New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-31
THAT OLD STRAW HAT.
SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING
IT As GOOD As NEW
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WASHING RIBBON CLEANING
FEATHERS FRESHEN1NG FLOWERS AND
MAKING CRvMPLED CHIFFON
SMOOTH AGAIN

SMOOTH AGAIN
These are the days when the little home miIIiner
with The clever fingers ands abundance Of work
waiting for her In renovatinR the family hats that
have come back from the seashore or mountain 10
a greater or less state % collapse
1T D., too early vet" said one OF these women Of
faculty Yesterday ~ a Tribune reporter "to get
felt nat and. indeed. The milIiners aren't near
ready f-r their openings yer. hut when some ono
IN tho family is skIfu IN fixing ur things q ltre
work sufices 70 keep a wardrobe n good order.
Take this nne black straw. for instance. You
wouIdnt believe. 20 look az q nov. how disgrace
fully dirty 10 was when mother came home with it
from Boston. She had worn 10 for a travelling hat
al summer and il was gray with dust. Now let
tell YOU what did and what YOU can DO under
similar circumstances.
First unDick an trimmings, lining and wire from
the hat. snc that au The ends Of cotton arc
taken out u.s. they would spoil the appearance ~
the ha+ II left Then brush well with cloth brush
20 remove tho surface due, AS this Wi NOT quite
remove an the dust. rub the hat next with damp
doth. or Very dirty. Use small cheap nal
brush and clean water. Then iron % improve the
shape and DRY the straw Begin ironing the TOP
~ -he crown inside with moderately hot small
'-on Those rounded ar nOth ends ara the best for
this purpose. Next iron the sides, and when doing
this &c VIII be necessary 20 place the hat ~ the
edge of the table so ina, the brim viii not DO
crushed Then iron the under side Of tho hrim
The hat should MOI he ironed the upper side
DO NOT var1sh tu the hat is dr..
ITO varrish take some ebony black varnish and
as 60 is sure % Dc TOO thick and glossy mix with
g. small quantity ~ uetrvIated spirits ir the pro
portion o. zen 1arts va-nish 20 one part spirits
Apply wit- soft brush. s"~ orist.es make the
,ar0ish appear stroaky Begin vanishing from
t1e centre Of the crown or top Apply the varrish
evenly brushing Ia direction. being oarefr. NOT
ta brush over -he same par, second tine I'll the
first coat is dry After brushing the TOP work
down th4 Sides and lastly the h-tu. Let the var
risr dry perfectly before retriuniuE
'Iu cleaning white s-raws. q they are ex,-aor-
dinarly dirty and dscolo-ed they can be- cleaned
by brushing WIFI mixture Of water and oxalic
acid. in The proportion OF one teaspoo0ful o. acid
20 one teacuptu' Of boiling water. Care must be-
exercised DO the use Of this acid for II 700 strong
II viii burn che straw.
After using me acid. wash tho straw well n
clean cod water dry thoroughy and ron into
clear spir, va-risa or the white Of egg 10 stifen
White s,raws. may be- dyed with ne ebony var,
nlsh az rs fun strength FOR the first coat. ans
then brushed v--h a weak solution Of varnis7 ana
methyiated spirits
LEGH0RN HATS
Treat Legho-n hats IN a similar manner 70 white
straws m clean and varrlsh with copa. vernish or
brush with white % egg Great cave must .e
taken IN the ironing ~ the straw after washing
a. II not thoroughly dried the hat viii cl- quite
TO RENovATE RIBBON
There are various ways in which ribbon may be-
cleaned The following are all good r. the ri61on
has been made w into bows sewec In any way
unpick all The stitches frst then brush lightly
with a stiff brush Lay me ribbon on plain.
smooth board or table-a board JIG preferable
sponge it well with clean water and ammonia.
Ammonia varies very much ir strength bur the
following proportion is usually strong enough Two
teaSpOoufuis 10 one brealNls cup ~ water
To stiff1u the ribbon sp0rge T. after g. has been
-f r~r Irrr-1
teaspoonfuls 20 half pint % water. and leave +
on the board % dry. when - Will De found smooth
and ready for Il the Th10n s. required ar
once r. may ne ironsd Immediately after t1e clean
sheet, with blanket beneath. an over ~ r.o0oa
place either "a clean. smooth piece OF muslin 0r
7arer and iron win fairly hot iron.
TO CLEAN FEATHERS
Feathers can be cleaned by dipping ir soap
Iathe- Il they are dirty rub ve- gently win the
fingers Rinse IL clean water and snake before
fire 70 dry. being careful not % sco-cn Them curl
with a blunt penkrtse Os0reye and aierettes are
CLEANED IN the same way as feathers
II your toTo~S are dusty and cruup.et. 1rlsL
frs with . sofr velvet brush picking Che leaves
,rto shape. Then snake gently iu the steam from
lukeVaru water pour this into p Wild m't-a-d
bottle or jar and place t1e s0led chiffon IN it
Cover rho mouth NJ the bottle WIN lean +l-irr
~ cloth and shake well Remove 'he C1iN0~. an s
n NOT thoroughly cleaned repeat he process i0
fresh soap lather Rinse In clean wa Tor and et fen
with gum arabic roll ~ clean cloth and Iron
Vow with hat and trimmings All fresh and
bright i- IS an easy matter % reconstruct along
the same old lines new ones. and there rs your
hat agair a' ~ good order for t.e autumn