Wichita eagle., 1889-03-14
CARE OF FLANNElS.
How to Wash l-Wool Goods and How to
Prevent Them from Fading.

How to Wash ALI Wool Goods and How to
Prevent Them from Fading.
The first washing will do more harm than
all the rest can ever remedy. Some women,
in was hing all-wool goods, wash them the
same as the other clothes, taking them from
the warm suds and plunging them immedl-
ately into the cold rinse water, which Is
the worst thing they can do, for the fiannels
will be sure to shrink great deal. II they
are of the exact size Of the wearer it will
not take many of such washings to render
them 80 small and uncomfortable that they
will have to be cast aside. Where women
insist on washing in this way experience
ought surely to teach them that in purchas-
ing fiannels they ought always buy size
larger than the one worn, to allow tor the
shrinkage that is sure to take place.
1t is very important during the cold
weather that the fannels be washed and
hung out before the restof the clothes, and
not left until the last, as is generally the
case. Make lather Of luke-warm water
and some pure white soap, add to this some
ammonia, in the proportion of two table
spoonfuls to pail of water. Put the fan
nels in this and rinse up and down great
many times until the flannel Is very clean.
never rub on soap If it cen be avoided, as
the latter mats the wool, making it hard.
Sometimes the wrists are so soiled that
soap seems to be the only thing that will
remove the streak, but they ought never to
be rubbed on a board, although rubbing
between the hands is often allowable for
this purpose. When they are thoroughly
clean, let lie in the suds until the rinse wat
er is made ready.
This should be Of the same temperature
as the wash water. When ready, squeeze
the fiannels as dry as possible, but never
wiring them; but if you do wiring always do
it by hand, and never on any account, if
you care to have them soft, use a wringer.
Rinse up and down until all the suds is re-
moved, then squeeze between the hands as
dry as you conveniently can, and hang
out on the line. Hang shirts by the shoul-
ders at first, and skirts by the waistband
When nearly dry reverse the positions and
let remain until dry. In colored shirts it
is particularly important that they be hung
at first by the shoulders, to keep the color
from settling there, then reversed, SO they
may dry equally all around.
When dry take in and with the hands
pull into shape. Ii they are to be ironed, al
ways use a medium hot iron and press them
on the wrong side. Many people do not ap-
prove of ironing nice flannels, claiming that
1t makes them hard. but instead of ironing
smooth them with the hands. There is no
doubt that all-wool flannels are much softer
when not ironed, bus they have not the
smooth appearance of pressed one, conse-
quently it is not strange that the majority
of housewives like the pressed flannel the
best Do not turn the flannel Immediately
after ironing, but hang wrong side out until
well aired, then before putting away turn
the right side out, fold and place away.
To prevent scarlet flannel from fading
mix half-cupful of -four with quart of
cold water, put on the fire, and let boil
about quarter Of an hour. Stir this into
the warm ammonia suds and mix well
together. Put in the article to be washed
and rinse up and down, and squeeze re-
peatedly until it is thoroughly clean. If it
can be avoided never rub on soap, as it
generally leaves dark mark that it is al
most impossible to obliterate. Remove from
suds by squeezing out as much Of the water
as pos slble, and place in warm, clear rinse
water. Rinse thoroughly, squeeze out and
hang on the line. Salt is often used when
washing colored flannels, to set the colors,
but we have always found it very harden
ing TO both water and flannels. Borax is
preferred by many to ammonia for this
work, as it is great whitener and softener.
Boston Budget.