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Removal of Spots and Stains: Faded

Faded articles may be bleached in this way by keeping them constantly moistened with clear water.

To Bleach Unbleached Muslin. - Unbleached muslin is more durable than that which has already been bleached. Hence it pays to buy it by the piece and bleach it before making it up. Place on the stove a boilerful of strong bluing water, or use indigo instead of bluing. Unroll the cloth, put it in the boiler, and boil ten or twenty minutes. Hang it out on a clear, sunshiny day to drip; dry without wringing. When partially dry spread it on the grass to bleach.

To Whiten Lace. - First wash in strong soapsuds, rinse and immerse in fresh suds, and expose to the sun.

Or first wash and iron, stitch on cotton with basting thread, and soak for twenty minutes in olive oil. Afterwards boil for twenty minutes in suds of castile or other hard white soap and rinse in warm water.

To Bleach Faded White Goods.- All cotton and linen fabrics and garments that have been laundered tend to become yellow by the action of the alkali contained in the soap, which is imperfectly removed in rinsing. Garments that have been laid away for a time, as summer dresses, will frequently come out in the spring much yellowed or faded. Put the faded articles in a separate boiler and add pound of cream of tartar. Boil until the goods are clear. Wring out of bluing water and lay on the grass to dry.

Or soak the garments over night in clear cold water, wring out, and soak for twenty-four hours in sour milk or buttermilk. If much yellowed, soak a third night in weak suds containing a little hard white soap and a tablespoonful of kerosene. Afterwards boil in suds containing a tablespoonful of kerosene. Rinse in bluing water, and hang out to drip dry. Or boil the articles for fifteen or twenty minutes in strong soapsuds containing 1 tablespoonful of essence of turpentine and 3 tablespoonfuls of aqua ammonia, stirring occasionally. Care must be taken not to immerse the arms in suds containing turpentine. Rinse the articles, using a clothes stick, in one or two clear waters, and wash and blue in the usual way.

Washing soda should not be used for bleaching purposes, as it tends to rot the fabric,