fuller's earth
Oil-absorbing mineral powder
Fuller's earth is a fine-grained absorbent clay used historically to clean and thicken wool—a process called fulling.
The clay removes oils and impurities from fabric.
Today it finds wider industrial use: filtering oils, absorbing spills, and as cat litter.
The name persists though the textile application has largely disappeared.
Moisture-absorbing material
- sorbentAbsorption material
- hygroscopicAbsorbs moisture from surroundings
- silica gelMoisture-absorbing granular material
- absorbencyCapacity to soak up
capillary · moisture · cat litter · spill cleanup · decolorizing
Removing oily substances
- oil refiningSeparating crude into fuels
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- lubricantsFriction-reducing substances
- textileMaterial from woven fibers
fulling · decolorizing · bleaching · filtration · clarifying · edible oils · recycling
Ash-derived absorbent clay
- kaolinWhiteite mineral for pottery
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- magnesiumAlkaline earth metal
- sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
deposits · quarry · minerals · silicate · stratum · excavation · mineralogy · sedimentology
Thickening cloth by beating
- woolSheared animal fiber
- textile processingConverting fibers to cloth
- cloth finishingTreating fabric after weaving
- RomanOf ancient Italy's capital
ancient · traditional · fabric softening · felting · shrinking · thickening
Topical skin treatment
- clay maskMineral paste for skin
- poresMinute dermal openings
- oily skinSebaceous, shiny facial type
- blackheadsOpen clogged pores
blemishes · acne · exfoliate · complexion · detoxify · mattifying · sebum · face pack
desiccant
Moisture-absorbing material
- sorbentAbsorption material
- hygroscopicAbsorbs moisture from surroundings
- silica gelMoisture-absorbing granular material
absorbency · capillary · moisture · cat litter · spill cleanup · decolorizing
degreasing
Removing oily substances
- oil refiningSeparating crude into fuels
- petroleumNatural underground hydrocarbon liquid
- lubricantsFriction-reducing substances
textile · fulling · decolorizing · bleaching · filtration · clarifying · edible oils · recycling
bentonite
Ash-derived absorbent clay
sedimentary · deposits · quarry · minerals · silicate · stratum · excavation · mineralogy · sedimentology
fulling
Thickening cloth by beating
- woolSheared animal fiber
- textile processingConverting fibers to cloth
- cloth finishingTreating fabric after weaving
Roman · ancient · traditional · fabric softening · felting · shrinking · thickening
facial mask
Topical skin treatment
blackheads · blemishes · acne · exfoliate · complexion · detoxify · mattifying · sebum · face pack · poultice
- old-time cleanerssoap, lye, borax, vinegar, washing soda
- adsorbentsactivated carbon, silica gel, zeolite, bentonite, biochar
- clay mineralskaolinite, bentonite, vermiculite, chlorite, kaolin
- clayskaolin, fire clay, china clay, bentonite, porcelain clay
- mineralsquartz, marble, granite, limestone, sandstone
- litter boxlitter box, litter, cat litter, litter pan, litter tray
full, earth, unearth, earthly, unearthly, fuller, earthenware, earthen, unearthing