The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-05-26
THECLARI0N.
Wednesday, May 26. 1850
Washing Day.


This is the great battle day of the house
Sweeping and scrubbing, baking day, every
dav cooking needing, washing dishes and
making clothes, are nothing to compare with
the drain on the nervous force OF the house
Baeper that washing and ironing day make,
and there i the sense, when these are over,
that the hardest part of the week has been
lived through. There is always a rush
about it. When it is begun it has to be
gone through with Wet clothes cannot
be left to lie long in tubs, especially in
warm weather. or they may mildew.
Damp clothes that must be dried in the
house in rainy weather make the rooms IN
comfortable and unhealthy. There Is q
water-cure use for damp sheets, and ~ some
cases Of fever these are hung up IA door
ways; but their only household use III
doors. i when painted walls Of large surface
are n be cleaned Then it j. said the
daunfla-5 arising from the sheets VIII soften
all the dirt on the paint, 50 that II i easier
70 clean. People who have large painted
room. and ceilings 10 clean may utilize their
drawing rooms by hanging out the houses
hold linen after tine carpets are up, II they
like to try 1t. Ia every way, however for
The sake Of the clothes and comfort, it Is
expedient to get through quickly what IS 10
be done - washing day in all families Of
faculty" begins by gasllght in the winter
and with the early bird IN summer. Many
good hou7ekeeperS pride themselves IN hay
ing the clothes all out on the line by the
time breakfast Is over--1 that they can
have the advantage Of all the sunshine or
the driving weather the day gives. This,
however, "a 4 matter Of consideration. II
the household is more upset and disturb
ed bv the early wash, and children and
everything else neglected and left at skies
and seveu- until the tubs are turned out
and boilers emptied, then it is better to
take matters more cOOlly. In some families
tba wash il divided the cham5ermaid has
her dav for starched clothes, say Mondays
and Tuesdays, and Is not called of for other
work The cook, on another day, viii have
sheets and towels and what is called the
rough wash which can all be done in one
dav. This is most practicable when there
Is 4 separate room or laundry apart from the
kitchen. where the work can 60 ON without
disturbance 1t has the advantage that all
the household brigade Is not at the tubs at
one time, but that there IS always one or
more whe can attend to others matters and
b. preseutable. i i trial Of temper for
woman 10 have to leave the washtub, rJl
down her sleeves, snatch oil q wet apron and
"answer' Il ring at the door; and when
there is not much help IN the kitchen and
. heavy wash, some member Of the house
hold will generally prefer to answer the
rings rather than have the soapsuds carried
out to the front steps. There Is more real
dignity IN this than in having the door
opened by q damp and dlstresscd-lJoklng
domestic. Consideration IN these matters
makes service easy. but if washing is got out
of the way early there is more time for the
domastics to be neat and ready for the
routine Of The day.
The secret of washing faunels appears to
be not 70 let them dry slowly, TO take them
in from the line while still slightly damp
and press them out with a warm iron.
There is difference Of opinion about IRON
ing iannels but none about this that
every particle Of moisture must be got out
of them as soon as possible, and as much rs
can be before they are hung up. Then they
may he either pulled into form, when nearly
drv or pressed Never rub soap on tannel~
on knitted or any wooden goods. Let them
lie for a short time in cold water 10 loosen
the dust, then plunge them into very hot
lather, with bat very little rubbing, press
the moisture out. Hand wringug iuIis
them up. the wrInger l. best Then dry
very quickly, before the stove in damp and
heavy weather, and either pull or iron them
rapidly, and they are done.
Hand wriuging has very nearly been done
away with by the patent wringers, and
thereby much strain on the washers and the
clothes is prevented. Wringers should be
kept very clean, put into coarse bag when
the washing Is done and hung up. Clean
clothes lines are indispensable too, and these
should have their bag and clothes pins
and also the clothes props should not ever
be suffered to lie about in the yard or in the
trampled mud of worn down grass plots, .
but should be scrubbed down occasionally /
too.
GIueing and pinking of clothes Is quite an .
art. so rs not to spot the clothes or have
home pinked pocket handkerchiets and give
their fine mu5lins and Balbriggan stockings
a delicate rosy tinge. This is done by a lit 4
tie cochiueal. and is certainly very beauti- /
fuI in fine cambrics and musiias it looks
quite a7 clear rs the blueing does. Very fine +
pocket -handkerChief5 and all other muslin 4
should be passed through the hand in a soap
lather, riused in white sugar and water and .
ironed ut once silk underwear, now SO +
fashionable, must never be wrung, but the
moisture carefully squeezed out. In wash
iug little cashmere or other wooden sacks or
clOaks for children, or the breadth of wool
en- or foulard silk dresses that are to be
made up over again, or wooden knitted goods
follow the same rules-hot lather, no wiring
ing, rapid drying and pressing while still
damp.
All starchcd clothes are dipped, after
rnsing, into water starch and the thick 4
starch for shirt bosoms, collars and cuffs is /
rubbed into them afterwards by hand, very
eveulv.so that they shall not blister or stick I
70 the iron afterward. But little starch Is .
needed for cotton dresses this season, as these (
are intended to have very soft finish, even
after they are done up. Some of them, in
deed, have ID be ironel on the wrong side .
30 preserve the creepy appearance For the
dark chintzes, so much worn, if these re-
quire any polish little gum arabic or white
glue Is required, but most of these need to
hang in very soft and not stiff folds Starch
certainly helps to keep white shirts clean
longer, as the dust brushes off from it but
all starched Undertaking is an abomina-
ton. Table cloths require buta very little, /.
Just enough to bring out the gloss of the
pattern. and must never be stiff table nap
kins none at all. Pillow cases and bolster
cases keep fresh longer when they are not
very stitiiy starchrd.-PhIladelph Ia Ledger. F