Important: Safety Warning
This page describes practices involving highly flammable materials in ways that create a serious risk of fire or explosion.
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.
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Removal of Spots and Stains: French
To Remove Grease from Silk.-For removing grease spots from silk, chloroform, French chalk, essence of lemon, turpentine, white clay, magnesia, yolk of egg, and benzine are all recommended. If possible, apply any of these while the grease is still warm.
To Clean Silk and Velvet.-Substances recommended for removing grease and other spots and stains from silks, satins, and velvets are alcohol, chloroform, benzine, turpentine, juice of raw potato, magnesia, French chalk, pipe clay, yolk of egg, and various admixtures of these. Lay the stained article flat on a smooth surface and apply the cleansing fluid with a small sponge, toothbrush, or nailbrush, unless otherwise directed, until the stain is removed. Apply chloroform with a light, quick touch, using a bit of absorbent cotton or soft cotton rag. Dampen the grease, and when it disappears rub until dry with clean cloth. To use gasoline or benzine, wet the spot and also a rather large circle around it. Rub outward from the center with quick, firm strokes, and if the benzine leaves a stain hold it in the steam of a teakettle until it disappears. Or rub grease spots with a lump of wet magnesia. This may be dusted off when dry. Or mix 4 ounces of rectified spirits of turpentine with ounce of pure alcohol. Or mix 2 ounces of essence of lemon and 1 ounce of oil of turpentine. Or use turpentine alone. Or mix 2 ounces of alcohol, 1 ounce of French chalk, and 5 ounces of pipe clay. Apply as a paste to the grease spots.
Or cover grease spots thickly with French chalk, lay brown paper over them, and smooth with a hot iron.
The iron will melt the grease, and the chalk and paper will absorb it.
Or if chalk is not at hand lay a piece of brown paper on the ironing board, lay the silk over this, place another piece of brown paper on top, and press with a hot iron, but not so hot as to scorch the fabric. This is a most effective method.
Or apply the yolk of an egg with or without the addition of 12 drops of chloroform or a teaspoonful of alcohol. Afterwards rinse with warm water.