Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
In addition, this page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Home › The Laundry › ENAMEL FOR SHIRT BOSOMS
ENAMEL FOR SHIRT BOSOMS
Melt together with a gentle heat, one ounce white wax and two ounces spermaceti; prepare in the usual way a sufficient quantity of starch for a dozen bosoms, put into it a piece of this enamel the size of a hazel-nut, and in proportion for a large number. This will give clothes a beautiful polish.
TO REMOVE THE COLOR FROM BUFF CALICO. If some kinds of buff calico are dipped in strong soda water, the color will be removed and the figures of other colors remain on a white ground. This is valuable sometimes, as buff calico spots easily. If pink calico be dipped in vinegar and water after rinsing, the color will be brighter.
TO REMOVE THE STAIN OF NITRATE OF SILVER - from the flesh, or white goods of any kind, dissolve iodine in alcohol, and apply to the stain; then take a piece of cyanide potassium, size of a hickory-nut, wet in water, rub on the spot, and the stain will immediately disappear; then wash the goods or hands in cold water.-G. W. Collins, Urbana.