The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-30
CLEANING WOOLENS.
The Recognized Authority OF Europe Tells
How 1t Can Be Done.

How 1t Can Be Done.
Opinions on the best methods of
cleaning woolens are so infinitely
different, and so various and contra
dictory are the statements of practical
papers on this point, that it appears to
me remunerative and interesting task
to examine the matter thoroughly. l
tried the various degrees of heat, from
the hottest to the coolest temperature,
and employed all the favorite clean
ing materials one after the other
soap, boraX, ammonia, benZine and
mixtures of these articles. The results
were so decided, and so plainly marked,
that the following conclusions must be
regarded as definitely established:
l. The liquid used for washing must
be as hot as possible.
2. For the removal of greasy dirt,
sweat, etc., borax is of so little value
that its application would be mere
waste. Soap I've alone is better, but
the preference must be given to soap
lye along with ammonia. This MKT
ure works wonders by quickly dissolv-
ing dirt from particular parts of I'M
derclothing which are hard to cleanse.
1t raises and revives even bright col
ors and is altogether excellent.
3. On the other hand, for cleaning
white wooden goods there is nothing
which even approaches borax. Soap
I've and borax, applied boiling hot,
gives white wooden a looseness and
a dazzling whiteness which they often
do not possess whenSnew.
4. If shrinking is to be entirely
avoided, the drying must be acceler-
ated by repeatedly pressing the wool
ems between soft cloths. In no case
should woolens be let dry in the sun,
as in this case they become dry and
hard. They are best dried in mod
crate current of air. and in cold
weather in warm place, not too near
the stove.
For colored goods there should be
prepared I've of seven quarts of soft
water and two ounces of the best soft
soap, the quantities being, of course,
modified according to Judgment and
the dirtiness of the articles. The soap
is ulSSOlNeu over JHc IRE, anu Cne lyc,
properly stirred up, is DIVIDED into
two vessels, to one of which is added
teaspoonful of ammonia for each quart
of I've. The woolens must be entered
at heat which the hand can not bear,
and the fabric must consequently be
turned and pressed with smooth wooden
stirrers. They are then pressed out as
far as possible and transferred to the
second I've, containing no ammonia,
and which by this time has become so
cool that the articles can be pressed by
hand, but no twistingor wringing must
take place. They are then pressed be-
tween three or four soft dry towels, till
the latter no longer become wet.
For white woolens there is added,
instead of ammonia, teaspoonful of
powdered borax to each quart of soap
I've, and the operation is otherwise con-
Quoted exactly as above described. If
the second I've is too soapy, it may be
diluted with little hot water.
After two or three lots of woolens
have thus been washed, the lye must
be heated again-the first lot being put
aside to settle, the second being made
first with the addition of ammonia or
borax, as the case may be, and fresh
lye made for the second. -Musier- Zeit-
ung fuer FGerberei.