To Remove Stains, Spots, etc.. The following receipts embrace directions for cleaning, and removing stains of every kind, from clothing, linen, etc., and articles pertaining to the household. Receipts for cleansing other articles will be found elsewhere under their appropriate headings.

338. To Remove Resin Spots from Silk

338. To Remove Resin Spots from Silk. Stains by wax, resin, turpentine, pitch, and substances of a resinous nature, may be removed by pure alcohol. It frequently happens that when common turpentine is employed to remove grease, varnish or paint stains from silk, the turpentine itself leaves a stain almost as objectionable as the original one, which it was used to remove. These stains are due to the resin which is held in solution by the turpentine, and which remains in the silk after the volatile or spirituous portion has evaporated. Alcohol applied to the stains with a clean sponge will remove the spots, because alcohol dissolves the resin. The silk stains should be moistened with the alcohol first, and allowed to remain soaked for a few minutes. Fresh alcohol is then applied with the sponge, and with a slight rubbing motion. It is then wiped as dry as possible and afterward permitted to dry perfectly in the open air.

339. To Remove Pitch, Varnish, or Oil-paint Stains

339.    To Remove Pitch, Varnish, or Oil-paint Stains. When pitch, varnish, or oil-paint stains have become dry, they should be softened with a little butter or lard, before using turpentine and soap. In these cases, a simple way is to soak the part in spirits of turpentine, and, when softened, to wash it off with the same fluid. Burning-fluid combines the solvent powers of both alcohol and turpentine. Benzine is also good. Chloroform will also remove paint from a garment when almost everything else fails. The fats, resins, and unctuous oils, are dissolved by essential oils, as oil of turpentine. Common spirits of turpentine, however, requires to be purified by re-distillation, or it will leave a resinous stain upon the spot where it is used. (See last receipt.)

340. To Remove Paint Stains from Clothes

340.    To Remove Paint Stains from Clothes. Chloroform is an excellent medium for the removal of stains of paint from clothes, etc. It is found that portions of dry white paint, which resisted the action of ether, benzole, and bisulphide of carbon, are at once dissolved by chloroform. If the paint is fresh, turpentine or alcohol will remove it. (See No. 338 (To Remove Resin Spots from Silk).)

341. To Remove Wax Stains from Silk

341.    To Remove Wax Stains from Silk. Mix powdered French chalk with lavender water to the thickness of mustard. Put it on the stain, and rub it gently with the finger or palm of the hand. Put a sheet of clean blotting paper and brown paper over it, and smooth it with a warm iron. "When dry the chalk must be removed, and the silk gently dusted with a white handkerchief. If a faint mark still remains, a second application of French chalk and lavender water will generally remove it. If the wax stain has fallen thickly on the silk, it should be removed first carefully with a penknife.