The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-06
The Care for Flannels.

| wood, underwear manufactures, y
his customers, he gives some excel
lent hints on the washing of flannel
which may he found useful in othel
quarters. He says:
"Turn the garment, the soiled side
! out-wash in prepared suds OF st'il
tepid waterloo not use hot or cold
waterloo not rub soap on them, noi
sceur on washboard-this is identi'
cal with the process used in 'fulling'
| hannels in manufacture. Rinse in
clean tepid water of the same tenn
perature. Wiring well. sti ietch smooth.
~ as possible, and dry in an even
temperature. Avoid all washing
liquids, or preparations or SOAP
strong with alkalies. Strong alkalies
will destroy the fiber of animal r.
vegetable matter, and this action Is
much accelerated by the aid Of hot
water. Never allow flannel to freeze
on the line.
"It is idle to claim that any WOOL
ems may not be further shrunken in
definitely by continued and repeated
abuse. But every Woolen fabric will
not shrink the same under equal
treatment. Much depends on the
qua ity of the W lol still more in the
spinning and twisting of the yarn in
manufacture. This can be done to
forestalI in large measure the future
shrinkage. 1t is scarcely necessary
to say that it is not done in cheap
goods, which are produced for sale
with the sole object of rendering them
slightly at the least possible price. 1t
is the very poorest of poor economy
to buy cheap wooden Undertaking.
If the wool is twisted and woven
loosely, carded and cornbed adroitiy
to apparently fill out the fabric to
requisite quality to the touch and
sight, it is bound to close up and as
sumo at least its normal position in
the process of washing. Wolfe it may
not be necessary to go to extreme eX-
pense, so far as it lies in the beauty
and durable finish of the garment, il
is safe to adYise that it is not economy
to purchase an all wool undergarment
at less price than 81. In this country
a quality of wool and the labor re
quiSite to produce garment reason
ably we'll made to insure further full
ing. and afford sufficient strength Of
yarn for durability, cannot he COM
bined at less retail price than from
this upward.
"By far the most general cause of
Shrinkage is by abuse in washing.
Perspiration will shrink, when Moth
ing else may. 1t is strange fact that
perspiratiOn from some persons will
shrink, when that equally profuse
from Others will not. This is owing
to the difference in the acid properties
If the excretions of different bodies.
1t is apparent that this is cause
which can neither he f0reSePn or pro-
vidpd against. 1t is condition the
responsibility of which must he as
,umed aud horne by each individual
according to his own judgment and
experience. No dealer can he ex-
ppcted to be accountable for or able
10 avert such cause of shrinkage. AT
the risk of faStirlious criticism, we
venture our opinion that fam h
were washed oftener than is actually
necessary. Except in cases of profuse
and offensive Precipitation, or very
dirty work. it is sufficient for strict
cleanliness that they should he laun-
,ered but once in two weeks. If
changed weekly the discarded gar
ments are turned wrong side out,
whipped, and hung 20 air out of doors
and thus worn every alternate week
before going to the wash-tub, it les
sens the repetition of laundry, and is
entirely adequate for health and
cleanliness.