Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-12-15
Studies Column.
HINTS ON IRONING.

be observed before the work is really
begun:
The ironing board or table should be
firm and strong and immovable while
ironing. For that reason it is a good
idea where there are stationary wash |
tubs to have top cover or lid, made
expressly for an ironing board; orr if
one has not this convenience, a table
mortised or set in the wall in conven-
lent part of the room, and with two
strong. firm legs to hold the front side.
is a great comfort. The legs may be
made with fat base so that they can
be screwed into the floor. Some provide
q table with hinges on one side and legs
that can be turned up in front, so the
table can be let down when not in use.
and hang by the wall. But this can
never be firm table, and it is of much
Importance when ironing that the latter
does not shake while one is at work.
The arrangements for heating the
irons should, as far as possible, be such
that they can be kept perfectly clean,
either in pan provided expressly for
that purpose, or by stove to be used
expressly for that purpose. If set on
the stove they are in danger Of becoming
soiled by something cooking, or becOm-
ing rusty from some fluid boiling over
on the stove. 1t is of the greatest i'm
portance that the smoothing iron should
be kept perfectly smooth, free from rust
or burnt starch. A paper or piece of
cloth should lie on the table with piece
of beeswax laid between the folds. If
the starch sticks lit never will if rightly
prepared) rub the iron first on some
wood ashes, or salt, and then quickly
over the wax, rub it on a clean cloth,
and then, if not rusted in deeply. it will
work smoothly. In buying sad-irons be
careful and select three sizes, and all of
the smoothest surface. One size, large
and heavy, for coarse garments; one, a
medium size, for linen and cotton, and
the polishing iron for starched clothes,
rounding at the sides and ends, by which,
after garment is half ironed with a
common iron, polish can be secured by
very brisk movement, tipping the iror
little on the rounded side.
For the ironing table course wooler
blanket is needed, which should b,
stretched double thickness on the table
and large enough to entirely cover it
Then draw the corners down tight anc
tack them folded over the corners of tn
table. Four tacks are enough, which
can easily be removed if the table i
needed for other purposes. By thus tack
ing the corners to the table and drawing
them tight over it plain, smooth SUI
face is secured, on which to pin cotto
sheet doubled.
A bosom board should be about eigh
inches wide, and from seventeen to eigh
teen long and perfectly smooth and leve
Cover one side of the board with tw
thicknesses of coarse flannel, or a piec
Of an old blanket drawn tightly over tn
board, and large enough to be tacke
just over the edge of the board. Cove
with two thicknesses of cotton of tn
same size. The other side, also perfect
ly smooth, should have but two thicl
nesses of strong cotton laid and tacke
over the edge to lap on to the cover {
the other side. This is to be used
put the last polish to the bosom after
has been partially ironed. Galvanize
tacks with smooth heads should be useC
that there may be no danger of iron ru'
or injury to the linen.
First iron the shirt all over. wiring
clean cloth out of clean hot water an
rub over the bosom. Go over the bose
rapidly with very clean hot iron, the
with plated knife or thin paper-cutt
raise the plaits and iron again rapid
Then rub the bosom again with dan
cloth, turn the bosom board over,
that the hard surface with the thin GOV
will come under the shirt bosom, al
iron with the polishing iron. expendil
much strength in bearing down as poss
bic. Rub briskly with the rounded Ell
Of the hot iron back and forth, ironil
only small strip at time, till L
whole bosom is of clear polish. T
polishing irons must be wrapped up in
flannel or paper. and kept dry and ;
ways bright.
1t is difficult to give written directio
for ironing. Practice is the best teach,
Things that are to be fat when fnishe
such as cuffs and collars, should be &C
cred with clean. fine linen cloth.
towel is too course, or has too lar
threads, and will leave their imprint
the article ironed. This cloth is to
placed on the article and the iron pass
over it once or twice until there is
mote or starch that will adhere to t
iron. This done, remove the cloth,
the article smooth, pull the ends a
corners straight and even, and go o.
it firmly and briskly with smoo
clean iron and finish with the POLISH