Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-06-22
LAUNDERING WHITE SHIRTS.
A SIMPLE PROCESS PROMISING salts
FACTORY RESULTS.

MANY housewives cannot depend on
Chinese or steam laundries to do this
work, even II they have plenty OF money
to nav the charges, and 1t Is often more
convenient to launder the shirts at home.
The washing is fully as important as the
ironing, for unless they are perfectly
clean, no amount Of polishing will make
them look well.
Some housekeepers wash the shirts
with the regular washing, others save
them for three or four weeks, and then
wash them separately. When the latter
method Is adopted, put them In tub the
night before they are to be washed, cover
them with water, and let them soak. In
the morning put on q boiler OF SOFT
water. Pass the clothes through the
wringer into the second tub, and when
the water has heated, pour 1t over them.
Wash through this water, using plenty
Of ivory soap to remove the dirt. Com
mon yellow soaps contain rosin which
turns white muslin yellow. Put the
shirts into the boiler with good hot suds,
and let them boil ten minutes. Do not
crowd them, as they should have plenty
of room aud water to obtain the best re-
suits. When they are done, take them
out into tub, add enough water to
make them cool enough To handle, rub
them through this. and rinse through
two waters, one clear, the other just
blue enough to make them look clear
and white. insufficient rinsing will
leave them streaked. Hang them on the
line in the sunshine until dry.
The cold starch should be partly pre-
pared the evening before 1t Is used. This
Is done by putting three tablespoonfuls
Of powdered starch and six tablespoon
fuls Of water into bowl. Mix
thoroughly, and cover 1t to keep the
dust out. Next morning add more
water until II Is thin enough. stir until
smooth and put In drop or two OF
biueing; then take piece Of soap and
rub Il between the hands In the starch
until the mixture Is frothy like soap
suds. A little gum arabic dissolved In
water and added to the starch makes II
sitter. Dip the collars, cuffs and shirt
bosoms In one at time, and be sure
,hst every thread Of the linen Is saturated
with the starch. Roll up tightly and let
them remain half an hour before iron
ing.
The ironing board should be covered
With several thicknesses Of old blanket,
then with white muslin cloth, all OF
Which are stretched smoothly, and Sc
curely tackled to the board. Two covers
may be made like pillow slips, except
that they are larger ut one end than the
other (as that is the shape Of most OF the
ironing boards.) A clean cover can be
slipped on whenever II Is used. They
should tit the board perfectly, and be
put on so the seams viii be at the edges
OF the board. A second board, the size
aud shape Of shirt bosom, and covered
like the first Is also necessary.
Begin BY ironing the neck band, then
fold the back and iron IL, then the cuffs,
sleeves, and front OF the shirt When
ready to iron the bosom, slip the small
board inside the shirt and press the
bosom smoothly upon It. Wet soft
hite rag In hot water and rub the sur
face, to remove any starch that may adj
here TO IL. Iron until it Is perfectly dry,
pressing upon the iron TO give II the de-
sired polish. IL Is very simple process
hen understood, and n little practice
will enable any woman to obtain salts
factory results.