The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-07
The Household.
Soaking the Clothes.

Whether to soak the clothes over night or
not is a much disputed question with house.
wives. Where pure cistern water can be
had it is doubtless an advantage, but to soak
clothes in hard water sets the stains rather
than removes them, aud river water, unless
filtered when drawn off in quantities, as
rule contains so much mud that it is apt TO
streak the clothes soaked in it. for any con-
siderable time. Wringers are blessed in
vention, on the whole, although hard on but
tons. But fannels should not be passed
through them, as they rub the wool up into
little hard maps. Clothes should, if possible
be dried in the sun, and ''never vet did
housewife notable greet with a smile a rainy
washing day. But when Monday is rainy
it is not always convenient to postpone the
weekly wash. In that case, sheets and any
other large white pieces which are not to be
starched may be hung out in the rain, which
will bleach rather than injure them. If
possible, hang the smaller pieces in an I'M
used room up stairs, when the rest may
usually be disposed of by hanging on lines
stretched across the kitchen, where the heat
of the fire will dry them before morning
Blankets ought never to be washed in rainy
weather. Select bright summer day for
the work, and let it be done and through
with. Have two people to wiring them, and
stretch and pull them carefully when put
ting on the lines. Then pull and fold when
dry, and put under press instead of ironing.
Unless care is taken to see that the clothes
pins and line are kept clean, ugly spots and
streaks will result. The lines Should never
be left out over night, unless it be necessary
in order to dry them after being caught in
shower. In such cases they should be wiped
with cloth b-fore the clothes are again
hung on them. A Switchboard for ironing
is necessity in every well-regulated family
This should be covered with at least two
thicknesses of blanket, and have the ironing
sheet, also double, smoothly pinned over it,
so that it cannot slip. Keep wax tied up in
rag TO rub on the irons. The polish on
collars. etc., done up at large laundries is
given by means of polishing iron and by
dint of much rubbing. 1t may be done by
any good laundress, but takes much time
and is fearfully hard on the linen. Sperma-
ceti added in small quantities to the starch
gives pretty gloss. If the clothes are not
aired in the laundry before bringing them
up stairs it should be thoroughly done before
putting them away FIanneIs Should never
be worn within the week after they are
washed. The seeds of many fatal con-
sumption or attack of pneumonia have been
sown by wearing damp clothing. Every
garment should be mended before it is put
away. Buttons and strings may be sewed
on at once, and the single stitch, which
taken in time saves nine, may also be set as
the clothes are sorted Larger Jobs of
mending should be placed in drawer or
basket by themselves, and the work done as
soon as possible. If allowed to accumulate,
the weekly mending will soon assume for
midable proportions, whereas, if done regu-
larry every week it will be rarely more than
the task Of aforenoon.-Boston Transcript.