Many uses of Gasoline in 1909

As previously promised, here is a description of uses for gasoline from "Household Discoveries" circa 1909.

1) To destroy ants nests by injecting into the nest
2) To clean bathtubs and washbowls in a bathroom.
3) To eliminate bed bugs by washing down the mattress with gasoline on a sponge and by washing down the beadstead with the stuff.
4) To freshen faded carpets by going over it with a broom or whisk broom moistened with gasoline.
5) To polish copper kettles by dipping a cloth in gasoline and sprinkling bath brick or pumice on it.
6) To wash delicate fabrics in such as silk or curtains.
7) To wash woollen fabrics in and goatskin rugs.
8) To wash floor coverings with to remove fleas from them.
9) To wash gloves. Wearing them on the hands, gloves can be washed in gasoline the same way as washing your hands.
10) To repell moths by soaking cloth in gasoline.
11) To remove oil stains from marble by mixing with chalk or whiting.
12) To remove paint from woodwork.
13) To clean your sewing machine.
14) To remove grease from a stove.
15) To clean upholstered furniture by saturating with gasoline and scrubbing stained areas with a brush.
16) To add to water for washing windows.

Of course I have already mentioned in an earlier post how gasoline tanks were buried next to houses and the vapor fanned into pipes for gas lighting and gas stoves.

In many of these uses gasoline can be substituted with kerosene, benzine or naptha.

Who'd of thunk it!

I guess it wasn't wise to smoke on wash day......