Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-08
Washing Blankets.

It Is a good and wise arrangement to
have all the large wooden blankets
washed in summer, because there are
longer days, more clear sky, and warm
er sun to dry and bleach them. Never
attempt to wash blankets except on a
day that promises clear weather; for If
they are caught in a shower they will be
injured more than by half dozen good
washings. Begin early in the morning !;
one needs the whole day to be sure that
the blankets are thoroughly dried be-
fore leaving the clothes-line. First
make strong suds before the blanket
is wet, so as to have no soap adhere to
the blanket. Have it hotter than the
hands will bear. Wash but one blanket
at time. Put that one blanket into
hot suds, pressing it well under the wa
ter with the clothes-stick. While cooling
enough to handle prepare second wa
ter, of a weaker suds and boiling hot
water; then third tub of hot water
with scarcely any soap. The suds that
still adhere to the blanket will nearly
make the third water soapy enough, for
it is better to have rinsing-water for
woolens little soapy. Put bluing into
the third water, well stirred in. Do not
rub on the board, but press them up
and down in the suds till clean. Rub
bling curls the nap of the blanket into
little hard balls, and makes the blanket
harsh. Wiring out lightly with the
hands; never with wringer, for the
same reason given above. Ii con-
venient, get a second person to help
wiring and pull out carefully into the
original shape and size. Then put it
into the second suds, keep well under
the water, and put second blanket
into the first suds, to soak till the first is
rinsed through both the last suds and
hung up to dry.
1t is good plan to pour the first suds
back into the boiler, put in the second
blanket and set the boiler on one side of
the range to keep at the right heat, and
when the first blanket has been passed
through the rinsing-water put the blan-
ket into the third suds, and set the first
rinsing-water over the fire to keep hot;
in that way one can wash at least four
good sized blankets without making new
suds, unless very dirty.
Each blanket us it passes through the
three different suds should be gently
wrung, well stretched and snapped, If
there are two to work together; almost
the only kind of household labor that
is not expedited by each one doing it
alone.
After the blanket has passed through
the third water (the bluing water) it
needs to be very faithfully snapped and
stretched and hung on the line, taking
great care that the corners are pulled
straight, and that the blanket is hung
straight lepgthwise, by thread, and
securely pinned on the line. When
about a third dry, let two 60 to the line
and turn it widthwise as perfectly
straight, by a thread.
Four blankets are enough to do in
day, so as to be sure of their being dried
before night. Before the dew falls lift
them from the line; one person taking
two corners, a second the opposite cor
ner, pull them out straight, fold by
thread and put into the clothes-basket
neatly. The next morning, as the WOOL
ems may have gathered a little damp
ness, when the sun is well up unfold
them and put across the line straight
for an hour, to be sure they are thor
oughly dried. Then fold very carefully
and pack away in the linen closet or
into moth-proof barrels.-ChTfStian
Union.