The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-04
THE OLD CLOTHES CLOSET.
It Contains Many things That May De
Turned to Account.

/ Il Contains Many things That Nay De
Turned to Account.
Almost every household has an Old
clothes closet where clothing which
has passed It's first stage of usefulness
is hung preparatory 10 being made over
or sent away 10 those whom the Good
Book tells us we have always with Us.
il is almost impossible in large family
to prevent this stock of goods accu1lu-
! lsting. 1t is not always possible &c
make over or clean garments as fast as
we IRE through with them. At the be-
ginning Of each season there is usually
: goodlp supply of clothing that is .oc
| good TO throyv away. We hesitate &C.
give suck clothing away for fear OF
hurting the feelings Of some unfo-tdE-
! ate one, who, with lack of means. also
Jacks that mysterious faculty of max
ing the best use of everything that
comes in her possession. There are very
few poor people who understand how
10 clean old clothing properly and make
il over. In nine cases out of ten they
wear it for short time. as it is soiled
and shabby, and then cut il down in
some perfunctory manner for younger
pnes.
The art Of cleaning and Of dyeine
| wooden clothes is one every housewife
ought to possess. The great establish
Iaents charge 50 much for this WORK
that it hardly pays 10 employ them I'M
less the goods are exceptionally valu.
able. Some OF these professional work.
men do their work carelessly, though
the old standard establishments may
always be relied upon. The housewife
who can do her own work not only saves
money, but sometimes vexation oil
spirit over improperly finished work.
1t is not an uncommon thing for IRE.
sponsibie Overs 10 dye their cloth with
out cleaning it. The soiled spot soon
works through the surface of color, ana
the garment is in far worse condition
than IL was before 10 was colored, for
be removed.
The vast majority OF clothing in the
old clothes closet docs not need dyeing,
but merely cleaning and turning. In
spite OF the convenient fashion Of clean
ing garment without dipping il there
are limits to this kind Of work. Mems
clothes, jackets anSrsimply made gar.
uents that are not faded or badly worn
can be treated in this way. deliberately
made gowns and any garments where
there are q multitude of plaftiugs OF
gathers should be thoroughly ripped
end brushed free from the dust that al
ways settles in such places.
A woolcn garment that is badly worn
md faded may sometimes be cleaned
and turned and prove as useful at its
second wearing as it was before. Eir
every seam, brush them carefully. In
some cases il will need some scrspfng
IS well as brushing in order TO remove
the matted rolls of wool that accuInu-
late in the inside of garments next the
lining. After all the threads Of sewing,
as we'll a. the dust, are removed. clean
il with soap-hark. Apply this with q
email soft scrubbing brush and rinse
the cloth thoroughly in two or three
waters. Wiring It. Hang Il on the line
nnd when 1t is partially dry, press IL dry
on the wrong side. Where the cloth i.
white or Of a delicate color, II may be
better to wash It In the same wsy. using
q soft scrubbing br,lsh and lather OF
any good white soap. Ther- are grea,
many standard brands, and none are
better than those made at hcme by we'll
tried recipes. Grease spots on wooden
clothes should DO removed before clean
ing them with about equal parts Of hot
water and benzine. An obstinate grease
spot must be steamed and cleaned while
hot. II does not usually pay TO wash
and make over common cotton lining.
These are so inexpensive that 1t N
waste of time 10 make them over. A
box of secondhand clothing may BE-
made trsbly valuable 20 those to whom
1t rs sent If q little care is bestowed
upon IT. The tired mother Of large
family Of children. wiose time is spent
obtaining bread for her little ones, can
seldom take tim. 10 make over the little
gown sent her in such boz II !,
actually more profitable for her TO buy
the miserable quality OF cloth she can
&c; for tbs pittAnc- she has 20 spend
than TO properly brrsh and clean and
make over secondhand dress Sewing
circles who prepare boxes Of clothing
for those who need them usually do al
This work. so their gifts are dogbly
valusbie.-N. \. Tribune.
"