American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-03-21
Washing, Ironing, Etc.

w ITH all Ine Improvements maue WITH
| in the recollections of the middle aged,
it is still a laborious task to stand all dav
| over back-aching tubs and wringers, with
our whole strength enlisted in warfare
against dirt, and not until the last piece
is on the line can we congratulate our
selves that a triumph has been achieved.
For the benefit of those who do their own
washing l will give recipe for making
a washing fluid, accredited to Prof.
Liebig, which will save full one-half OF
! the usual labor of washing, and will not
injure the finest fabrics, neither fade
calico nor colored flannels, but brighten
the colors:
WASHING FLUID-Sal-soda two pounds,
unslacked lime one pound, boiled together
in six quarts of water for half an hour
When it has settled clear turn into jug
| and cork for use. Soak the white clothes
over night in clean, soft water. In the
| morning fill the boiler half full of soft
| water; when it boils, add Il teacup of the
fluid. Wiring out the clothes, and rub
soap on the most soiled parts; boil briskly
thirty minutes. Take the clothes out
into tub half full of clean, soft water,
and rub slightly; or put them through Il
washing machine, which is easier; rinse
through two waters, and add little blu
ing to the last water. For each additional
boiler of clothes aud more water and a
| fore. Use the suds for washing coiorcd
| fiannels and calicoes.
STARCH PoLIsH.-White wax one ounce :;
| spermacetl two ounces; melt them to-
| gether with gentle heat. For pint of
| boiled starch put in piece the size Of "a
large pea; and it will give gloss and
luster that cannot be obtained in any
other way.
| How TO DO UP SHIRT BosoMs-Take
fyUn ta1 IaGYN fIIlS of haCt nl1
| very little water to it, rub and stir with Il
spoon into a thick paste, carefully break
ing all the Jumps and particles. Add a
pint ct boiling water, stirring it at the
| same time; boil half an hour, stirring it
occasionally to keep it from burning.
Add piece OF starch polish the size of a
| large pea; If this is not at hand use a
tablespoonful of gum arabic solution
| (made by pouring boiling water upon gum
arabic and standing until clear and trans
parent, or a piece of clean mutton tai
| low half the size of a nutmeg and tea
| spoon of salt will do, but is not as good.
| Strain the starch through a strainer or a
piece of thin muslin Have the shirts
turned wrong side out; dip the bosoms
carefully in the starch and squeeze out,
| repeating the operation until the bosoms
are thoroughly and evenly saturated with
starch; proceed to dry. Three hours be
water; wiring out and roll up tightly.
| First iron the back by folding it length
| wise through the centre; next iron The
wristbands, and both sides of the sleeves;
then the collar band; now place the
bosom board under the bosom, and with
a dampened napkin rub the bosom from
the top toward the bottom, smoothing and
arranging each plat neatly. With a
| smooth, moderately hot lat-iron begin at
the top and iron downward, and con-
tinue the operation until the bosom is
perfectly dry and shining. Remove the
bosom board, and iron the front of the
| shirt. If the irons become rough or
| smoky lay little fine salt on a flat sur
face and rub them well; it will prevent
them from sticking to anything starched,
and make them smooth.
BLUING FOR CLOTHEs.-Much of the
bluing sold in boxes is poor stuff, leaving
| specks on the clothes. An ounce of good
indigo put into a small bag made of Stout
cloth makes a nice bluing, and can be
| used in either soft or hard water. Liquid
| bluing is made by using best Prussian
| blue, pulveriZed, one ounce, and oXalic
acid, pulverized, half an ounce, and u
quart of soft water. Put into "A bottle;
when dissolved it is ready for use. Two
| or three tablespoonfuls is sufficient for a
large tub of rinsing water, and will not
speck the clothes.
To CLEAN Floor OIL CLoTHs.-Soap
should not be used in cleaning oilcloths.
To half pail of hot soft water add halt
a cup of washing fluid, or piece of sal
soda half the size of an egg; with a scrub
bling brush or broom rub hard, putting
on only sufficient water so that it will not
run off; wipe dry with soft cloth; it
will look as bright and shining as when
new. This is a good way to clean com
| IL nlyn
| grease or dust, and does not destroy the
| gloss or varnish 1t is also useful in
washing windows.
| WASHING SII.yERwARE.-Many house
keepers wash their silverware in soap and
water, This should not be practiced, as it
makes it look like pewter When it needs
polish take a piece of soft leather and
whiting and rub hard; this will restore its
| luster.-Korthta Hall, IN Hearth and HoD4e.