Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-05-08

Washing,

Except woollens and colored clothes, all other
kinds should be put to soak over night, the very
dirty parts having soap rubbed on them If
you use washing fluid, it is usually mixed in
the soaking water; If you use no wash mixture,
the next morning wiring out the clothes, and
proceed to wash them carefully through two
warm waters; then boil them in clean water
rather briskly, but not longer than half an hour.
! Wash them out of the boil, rinse through two
waters. The last rinse water should have del
icate tinge of blue, likewise a small quantity of
starch for all cottons or linens; reserve those
you wish stiffer for the last and mix more starch
in the water. Shirt bosoms and collars, skirts,
in short anything you wish very stiff should be
dipped while dry. Swiss and other thin mus
iips and laces are dipped in starch while dry,
and then capped with the hands until in
right condition to iron.
| Calicoes, brilliants and lawns white grounds,
are washed like any other white material, omit
ting boiling, until the yellow tinge they acquire
makes it absolutely necessary, Unbleached
cottons and linens follow the white clothes thro'
| the same waters, but must in 10 case be boiled
with them, as they continually discharge por-
ton of their color, and so discolor the white
clothes
In directing the preparation for washing fluids,
we give the process employed with them; but
cOlOred clothes, in our experience, can be wash
!
| Callcoes, colored lawns, and colOred cottons,
and linens generally are washed through two suds
and two rlnsing waters, starch being used in the
last, as all clothes look better and keep clean
longer if a little stiffened.
Many caicoes will spot if soap is rubbed on
them; they should be washed in lather, sim
ply. A spoonful of OK gall to gallon of water
will set the color OF most any goods soaked in it
previous to washing. A teacup of lye in
bucket Of water will improve the color of black
goods.
Nankeen should lay in the lye awhile before
being washed the lye sets the color.
A strong clean tea of common hay will pre-
serve the color of those French linens so much
used in summer by both sexes.
Vinegar In the rinsing water, for pink or
green callcoes, will brighten them. Peariash
answers the same end for purple and blue
Flannels should be washed through two srds
and one rinsing water; each water should be as
hot as the hand can bear, unless, you wish to
thicken the flannel. Flannels washed in luke
warm water will soon become like fuIled CLOTH
i Colored and white fanneis must be washed
separately, and by no means after cotton or
linen, as the lint from these goods adheres to
the flannel.
There should be little blue in the rinsing
water for white flannel
Allow your fannels to freeze after boiling in
| man.
A RECIPE WORTH ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
flake one pound of sal soda, and half
pound of unsacked lime-put in gallon of
water and boil twenty minutes. Let it stand
till cool, then strain off, and put in stone jug
or jar. Soak your clothes over night, or until
they are well wet through-then wiring them
out and rub on plenty Of soap; and in one boil
er of clothes well covered with water, add one
teaspoonful Of the washing fluid. Boil half an
hour bTiskly-then wash them thoroughly thro'
one suds, and rinse with water and your clothes
will look better than the old way of washing
twice before boiling. This is an invaluable re-
clpe, and [ want every poor tired woman to try
it. | think with a patent wash tub, to do the
little rubbing, the washer-woman might take
the last novel and compose herself on the lounge,
and let the washing do itself The woman who
can keep secret has known this year or two,
but her husband told it while on an eectionecr-
ing tour. So says the Ohio Cutivator