Linen<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
• Is damaged<\/em> by most acids, even weak ones.<\/li>\n
• Can be damaged<\/em> by strong alkalis, such as lye.<\/li>\n
• Is not damaged<\/em> by fruit acids, unless they are dried, moistened, and ironed.<\/li>\n
• Is not damaged<\/em> by weak alkalis such as washing-soda, borax or soap.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  Wool<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

  \n
  • Is damaged<\/em> by strong alkalis.<\/li>\n
  • Is damaged<\/em> by very hot water.<\/li>\n
  • Can be damaged<\/em> by weak alkalis.<\/li>\n
  • Is not damaged<\/em> by acids, provided they are diluted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Silk<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
    • Is damaged or weakened<\/em> by alkalis.<\/li>\n
    • Is damaged<\/em> by very hot water.<\/li>\n
    • Can be damaged<\/em> by some acids.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      When You Don\u2019t Have Any Choice<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

      Sometimes it is necessary to use acids or alkalis, even on fabrics which are liable to be damaged by them.\u00a0 The effect of a chemical can be neutralized:<\/p>\n

      a) By thorough rinsing in water \u2013 especially for weak alkalis, this is often the only treatment necessary.<\/p>\n

      b) By applying an opposite chemical. Acids can be neutralized by applying alkalis such as baking soda to the acid spot. Alkalis can be neutralized by applying acids such a lemon juice or vinegar.\u00a0 (Note that the vinegar itself may leave a spot, which will need to be sponged out with water.)<\/p>\n

      One fascinating trait of the lemon juice solution is described by the authors of A Manual of Home-Making<\/em>:<\/p>\n

      \u201cSqueeze the juice on the stain.\u00a0 As long as the spot remains alkaline the juice is a bright yellow in colour, but when the spot becomes acid the color disappears almost entirely.\u00a0 Apply the lemon juice until this color change takes place.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      This \u201claundry work\u201d would make a great science experiment, as well as the perfect opportunity to tie chemistry into daily life.<\/p>\n

      <\/h5>\n

      3) Is Your Stain Remover Safe for the Stain Itself?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

      \u201cThe nature of a stain should be known, if possible, before its removal is attempted, since this determines the treatment to be adopted.\u00a0 Moreover, if an unsuitable stain remover is used, the stain may be \u201cset\u201d so that its removal becomes difficult or even impossible.<\/p>\n

      \u201cFor example, if hot water, which easily removes most fresh fruit stains, is applied to stains containing protein, such as stains of milk, blood, eggs, or meat juice, it coagulates the albumin in the fibers of the cloth and makes it extremely difficult to remove.\u00a0 Similarly, soap, which aids in the removal of grease spots, sets many fruit stains.\u201d<\/p>\n

      A Safe First Step<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n

      \u201cIn cases in which the nature of the stain is not known, it should be attacked first by sponging with cold water, provided, however, that the fabric would not be injured by water.\u00a0 If the stain is not removed by cold or warm water, chemicals should then be applied.\u00a0 Often the behaviour of a stain, when treated with cold water, will give some indication of its nature; for example, a grease spot will not absorb water.\u00a0 Hot water should be avoided in treating unknown stains until after other substances have been tried, since hot water will set many stains and make their removal more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

      \u201cChemicals should not be used until water or laundering has been tried, for they attack the fibers of the cloth as well as the stain.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      <\/h5>\n

      Exploring The Legacy Of Stain Removers<\/strong><\/h5>\n

      I have always thought of stain removing as a modern concept.\u00a0 I imagined that people in the past had just scrubbed their clothes with soap, and hoped for the best.\u00a0 (Unfortunate for fruit stains, as we discovered above.)<\/p>\n

      In fact, historical housekeeping books reveal that stain removal has been a topic of study for generations.\u00a0 Discoveries in chemistry may continue to change the individual methods we use.\u00a0 Chemicals now recognized as dangerous can be avoided.\u00a0 But the foundational principles are still the same.<\/p>\n

      This post has been an overview of how chemicals work with fabric.\u00a0 To take a look at specific methods for some of the stains every homemaker\u00a0is plagued with, take a look at\u00a0last week\u2019s post:<\/p>\n

      <\/a>

      Timeless Tip #2 Stain Removers<\/p><\/div>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Unless otherwise referenced, the quotations in this article were taken from A Manual of Home-Making<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by Martha Van Rensselaer, et al., who had in turn reprinted a significant part of their stain removal chapter from Farmers\u2019 Bull. 861, Removal of Stains from Clothing and Other Textiles <\/strong>by Harold L. Lang and Anna H. Whittelsey of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.<\/em><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      You might also enjoy:<\/p>\n

      <\/a>

      Timeless Tips #1 Choosing Toys<\/p><\/div>\n

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      Perfect Eggs!<\/p><\/div>\n

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      Kalenchoe<\/p><\/div>\n

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      This post has been shared on The Art of Homemaking Mondays<\/em> <\/a>linkup.<\/p>\n

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       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Timeless Tips from Homemakers of the Past is an ongoing series highlighting useful and thought provoking tidbits from the generations of homemakers who have gone before us.\u00a0 Our goal at… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-proverbs-31-woman"],"yoast_head":"\n