Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1879 — Chemicals in the Household. [ARTICLE]

Chemicals in the Household.

It is surprising, considering how many women have been instructed in chemistry # in school-days, to find how few housekeepers make any use of chemicals in various household processes. Especially is this the case in cleansing processes. The washing of clothes is usually wholly accomplished by rubbing the clothes on the washboard, and with no other deter gent than soap. The rubbing of the clothes wears them out far more than the use, and if housekeepers only knew, or, if knowing, they would take advantage of Jhe fact that many washing compounds will almost en titeiy cleanse clothes which are soaked in them over night, and thus almost entirely do away with the labor and wear of the washboard, wash day

might be robbed of half its terrors. Recipes for washing fluids, the principal ingredients of which are soda, ash. ammonia and lime, can be found in nearly every household recipe book* and they are very cheap and harmless. All such washing compounds are useful and convenient for cleaning woodwork, paints and carpets in a house; also in washing dishes and securing that desideratum of housekeepers—clean dish-cloths Ammcnia is a simple, cheap and harmless chemical, aud should be bought by the quart and kept fn every family.— A few drops added to water, will cleanse childrens’ hair and make it soft and sweet; it is an admirable disinfectant to remove the odor of perspiration ; it will remove grease-spots from clothing, and often restore color to stains. Its common and frequent use can not’be too frequently urged. Borax is another chemical that slic’d find common use In every family. For cleansing teeth and sweetening the breath a few gra n? of thepowd-r in water are unexcelled. It also softens and whitens flanuels. Salicylic acid is perfectly odorless and harmless,.yet powerful, disinfectant, and for many disinfecting uses in the household is invaluable. It is very cheap and convenient iD form. In these days when to stay various formsjof disease is so’important. mothers and housekeepers would do well to give study and thought to these things, and try to make their knowledge practical. It is very encouraging to note how many women are at present turning their attention to studies?! u general and apolied science. Let us have its benefits exemplified in the household.