Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-09-09
Washing, ironing, and Mendins

Whether to soak the clothes overnight
or not is much-d disputed question with
housewives. 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.
and river water, unless Uttered when
drawn on In quantities, ss rule contains
SO much mud that it is apt to stain the
clothes so~ked in it for any considerable
time. WIlngers are blessed invention,
on the whole although hard on buttons.
But f1annels should not be passed through
them, as tley rub the wool up into little
hard maps. Clothes should, if possible
be dried in the sun and in the open air,
and ''neyer yet did housewife notable
greet with smile rainy washing day.
But when Monday is rainy 1t Is not al
ways convenient to pospone 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 lnjuIe them.
If possible hang the smaller pieces in an
unused room up stairs. when the rest
may be usually disposed with by hanging
at night on lines stretched across the
kitchen, where the heat of the fire will
dly them before morning. Blankets
ought never to be washed In rainy wealth
er. 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
putting on the lines. Then pull and fold
when dry, and put under press instead
OF ironing. Unless care is taken to see
that the clothespins and clothesline are
kept clean, ugly spots and streaks will
result. The lines should never be left
out over night, unless it is necessary in
order to dry them after being caught in
shower. In such cases they should be
wiped with cloth before the clothes are
again hung on them. A shirt board for
ironing is necessity IN every well -regu-
lated family. This should be covered
with at least two thicknesses of blanket,
and half the ironing-sheet, also double,
smoothly pinned over 1t, SO that it can
not slip. Keep wax tied up in rag to
rub on the irons. The polishing on col
lars, etc.. done up at large lsundries is
given by means of a polishing iron and by
dint of much rubbing. 1t may be done
by any good lsundress, but takes much
time and is feartully hard on tine linen.
Spermaceti added in small quantities to
the starch gives a pretty gloss. IF the
clothes are not aired in the laundry be-
fore bringing them up stairs it should be
thoroughly done before they are put
away. Flannels should never be worn
within the week they are washed. The
seeds of many a fatal consumption or at
tack 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 mend
ing should be placed in a drawer or bas-
ket by themselves, and the work done rs
soon as possible. If allowed to accumu-
late, the weekly mending will soon as
sumo formidable proportions; whereas, if
done regularly every week it will rarely
be more than the task of forenoon.