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Removal of Spots and Stains: Fibers
Nature of the Fabric. -The treatment of spots and stains depends not Sheep Silkworm Alpaca Seal Camel Ostrich "With Animal Fibers Caution is Necessary." only upon the kind of stain, but also upon the nature of the fabric. Fabrics are of two principal classes: vegetable fibers, which include linen and cotton goods; and animal fibers, which include wool, silk, furs, feathers, and the like. All vegetable fibers contain cellulose, a hard, woodlike substance Cotton Flax Grass Straw Hemp Palm "All Vegetable Fibers Contain Cellulose." that offers a strong resistance to the action of chemical agents, and is not easily injured by rubbing. Hence stronger acids and alkalies and more vigorous rubbing can be employed upon cottons and linens than upon wool, silk, or other animal fibers.
In the treatment of wool, caution is necessary from the fact that the fibers of wool have numerous minute hooklike projections which, by rubbing the fibers together, or by alternate expansion and contraction (as when plunged from hot water to cold water, and back again), become interlaced in such a way as to warp fabric in all directions. This is what causes the shrinking of woolen goods, so much dreaded by the laundress. Hence wool should not be rubbed or wrung out in the usual way, nor subjected to either very hot or very cold water.
The water should be lukewarm or not too warm to bear the hands comfortably, and all washing and rinsing waters should be kept at a nearly uniform temperature.
A similar caution in handling silk is due to the delicacy of the fabric.
Silk, if rubbed or wrung out, tends to crack or to show permanent wrinkles. It should accordingly be handled with care, and only the finer grades of soap should be employed in cleaning ite KINDS OF SPOTS AND STAINS The principal stains and spots the laundress has to do with are tea, coffee, and wine stains, iron rust, and ink; paint and tar, grass stains and mildew, blood stains, grease spots, and mud stains. These should all be removed from washable articles before sending them to the laundry. Hence many housekeepers set apart Tuesday for wash day, and take occasion Monday to sort the wash and carefully remove all stains, and sponge or scrub or dry-clean any articles that may require it.