One gallon of water and four pounds of ordinary washing soda, and a
quarter of a pound of soda. Heat the water to boiling hot, put in the
soda, boil about five minutes, then pour it over two pounds of
unslaked lime, let it bubble and foam until it settles, turn it off
and bottle it for use. This is the article that is used in the Chinese
laundries for whitening their linen, and is called "Javelle water;" a
tablespoonful put into a suds of three gallons, and a little, say a
quarter of a cupful, in the boiler when boiling the clothes, makes
them very white and clear. Must be well rinsed afterwards. This
preparation will remove tea stains and almost all ordinary stains of
fruit, grass, etc. This fluid brightens the colors of colored clothes,
does not rot them, but should not be left long in any water; the
boiling, sudsing, rinsing and bluing, should be done in quick
succession, until the clothes are ready to hang on the line.