The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-28
THE PRESS.
THE HOUSEHOLD.
Hints TO the inexperienced.

to many housekeepers. We have often heard
the remark that such dresses, especialIv cali
Goes which are much the cheapest-are
only hit to wear while they can be kept de-
Gently clean without washing. That is too
true if they are washed, as most are. without
special oversight and direction from the mis-.
tress. Very few servants, if not emphati-
cally cautioned. understand the proper mode
OF doing up such articles.
Ii left soaking in suds, or washed in the
suds which was used to wash the white
clothes; If starched stiff and with common
starch or in flour starch; if hung in the sun
TO dry, and ironed on the right side with
very not iron, 1t is not strange that they are
not thought suitable for use after having been
washed and ironed. But if carefully treated
In the laundry, dresses of either of these ma
terlals should continue to look fresh and new
till thoroughly worn out.
Black and white cotton or linen dresses are
thought very difficult to cleanse and do up,
because the color "runs" and settles in the
white, and the same complaint is made of
stone, slate, brown or maroon colo1s. But
by Anew precautions and little extra care in
the first washing, there need be no further
trouble with any of these colors.
:. Before washing black and white cotton or
linen dresses, or any of these dark colors,
first dip them in salt and water, and hang
them In shady place to dry. Two coffee
cups OF salt to eight or ten quarts of cold wa
yer is The proper proportion. When dry put
tnem into light suds, not very hot and
wash as usual. A little salt in the rinsng
water is desirable. After washing once in
this way, they can ever after be washed with
out these precautions. No coored goods
should be allowed to soak at all either in suds
or rlnsing water. Let the work be done as
speedily, with as little delay when first begun
as is consistent with being well done.
n acin rxrrory
cessfully IN washing the fine colored Isle and
cotton hosiery of dark and medium colors
now so much used, is to put black pepper
into the suds when hot, let it stand until
the water is cool enough to wash colored
goods and then put them in and wash as
usual; rinse in one water and hang in q shady
place to dry. A great spoonful and half of
pepper to pailful of water. The pepper does
not affect the suds at all, but sets the color,
and.we are told that it is equally effective
with all cotton or linen fabrics, light or dark.
We have tried it only on hosiery and not on
any verv light coors.
Another way. Mix two cupfuls of wheat
bran in cold water till a smotth paste; then
stir it into one quart of soft boiling water.
Let It boil half an hour, then strain and add
to it four or five quarts of soft, warm, water
or enough to wash dress in. Use no soap,
tor the bran answers all the cleansing pur-
poses of soap. The water should not be much
more than milk warm and perfectly clean
Add tablespoonful of salt if there is any
black In the dress or any color that may
run" Rinse thoroughly in only one water.
No starch is needed, but if one thinks it de-
sirable, use a little white glue water, not hot.
Many prefer muslins or calicoes very stiff
we THINK 1t mistake, aside from the I'M
pieasantness OF wearing skirts or dresses so
still as to rattle, that to have such articles
look like new they should have no more stiff
enlng or polish than the new goods have.
Except the coarsest and cheapest cotton goods
we hnd none in the stores that are so very
stiff or glossy. To avoid the last iron on the
wrong SIDE, and not with a very hot ron, land
there will be none of the shiny look which a
not iron used on the right side will always
leave.
To wash brown linen; take enough Tim
otny nay to I'LL ten quart kettle two.thirds
full when pressed down, cover it thoroughly
with soft, hot water, and boil till the water is
dark greenish color. While the hay is boil
ing make flour starch in the usual way, and
when the hay water is of the right color
strain 1t into the starch and put the linen in
to 1t, not hot, but tepid, letting it soak for
Ten or nfteen minutes, no longer; then wash
wishout any soap. The starch and hay tea
Will clean the linen, and no rinsing will be
needed. Linen washed in this way will look
like new as long as it lasts.
Blue, stone, slate and brown colored artI-
Giles can be washed and retain their color per-
fictly by putting sugar of lead into the water
IN winch they are to be washed. Dissolve
one ounce OF sugar OF lead in :pailful of hot
water. When thoroughly dissolved. and the
water cooled so as to be about milk warm.
put the articles to soak in the water an hour
or TWO; then wiring out and hang up to dry
before washing. When dry wash as directed
IN bran water. The sugar of lead fixes the
color permanently, so it will not need to be
repeated.
Be cautious that there is no scratch. cut or
sore on the hands, land that none of this water
gets into the mouth, as sugar of lead is pois-
onous. FNN
Fruit or wine stains can be removed from
wooden or cotton goods by sponging them
gently-do not rub the goods-in ammonia
aud alcohol; teaspoonfuI of ammonia to
Wineglass OF alcohol; then sponge off in clear
alcohol:: Then If needed, the material can
be washed.
Stains in almost any colored silk can be re-
moved in the same way.
Buff or fawn colored muslins or calicoes
are easily spotted, aud are then hardly fit to
wear; Out, II Inquired, by dipping the dress
into strong and water the buff color will be
ehtireiy taken out and the figures in it re-
main unchanged on white ground.
- FINK callcoes and muslins are easily faded
~ ""oneo Will care ana sometimes will
iade by exposure to the sun. We have been
informed that if after rinsing thew are dinned
IN vinegar and water, the color will become
almost Ike new. Use only vinegar sufficient
10 make she water pleasantly acid, This we
cannot DE responsible for, as we have never
Iried 1t, and think we should have more con-
ndence In trying the wheat bran water.
Cofee starch is much used for all dark cali
GOES. percaie and muslins. Wet two table,
DO0DtulS
water to stir into smooth paste When
iree from any Jumps and perfectly smooth Stir
IN PINT OF clear coffee, boiling hot. Stir
over the fire till thoroughly mixed, then let if
Dbl slowly ten minutes. Stir it occasionally
Win sperm or way candle, strain and use
not too hot A "'o
We do not like this as we'll as bran. water
ana nay tea, but it is preferred by MANY.
Flour starch is much used bv those who
like their calicoes or muslin dresses verv stiff
They may keep clean longer when thus stiff
ened, put the rustic of stffly starched dress
Is annoying and no one would mistake sncb a
dress for new. :"
Wet four tablespoonfuls of -four in enoupb
cold water to mix it perfectly smooth and
Tree OF Jumps; then put one quart of boiling
water INTO clean tin or porcelain kettle, and
SUI 10 TINS the paste OF flour and water.
Str steadily until it bois, and after that often
SHOULD
boil about ten minutes; then strain through
towel kept for that purpose, or a coarse and
slazy linen bag. This is sufficient for one
dress. IVA o-0
Fine starch. Pour quart of boiling water
on three tablespoonful of best fine starch
that has been made into smooth, thin paste
by wetting in cold water. Stir rapidly while
pouring on the hot water. Put it over the
IRE and continue to stir till it begins to boil.
Let it boil slowly fifteen minutes, stirring it
often enough to keep from searching, A
little salt, butter, pure lard or sperm candle
is stirred 10 by some, but one teaspoonful of
kerosene oil to every quart of starch is better
still, as it entirely prevents the iron sticking.
aud makes the articles clear and glossy.
But care must be taken not to have more
than that proportion of oil used, else it will
injure the clothes. The mistress should look
after this, because starched things iron so
much more easily and polish so much better
that laundresses who have used kerosene are
inclined to feel that they cannot have too
much of good thing.
Either kerosene, salt or sperm should be
used in flour starch. We think butter vel
lows white goods.