well, and add two tablespoons
of cleansall or soap solution. Cover, and let stand over
night.
To Wash Towels. — Use warm water, good soap, and a
wash board. Rub each towel well until all the stains are
removed. Put the towels in clean, hot suds on the stove
to scald; bring slowly to a boil and boil 10 minutes; remove
from the fire, rinse the towels in plenty of clean water
wring well, shake out, and hang evenly on the rack to dry
Place in the sun and air, if possible.
To Remove Stains. — Iron rust is easily removed by
dipping the spot into a solution of oxalic acid and then
rinsing at once with clear water. Dissolve one teaspoon of
8 DOMESTIC SCIENCE
oxalic crystals in }/8 cup of boiling water for the acid solu-
tion.
Apply lemon juice and salt to the spot in the direct rays
of the sun until rust disappears. This takes longer.