The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
Solvents Grease, automobile oil, castor, cod-liver, and other oils can be removed by solvents, such as benzene, naphtha, gasoline, and carbon tetrachloride. In dry, hot weather these should be used with great care and in small quantities only, for the friction of rubbing may set them on fire. There have been many disasters from this cause. On damp days they are comparatively safe. Carbon tetrachloride is safe to use because it is not inflammable. The fumes are very dangerous to breathe, however; it should be used only with plenty of ventilation, preferably outdoors.
Bleaching Liquid Bleaching liquid, commonly called "Javelle water," is on sale under many trade names. Many kinds of stain can be removed by its use, among them the stains of blood, coffee and tea, fruits and berries, grass, many kinds of ink and medicines, mildew, and tobacco. It can also be used for cleaning enameled plumbing fixtures and for bleaching floors.
Javelle water can be made by dissolving 1/2 pound of washing soda in 1 quart of cold water and adding 1/4 pound chlorinated lime (chloride of lime) with the lumps crushed. This mixture is allowed to stand until the sediment has settled, when the clear liquid is drawn off, strained through a thickness of cloth, and bottled. Brown-glass bottles should be used to check the effect of light and should be tightly stoppered. In use, 1 part of the solution should be diluted with 3 parts or more of water.
The only fabrics on which Javelle water should be used are cotton or linen, not silk or wool, dyed or colored materials, or synthetics, unless approved by the manufacturer.
Javelle water is destructive to fabrics if used too strong, or if left too long in contact.
To remove stains from fabric, the stained portion can be stretched over a bowl of water and the Javelle water dripped on with a spoon or a medicine dropper. In less than a minute, the effect should be neutralized by wetting with a solution of photographic hypo, 1/4 ounce to a quart of water. Applications can be repeated if the effect of the first is not complete.
SOFT WATER
In water that is pure—so-called "soft"—soap dissolves readily and can be completely rinsed off. Water usually contains mineral salts that make it what is known as "hard." Soap will not dissolve easily in hard water; lather forms slowly and will not stand; the salts in the water combine with the materials in the soap to form waxes that will not rinse off and that leave streaks. Cleaning with soft water is thus easier than with hard. Cleaned surfaces are brighter and better in appearance.
