How To Remove Stains From Clothing: Thrifty Retro Housewife Ideas

Stain Remover Tips:
The Thrifty Kitschy Housewife Series

This post should help all of you Retro gals finally figure out how to get stubborn stains out of your laundry. Back in the day... laundry work was a real pain. so housewives had to perfect the art of washing and caring for clothes with home remedies, using such things as tomato juice, salt, lemon etc. All the zillion products that we find in the stores today to help us cope with nasty stains just didn't exist in early homes.

So, I have searched this topic and now share with you the wisdom of Lily Haxworth Wallace, an expert on Home Management back in the early 1920s. (Tomato jar photo is from a wonderful blog called Oodle a Kadoodle Primitives


Laundry Work: Removing Stains From Clothing

To Remove Tea And Coffee Stains:
Stretch the stained place over a bowl and pour boiling water through the strain.

To Remove Ink Stains:

While fresh soak in milk, sing fresh milk as it becomes discolored. If the stain has been allowed to dry use salts of lemon, first wetting the spot, then rubbing the salts on and rinsing well with cold water. It may sometimes be necessary to repeat the process.

To Remove Wine or Fruit Stains:

Put a layer of salt on the stain as soon as made and treat with boiling water the same as for tea stains.

Delicate Woolens:

Soft sweaters and babies garments which will not perfectly survive the most careful washing can be cleansed by a dry washing in wheat flour. Rub and squeeze in the flour just as you would in water, but work gently. Shake out the soiled four and if needful go over the garment again with fresh flour. By this method the garments do not lose their shape and are ready for use as the cleansing process is completed.

Automobile or Carriage Grease:

Grease can be removed from silks and fabrics which will not stand washing, by covering them with magnesia (powdered) rubbing it well into the fabric and letting it remain for two or three days. Brush out and remove any clinging powder with a soft cloth.

Grass Stains:

Wash the stained part in alcohol and rinse in clear water, while the stain is fresh, if possible.

Perspiration Stains:

Should be removed by rubbing with soap and laying the garment in the hot sun.

Machine Oil Stains:

Should be rubbed with soap and cold water. Hot water may make these stains permanent.

To Remove Mildew:

Rub over the marks with juice of a raw tomato, sprinkle with salt and lay in the sun. repeat the process if necessary two to three times.

Remember: These hints are from the early 1920s.....I am only the messenger not the laundry maven who came up with these tips. By gosh, I barley know how to turn on my washer and dryer!

Please let us know if you try any of these gems.

Photos shown are from these great blogs:

http://oodlekadoodleprimitives.blogspot.com/2010/08/canning-week-tomato-soup-recipes.html
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelleystreetvintage
http://mycountryhomedecor.com/pro1054207.html
http://www.sportingcollectibles.com/kitchenalia.html

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists