-To act alone or with soap in exerting
a solvent action on greasy impurities, so that
the cleansing process may be facilitated.

(2) Kinds:
(_a_) _Alkalies._--These must be used in excess
of the amount needed for softening the water.
(_b_) _Harmless solvents, such as turpentine,
paraffin, coal-oil, gasolene._--The clothing
must be well rinsed to get rid of any odour.
(_c_) _Washing powders._--These are prepared
mixtures of soap and some other solvent of
greasy matter.

5. Blueing:

(1) Use.--To make clothes which have a yellow
tinge appear whiter in colour.

(2) Kinds.--There are several kinds on the
market, but the names of these will be of no
value to the class.

NOTE.--Sufficient blueing should be used to
make the blueing water a pale sky-blue colour
when a little of it is lifted in the hand.

6. Starch:

(1) Use:
(_a_) To stiffen fabrics and thus improve their
appearance.
(_b_) To give fabrics a glazed surface, so that
they will shed dust and other impurities.

(2) Kinds.--(_a_) Cold starch, (_b_) boiled starch.

Raw starch does not give as durable a finish as
cooked starch, but it does give greater
stiffness. A fabric will take up more starch in
the raw form, and the heat of the iron cooks
the starch, thus producing the stiffness. The
"body", or stiffness, produced by cooked starch
is usually preferable, though on account of its
preparation, it is not so convenient to use.

(3) Recipes for starch--
(_a_) Cold Starch

2 tbsp. laundry starch
1/2 tsp. borax
2 cups cold water.

Dissolve the borax in a little boiling water. Add the cold water
gradually to the starch and mix thoroughly. Add the dissolved borax and
stir well before using.

(_b_) Boiled Starch

2 tbsp. starch
4 tbsp. cold water
1/2 tsp. lard, butter, or paraffin
1 qt. boiling water.

Mix the starch with the cold water until free from lumps. Add the lard,
then gradually stir in the boiling water, and keep stirring until
thickened. Cook fifteen minutes