Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1875 — Soap. [ARTICLE]

Soap.

To live in a clean house, to wear clean clothes and to have a clean skin are privileges not to be lightly esteemed. A free use of the compound which bears the honorable name of soap aids very’ materially in attaining these. All of us who labor on the farm, in the shop, factory, kitchen or elsewhere know that the material hmong which we work very often gets out of place, becomes dirt, sticks where it should not, and, though water alone be applied ever so freely, thejspot wijT not j out, ,> and our only chance of presenting an immaculate appearance after our work is done is by the application of soap. Theq'uantity of soap used by the people of a country, it hasL_he£iLßaid, is a measure of their civilization.. A proper use, of course, is meant; and there is truth in this. Habitual personal cleanliness is as sure a sign as can be named by which to recognize the man or woman living under "the influences of civilization. Chemically, soap is the union of fat or oil with an alkaline base, either potash or soda. The alkali, on which its cleansing action depends, used alone, would tend to destroy the substance to be cleansed'; this is why washing powders are injurious to' the texture of the clothing'on which they are used, and the use of the. fat or oil iu making soap is to neutralize this, tendency and tQ act as a" lubricant.

..There are many extensive soap factories in the country, and those housekeepers who wish can be supplied with every kind and quality by the, soap, grocery and country stores; but many—the majority in the country —yet prefer that made by themselves. They have the fat necessary, in the shape of refuse lard, tallow, bacon, skins, etc., and the potash or soda can now be easily obtained for use with much less labor than was formerly required when the potash had to be extracted from the pile of wood ashes at home. Where wood is used for fuel this is yet done; but we think nothing is gained by it; the unleached ashes can be profitably used on the farm and garden, and there is always so much to be done, especially about a farm-house, that no extra labor should be engaged in where it can be avoided without loss. We would then say if you want to make soap (and this is generally one of the first jobs in order on the approach of spring) go and buy caustic soda—you can get it at an apothecary’s if nowhere else — and use it in this way: For hard soap take to one pound of caustic soda three pounds of fat, or five or six pounds of ordinary soap fat and three gallons of water; put all together in a kettle over the tire and boil, adding three or four handfuls of salt before the boiling is quite finished; from two to three hours’ boiling will be necessary. The experienced soap-boiler will Know by its. ap s pearance when it has boiled sufficiently. The novice will soon learn. Where caustic soda cannot be obtained get common washing or sal-soda, and by the addition of lime make it ozusrie, after the following plan, which is the one generally in use at present, and which makes an excellent soap: Take six pounds of washing soda and three pounds of fresh, unslaked time; place together in any water-tight vessel—an iron kettle is best—and pour on two gallons of boiling water; stir occasionally, until the lime is slaked and the soda dissolved, then allow it to settle. Take the clean lye from the top and pour it on the fat —of which three pounds common scrapings are to be taken —and commence boiling; then add another gallon of water to the settlings of the soda and lime, stirring as before. This lye is then to be added to the other while boiling; also throw in about six single handfuls of salt about half an hour before it is done boiling. Boil two hours. Without the salt either of these methods will make a semi-aoft soap; but for a real soft soap potash must be used. This you can buy for the purpose; or, if you prefer, extract from wood ashes by simply mixing a little fresh lime with them and pouring on water. An old barrel or tub will do to hold them, if there is a hole in the bottom for the liquid to drain out. The ash-hoppers formerly used tor this purpose are yet standing alongside of’some outhouses on many farms, but seldom used now. For toilet purposes a soap made with a vegetable oil is to be preferred— Castile. palm or cocoa, rather than those highly perlumed, but which are some- ! limes made from the most impure ma- ■ terials. If perfumed soap is wanted i the common soap above can be melted, and perfume ot any desired kind can be added; but it will be rather strong for delicate skins, and castile is much to be preferred. Soap-making need no longer be dreaded by the women to whose lot it falls, as by the methods we have given, as well as other similKt ones, all the soap needed ‘in a family for six months can be easily uiade in a single day. It-is sometimes said that home-made soap costs more than it could be bought for. Perhaps it does; but then you have the satisfaction of knowing from what it is made. We would specially recommend the first method we have given on account of its great convenience. — Cor. Practical Farmer. u —Fifteen universities in Jhis country admit colored students. •.