The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-02-20
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A Laundry Lesson.

on Mondays work are taken from an
article in Demorest.s Monthly:
Starching is process about which
almost every laundress has some
favorite theory. Many use flour
starch for coarse clothes, and laundry
starch for fine ones; while others
claim that, all things considered,
laundry starch it better for all clothes,
and most economical. Flour starch
turns sour very quickly il the clothes
are left rolled up any length Of time
before ironing, and causes them TO
become yellow When the starch
sours the only remedy is to put the
articles into the wash again, as neither
airing nor perfume will make them
even tolerable.
Laundry starch is properly prepared
by stirring the necessary quantity of
starch in cold water until it is quite
dissolved, then adding boiling water
and stirring continually until the
opaque white OF the mixture becomes
semi-transparent, and the starch is
thick almost like jelly. Almost every
laundress has n way OF her own for
making starch, and is tenacious OF
her opinion as 10 what will make il
iron without sticking. Wax, sperma-
ceti, bit of tallow candle, salt, soap,
lard, oil, and score of similar articles
are recommended, each no doubt
having it's advantages; but the most
simple, effectual and inexpensive ad-
dition to starch Is kerosene, desert
spoonful of which, stirred into two
quarts Of starch Immediately after the
boiling water Is added, will prevent
sticking, and be conductive to high
finish. The gloss which distinguishes
professional llaundry-work is produced
by various processes, one OF which is
to coat the articles again and again
with thick, boiled starch, ironing it
In as long as the material will absorb
It, and then polishing with irons made
specially for the purpose. Collars,
cuffs and shirt-fronts may be treated
in this way. Other garments usually
require but little starch. Table and
bed linen should have just enough
starch TO be smooth and glossy but
must not be at all stiff.
II the pieces are sorted before they
are taken from the laundry it will
save some steps; but If not, a little
care in hanging up will do as well.
Hang the clothes in order; sheets,
pillow-cases, table-cloths, napkins,
towels and wearing apparel, each sort
by itself Large pieces should be put
up first, and the basket will be less
heavy if it be necessary to move it.
Shake each piece as it is taken up,
being careful to remove as many OF
the folds or wrinkles as possible, as
this will make the clothes much easier
to iron. Labor in ironing will also be
saved by hanging the clothes evenly
on the line. Sheets and table-linen
should have the selvages even; pill
low-cases should be secured by one
side of the hem; drawers, by the
band; shirts by the lower edge of the
front, etc.
1h0 ohGAat-N AAtdSCNlAC Nouia ElN-
claim il she were told that there was
a right and wrong way to put up the
line and hang up the clothes; but
there are many particulars wherein
the ordinary methods might be i'm
proved upon. The line should be
placed where the sun shines and there
is free circulation of air, but nc
strong current, which on windy days
would whip out hems and do irrepar-
able damage TO delicate fabrics. The
fastenings of the lines should be
about seven feet from the ground
and must not be too far apart, else
the weight of the clothes will cause
the line to sag, and the garments will
be liable to be soiled by contact with
the ground. When the line is up rut
it with damp cloth to remove any
dust or soil, and see that there are nc
weak spots where the line may break
and allow the clothes to fall to the
ground.