Iodine Stains

New Zealand Listener, Volume 16, Issue 408, 18 April 1947, Page 23

Iodine Stains

Dear Aunt Daisy, I was interested to hear your mention of the lady who spilled iodine on her frock. We once had a similar experience. My son, ready to go out one evening, accidentally spilled a_half-bottle of iodine down the front of his white shirt, Of course we thought, at the time, that the shirt was ruined; but suddenly I remembered a hint which you broadcast a — LL ST

long time ago, and decided to try it. I dug a hole in the garden and placed the iodine-stained part in the hole against the earth; then put the ‘other earth on top-"dug the shirt in," as it were. I left it there 24 hours. Next night the entire family- adjourned to the garden to see the result, and imagine our delight to find the iodine gone! That shirt is still in use to-day, without a mark on it. My husband thinks it is one of the best tips he has heard, I don’t know whe’her it will act the same on a stain of long standing, but there would be no harm in trying it, as earth won’t harm the material. That tip, Aunt Daisy, was very valuable to us, especially at a time when shirts were in short supply; and I think it is well worth repeating over the air again. Wishing you and the Daisy Chain every success. Mt. Victoria, Help Wanted from Australia Dear Aunt Daisy, I am a regular reader of your page in The Listener, but have not yet seen there an answer to my particular problem. At the same time, I am sure you can help me. I have had packed away a good deal of lovely white lawn, embroidered baby sheets, pillowcases, frocks and bibs, which I brought from India. I find that they are discoloured, and have developed mysterious marks. As I, shall soon be needing them again, I wondered if you could suggest a way of making them white again. A.W. (Sydney). It is not often that we have requests from so far away as Sydney, although we have in the past had some from America as a result of my broadcasts there. I think Javelle Water is the answer to your problem. It is a bleach, but a mild one, and should not harm the

lawn garments at all. Just mix up halt ordinary water and half Javelle Water, and let the garments soak till they seem whité. Then wash them out in the usual way. And here is how to make Javelle Water: Leave lb. chloride of lime to stand in 2 quarts of cold water overnight. Dissolve lb. of washing soda in a quart of boiling water, and when cold, add it to the lime water which has been strained carefully through muslin. It may be stored in bottles, and is a handy oleach to have. Tea Stain on Blankets Dear Aunt Daisy, I have four good blankets on which a cup of tea has been spilled. Can you tell me how to wash them? It happened

seven weeks ago, and they could not be washed immediately .on account of jllness. Trudie, Waikato. As the stains are not fresh, it may be necessary to soak them in glycerine. Leave them, thoroughly saturated, for 24 hours, and then wash in warm sudsy water softened with a little ammonia, afterwards rinsing well. Borax is another g00d idea; dampen the stained parts with warm water and then rub in seme dry borax-on both sides-leave for a few hours, and then wash in soft soapy water as above, Ordinarily, if tea-stains can be attended to at once, they will come out with just boiling water on the principle of watering down the tea. It is best to spread the stained article over a basin, and pour the hot water through from a height.