Removing Stains.—­All spots and stains should be taken out before the clothes are put into the general wash to be treated with soap.  Fruit stains are the most frequent and the most indelible, when neglected.  The composition of fruit juice is readily dissolved by boiling water.  Stretch the stained part over an earthen dish and pour boiling water upon the stain until it disappears.  If fruit stains are allowed to remain, they will require an acid, or in some cases a bleaching liquid like chloride of lime to remove them.  Wine stains should be immediately covered with a thick layer of salt.  Boiling milk may be used for taking out wine or fruit stains.  Medicine stains usually yield to alcohol.  Iodine dissolves in ether or chloroform.

Coffee, tea and cocoa stain badly; the latter, if neglected, will resist to the destruction of the fabric.  These all contain tannin, besides various coloring matters, and are “fixed” by soap and water.  Clear boiling water will often remove fresh coffee and tea stains, although it is safer to sprinkle the stains with borax and soak in cold water first.  An alkaline solution of great use and convenience is Javelle water.  It will remove stains and is a general bleacher.  It is composed of 1 lb. of sal-soda with 1/4 lb. of chloride of lime in 2 quarts of boiling water.  When the substances have dissolved as much as they will, and become cool and settled, pour off the clear liquid and bottle it for use.  Be careful not to allow any of the solid portions to pass into the bottle.  Use the dregs for scouring unpainted woodwork, or to cleanse waste pipes.  When a spot is found on a white tablecloth place under it an inverted plate.  Apply Javelle water with a soft tooth brush (the use of the brush protects the skin and the nails).  Rub gently till the stain disappears, then rinse in clear water and finally in ammonia.  Blood stains require clear cold or tepid water; hot water and soap render the red coloring matter less soluble.  When the stain is nearly gone soap and hot water may be used.  Stains from meat juice should be treated in the same way.  When blood is mixed with mucous, as in the case of handkerchiefs, it is well to soak the stains for some hours in a solution of salt and cold water—­2 tablespoonfuls to a quart.  Grass stains dissolve in alcohol.  If applied immediately, ammonia and water will sometimes wash them out.

The following methods have proved successful, and may be tried where colors are likely to be affected by alcohol.  Molasses, or a paste of soap and cooking soda may be spread over the stain and left for some hours, or the stain may be kept moist in the sunshine until the green color has changed to brown, when it will wash out in pure water.  Mildew requires different treatment from any previously considered.  Strong soap suds, a layer of soft soap and pulverized chalk, or one of chalk and salt, are all effective, if in addition the moistened cloth be subjected to