Stained Frock

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 499, 14 January 1949, Page 23

Stained Frock

Dear Aunt Daisy, I have somehow or other got stains on a good frock and I can’t seem to remove them. I think the stains are mostly | liquor stains. Could you also give me a method for dry cleaning my own clothes, "R.B.W.," Taihape. I think you would be well advised to send your. frocks to a reliable drycleaners. They have solvents and methods which are not available to us, and a great deal depends on the type of material. You are apt to "set" the stains if you use all kinds of guesses. Liquor stains are very difficult and often result in spoiling the colour of the material, so that you have a patchy effect. Wine stains sometimes respond to cold water, sometimes to hot water; sometimes they may be removed with chloroform, or ether, or pure alcohol, all of which would have to be obtained from the chemist. I would certainly preter the professional dry-cleaners. As to dry-cleaning your own clothes for just ordinary grubbiness (not special stains), I would again suggest the drycleaners. We can no longer get the special benzine in which we used to immerse the whole dress, and get it clean. If it is possible to wash the frock, that is easy, and makes it clean and fresh; wash carefully in lukewarm suds, as for woollies. But if you are: doubtful, just post the frock to your favourite dry-cleaners. I can tell you of at least two good ones, if you send me a stamped addressed envelope.