The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-23
WASHING WOOLENs,


IN which each woody filament is covered
with minute scales, decrease OF tenn.
perature while wet Causes contraction
If the fabric whereby these little scales
are closely knitted or hooked together,
ard this condition is not overcome by II
corresponding increase of temperature.
Each contraction causes a proportional
snrinkage. Therefor woollens shou d
ne washed in water of the same temper
ature as the surrounding air. In nn
case sho" Id they be subjected to lOlcer
degree of air or water. Observe how
f ,nneIs washed, perhaps, in hot water
and bung out doors on freezing day
will contract almost percepIibly.
Wooden goods should be .queezed and
pressed until clean. Rubbing them
causes the scale like fibers 10 become mat
red together and the fabric is thlCkened
hardened and shrunk. Examine the
.eams, which have been much rubbed
by wear, Of wool dress and note how
hey are fitted together.
Borax, becauss of its strength and yet
mud uncorrosive nature, is the the best
,lkali to use. Ammonia. wa hing soda
tlC., are ltiO IldINu lOl IL DiFoOiNN
the borax in either hot or cold water and
bottle for The purpose. Hot water will
.bsorh about six times as much as cold,
The quantity tu be used depends some
what upon how soiled the articles to be
washed are. 1t is better to use plenty,
as 1t cannot inj the fabric and the DIR
can be removed with less handling
Allow the goods to 81 ak in borax water
lr sOapsuds several hours, press and
.uu-eze until clean, rIn.e thoroughly
several times. adding little bIuIng TO
the last water If desired; al this point,
after the water has b. en- wrung from
he flannels, work and press into each
fewAdrops of glycsrine. The quantity
IL not arbitrary. One half tablespoon
full to one ponnd of dry fl ,nnel is an aver
age quantity. The glyceTine supplies
The original natural oil of the wool and
It's use was suggested by the fact that
-ponge pillows and mattresses are treat
ed in this way to make the sponge soft
and elastic. Wool, at one point of III
preparation for weaving, is sprInkled
with olive oil. After adding the glycer-
inc, pull and shake each piece into shape
md hang to dry Shrinkage seems to
be somew hat dimin shed by This pull.
ing, as wool goods while wet may br
shaped and stretched, 10 cer'a'n e&-
cent.
II white fl ,nnels are old and yellow
hey may be beautifully bleached, ana
for this purpo-e should be taken when
abo1t half dry, hung on cords stretched
in tighr box, barrel or portable ward
robe. Sprinkle sulphur on a few live
Goals place IN finwer-pot saucer, set
on brick in the bottom of the barrel,
which should then be tightly covered
The article must not be hung 100 near
The Goals to scorch. sulphur tunes are
yery corrosive and the bleaching should
be done outdoors or in room with doors
and windows open. Too much sulphur
will rot the fabric. On half or one tea
spoonful in a barrel is fair quantity.
A ter bleaching half an hour the article
will be, if the direc ions have been fol-
lowed, just damp enough to press nlcel ly.
The irons should not be too hot and h
piece of muslin should be laid over the
goods while pressing. II a smooth sur
face is desired, press until perfectly dry ;
# the napis wished raised. remove th-
muslin while the steam Is rising Blank
cts should not be iToned. Flannels are
warmer before ironing, as there is a
greater amount of air space bttween the
fiber, For this reason the same weight
If fluffy, loosely woven wool is much
warmer than when closely woven,
though the latter is stronger. O.d
shrunken baby hinnels. too good 10
throw away bu' too bard and yellow to
be presentable. have been washed H.
described and made as soft and white at
new.
II the above directions are followed
the bleaching process Will not often ht
necessary. Some shrinkage is newt
able, though long, hair like wool. which
has fewer serrations, shrinks least,
Sb.ne of the imported woods for knitting
and crocbeting are of this quality
flannel containing part cotton usually
,hrlnks lees than all wool.
For washing woolens which are but
slightly soiled, or outer garments which
cannot well be taken apart and pressed
benzine or gasoline is excellent. Us a
sufficient quantity to cover the articles,
press and suueeze until clean. Work
tasr that rs little be lost by evaporation
a. possible, Wiring and pour the ben
zine remaining IN a bottle, and cork
IL the garment il much sliled, rinse II
more heDzine and save what is left. The
impurities will settle, leaving the cleal
benz ne to be used and rinsed as long a.
nv rerIains. The articles washed IL
his way should be shaken amp hung IN
tn air to lose the dissg ee ,ble odor. A
little pressing will complete this process
which, owing to the volatile and eXpl"s'
/ ,ya natura of both hpnzinp and Qastl ne
should not he performed in a room
where there Is a fire or light. Good
Housekeeping