Any Suggestions?

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 440, 28 November 1947, Page 23

Any Suggestions?

Dear Aunt Daisy, I have been developing X-ray films for some time. My overalls were inevitably soiled with little splashes from the solutions used for that process, but there were no traces left on the garment after washing. Unfortunately I got the { idea of sending these coats to a laundry. ‘They returned all freckled in various shades from light yellow to darb brown. I tried hard to improve matters, Neither boiling in a solution of chloride of lime Mor using a dye remover was success-

ful.

For Ever Ambered

I am afraid you have used up all the bright ideas, I should have recommended boiling in the dye remover, but you have already found that fail. Nevertheless, I think I would give it another trial, What about soaking in javelle water? Or even soaking in the chloride of lime solution? I don’t think boiling in the chloride of lime is the right idea-you are supposed to soak the article in the cold solution until it fades, and then wash as usual after first carefully washing out all the lime and rinsing with baking _ soda in the water. Did you use, Y4lb. chloride of lime to 1 gallon of water, left all night to dissolve and then strained carefully through cloth to remove any bits of lime? Then soak the garment, and watch the stains fadé away (I hope). And what about the good old temedy, oxalic acid crystals in a cup of hot water-make it quite strong-then lay the stained place on a folded towel, and dab with the solution, repeatedly, till it fades out; then rinse very thoroughly, ptetferably in running water (under the tap). By the time you have’ done all this your overalls will probably _ have disintegrated altogether!!!