Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-02-01
DOING UP LAcE-cuRTAlHs.
valuable Suggestions on a mo't Imp
household Topic.

..,, s,g1estton, on Most fmPof'""
Household Topic.
Once thoroughly understood this
work is as easily accomplished as any
simple washing. After taking the cur
,.;re down shake out the dust careiui-
". so as to avoid tearing the matefiai,
then spread them out on TWO iliie' nc"'
together. and brush them gehtiy WIN
a soft feather duster; this Will relno'o
all the dust that can be got OH. NOW
b,va ready a tub half full OF tepia
water, to which two tablespoonluis VI
Iouid ammonia has been added (ehis
comes put up in bottles ready ior use
and il called, l think. household am
monia). Place the curtains III 'hi'
,yater and allow them to remain some
fifteen or twenty minutes, turning tnein
over carefully every minute or Two
and squeezing with the hands, Inns
nrocess will loosen all the dirt atter
which squeeze out as dry as posslo,e'
hut he very, very careful lest the
meshes of tho lace be broken. nave
ready another tub containing "a'ef
nrepared as before, and place the cur
tains Immediately in it, one at tl1he'
allowing them to soak until all are
washed. II will need three waters II
the curtains are much solled, put INC
water will decide this; should it be very
mich discolored, use different waters
until the last from which they were
taken looks clear. Ammonia In the
first two waters will be sufficient I'M
less the curtains are very gray ana
smoky. Next place them in coarse
pillow-case and scald in clean soap
suds (not very strong), for few min
utes. Use pure white soap, and let
the water be only blood warm when
thew are first put in; allow them to
come to a boiling heat, and then rinse
thoroughly in two clear waters, the
last of which should be blued, and
then starch in thin boiled starch which
must be made very blue, as lace when
hung up against the light does not ap-
pear blue.
The blood-warm water and starch
should be strained, that no particle OF
bluing may settle on the curtains.
After scalding, take the curtains from
the boiler ana rinse thoroughly, but
with a gentle hand, until all suds are
out. Then wiring or squeeze out ana
put through the bluing water; wiring
out from that and prepare to stretch
and pin out smoothly, to the original
length and width. This must be done
while the curtains are wet, as the lace
can not be stretched when dry. The
whole process of washing, rinsing
, scalding and drying should be done a
quickly and thoroughly as possible, al
no other cotton material shrinks 81
y easily.
Although many pin clean sheet OF
y to a carpet and pin the curtain on t.
the sheet while drying, l consider it I
much better and easier way to keep o
hand four strips OF thin boards abou
three inches wide, made similar
~ quilting frames, with holes at saitabl
), distances to increase or diminish tn
II length and breadth to suit the size {
:, the curtains. Have strong woode
- pins put through the holes to fasten til
., frames strongly together; tack vic
tape or selvage edges of cloth tn
~ whole length of the frame, then plae
n. them on chairs, SO that they will stan
"a firm and steady, out of doors on still
n bright, sunny day, and pin or basic tt
10 curtains to the tape, pulling out an
Ia fastening every point in the lace.
as Before wetting the curtains measur
e: the length and breadth and mark it c
as the frame on which they are to /
1u dried. After washing, fasten at bot
ends first and then stretch to mate
the measure. Curtains thus street.-the
dry very quickly in the sun, and if we
$50 rinsed and free from soap several C;
be dried at the same time. Instead
ng tacking on the strips of cloth or tap
y. if small-sized galvanized hooks we
used the work could be greatly faci
se tated, and the curtains be caught on
u these hooks while drying. Curtai
Ell washed in The manner described 10
lat much better than when done at t
'e- laundry, and last a great deal long,
la' which is quite an object to be cons
la' cred. Portland Transcript.