Marking Linen

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 140, 10 March 1938, Page 5

Marking Linen

Ways Of Removing And Applying The Ink Removing faded marking ink or old laundry marks from linen and then remarking it is not an easy task, but done correctly and with care it can be quite successful. One of the best home methods of removing marking ink is to wash out all starch from the material. Get from your chemist a small quantity of liniment of iodine and hyposulphite of soda. Sprinkle a few drops of the liniment on the marking ink and allow it to soak through. Then get a large crystal of hyposulphite of soda and dip it in water and proceed to rub on the linen till all colouring matter disappears and the marking ink with it. The process does not destroy the linen in any way. If, however, the marking ink fails to yield to this treatment, you still have salts of lemon as a bleacher. Get a little salts of lemon at the chemists and take a cup of about threequarters full of boiling water, then stretch the linen —on which is the ink —over the cup, dip the mark of ink in the water, tighten the linen again over the cup, and rub the salts of lemon (with a brush) over the stain. Now rinse well, and if the stain still remains, repeat until the stain disappears, which it will do in time. The above methods apply to marking ink accidentally spilt on fabrics. But, in this case, provided the stains are treated as soon as made, very little trouble will be experienced in getting the stains out.

As to the best method of marking for home use. this is undoubtedly stamping ou one’s name or oilier identification mark by means of a rubber stamp —and marking ink.

The rubber stamp can be made up letter by letter from a children’s printing outfit. A little of the marking ink must be put on a piece of baize or felt to act as a pad. and allowed to soak in somewhat before the rubber stamp is rubbed over it. otherwise it will take up too much of the ink and blot or smudge the material. All you need is a light clear-cut impression. If a pen must be used in marking linen, then be sure to dip the piece

you wish to mark in cold starch, then rub over with a hot iron. You will then find you are able to mark the linen without your pen scratching—or the ink spreading unduly. Another method that ensures good results is to write the name or identification mark in pencil first, and then trace over with ordinary marking ink. This trick obviates any danger of the ink running and making a mess of the material. The best ink for marking linen is one having nitrate of silver as a basis, but if bleaching powder is used in washing fabrics marked with this ink, there is usually a tendency for the linen to rot at. the place where the marking was carried out.