One of the following agents may be employed in removing ice-cream stains:

1. Soap and water as in ordinary laundering. Use this for wash materials in the case of stains in which no chocolate or highly colored fruit or other substance is present.

2. Cool or lukewarm water, followed by agents used in removing grease spots. Sponge the stains thoroughly with water. If, on drying, a grease spot from the cream remains, remove it by any of the methods suggested for "grease spots," (page 292).

3. Agents suggested under "fruit and berries (fresh)," "fruit and berries (cooked)," "coffee," "chocolate and cocoa," and the like, according to the stain in question.

Indelible (copying) pencil marks.

The dye and the reagents used to remove such stains may vary with different makes of pencils, but for those used in these experiments the following reagents are satisfactory:

1. Alcohol (grain or wood). Soak the stains for a few minutes or until they are dissolved. The graphite marks then remain, but can be removed by washing with soap and water. The alcohol is effective also after these stains have been washed and ironed.

2. Javelle water. This destroys the dye. Remove the graphite either before or after applying this agent by washing with soap and water.

Ink (India).

The treatment for removing India ink from textiles is the same as for "ink (printing)" (p. 295).

Ink (marking).

So-called "indelible" or "marking" inks are of two common types, namely, that containing silver nitrate or other silver compound and that with an organic dye, usually "aniline black," as its basis.

Silver nitrate ink may be known generally from the directions for its use, which state that articles marked with it must be laid in the sun or pressed with a warm iron before they are washed. This is to bring about the precipitation of metallic silver, which gives the black or brown color to the marks. Javelle water may be used to remove stains from silver nitrate inks (p. 285). Apply this repeatedly until the color of the spot disappears. Then soak the stained place in ammonia to remove the silver chloride formed.

Aniline black ink may be known also from the directions for its use, which generally state that the articles marked with it must not be ironed until after they have been washed. Aniline black inks are remarkably fast and it is practically impossible to remove them after they have once become dry. The method given above for the removal of silver nitrate ink stains is not effective in removing aniline black ink stains; neither are satisfactory results obtained by trying most of the methods used for ordinary writing ink stains.

Ink, black (printing).

One of the following agents should be used for removing printing-ink stains:

1. Soap and water (ordinary laundering). Remove fresh stains by applying an abundance of soap and rubbing thoroughly.

2. Lard, followed by soap and water, as in No. 1. Rub the stained place with lard, and work it well into the fibers to loosen the stain.

Ink (writing).

For an ink spot of unknown composition, it is necessary to try various agents, beginning always with the simplest and that least likely to injure the fabric. One of the following agents may be utilized:

1. Absorbents: Cornmeal, salt, French chalk, fuller's earth, magnesia, talcum powder, and the like. The application of such substances serves to remove any ink not absorbed by the fibers and keeps the ink from spreading. For a large ink spot, apply one of these substances before trying other agents. Work the absorbent around with some blunt instrument and renew it when it becomes soiled. When dry absorbent fails to take up more ink, make it into a paste with water and continue the application.

2. Soap and water as in ordinary laundering.. This is satisfactory for some types of school inks, which can be washed from fabrics; for carbon inks, which are unaffected by chemicals and can be removed only mechanically; and sometimes for the fresh stains of other inks.

3. Milk. Soak the stains for a day or two, if necessary, in milk, changing the milk as often as it becomes discolored. This is effective for some stains.

The foregoing methods may be used safely on all washable fabrics. If they fail to remove the spot, apply one of the chemicals mentioned below:

4. Oxalic acid, saturated solution. Soak the stain for a few seconds, then rinse in clear water, and finally in water to which a few drops of ammonia have been added.

5. Potassium permanganate. This is satisfactory for stains upon many delicate fabrics as well as on ordinary materials.

6. Javelle water.

7. Commercial ink-removers generally are satisfactory if the directions furnished with them are followed and the excess of the substance is removed by thorough rinsing in clean water.

8. Lemon juice. Keep the stain moistened and exposed to the sun. For ink on carpet, first apply absorbents, as in No. 1; follow by repeated applications of oxalic acid, as in No. 2, or potassium permanganate, as in No. 5, or by rubbing with the cut surface of a lemon, squeezing on the juice and rinsing between applications with a clean, wet cloth until no more ink can be removed. Rub the spot then with a clean, dry cloth. After the carpet is dry, brush up the nap with a stiff brush or a cloth.