Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-15
Shirtwaists in the Home Laundry.

termed, pale pink and blue shades, that
are much more becoming to some COM
plexions is in all proba bility largely ow-
ing to the tendency of these latter to
fade in washing. Now. this is not at
all necessary when they are properly
attended to- White is of course. more
satisfactory in anything requiring con-
slant laundering, for the reason that
1t does not need separate treatment
from the rest of the family wash.
1t is advisable in buying summer
gowns for shrtwaists to test the ma
terial by washing a sample. Pink and
yellow are both fast colors. compare
lively speaking, and for this reason
will stand the ordeal of the laundry
better than pale blues and greens. n
good way to fix any shade of blue so
that il will not fade is to soak the
goods for two hours in a pailful of wa
ter into which an ounce of sugar OF
lead has been dissolved. Let it dry
before washing in the usual way.
All tinted or patterned Singhams,
percales. muslins, lawns, French cot
tons and similar goods should not be
boiled. nor should they have washing
soda nor any strong alkaline washing
powders IN lfl1S water. NHitI illuSt
not be boiling hot, though this will be
less injurious to pinks and reds than
to other colors If dirty. they can be
steeped in cold water with a little salt
in it to prevent the colols running
and To soften the dirt. They may also
have little boraX dissolved in the
water in which they are washed, though
it is better to do without this unless
very much soiled. Muslins and deli
cate fabrics should not be rubbed, as
this spoils the surface; they must
be squeezed, much as one would 90
with wooden goods. and soap jelly used
instead of soap. They should be wash
ed as quickly as possible.
Soap Jelly is made by Shredding
many little pieces of white soap into
hot water and dssolving them. If
they do not melt readily the soap is not
shredded finely enough. in which case
the pail can be set on the stove for n
few minutes: if there are pieces left
over they may be saved for future
use Pour enough of the jelly into the
water to make a stiff lather.
The goods should be rinsed in sew
eral waters. with little bluing and
salt in the last For purple. black
and some other colOrs. substitute vine
gar for salt: this will not only fix the
color. but sometimes it seems to re
store the pristine freshness of tint to
a faded purple or heliotrope. Some
times in patterned goods. where there
is a mixture of colors. it is we'll to use
both vinegar and salt in the proper
ton of a tablespoonful of each to a
quart of water. Black and-whte
checks sometimes require washing in
several waters the first time, as the
black dye comes out so much as to dis
color the white interspaces. In sub
seuuent washes. however this diff
Guilty will not be experienced. Water
in which potatoes have been boiled is
good for black calico and lawns. Some
people wash them entirely in milk,
adding a good deal of bluing to the last
rinsing milk. Turn the materials on
the wrong side to dry and hang in a
shady place.
If the shirtwaists are wanted very
stiff. they should be thoroughly dried
before starching; if moderately so
about half dried. The closer tbs
weave of the goods the thinner the
starch should be. Only white or cream
colorel shirtwaists should ever be
dried in the sun. as everything fades
much more quickly when Wet, being
subjected to what is really a bleaching
process. They are better. however
dried quickly. and this they will do il
hung in Il breeze.
TO make hot water starch, dissolve
tablespoonful of starch in little
cold water. with as much borax as ;
dime, dissolved in a tablespoonful o
boiling water Gt will not melt in cole
water), and a quarter Of an inch of tai
low candle. Pour on boiling waite
until it reaches the desired consisten
cy. If they are wanted stiff, the starcl
should not be squeezed out of then
too much before they are hung out Il
dry or the resired result will not b.
achieved.
Clothes prepared in hot water starcl
should be sprinllled, when dry. will
hot water instead of cold. as the latte
is liable to leave starch spots. Havins
reached this stage, if the shirtwais
has stiff cuffs they and the collar mus
he dipped in cold water starch, which
is mixed in the following proportions
one tablespoonful of starch to Il small
half-pint of water. four drops o
spirits of turpentine. and as mucl
boraX as will lie on a dime, dissolve,
in Il tablespoonful of boiling water
Pour in n little of the water and mi,
it up quite smoothly with the hand
then pour in the rest of the water
turpentine and dissolved boraX takin;
care not to get the sediment of TIL
latter as it tends to produce iron mould
This quantity is more than enough 70
two shirtwaists.
First of all. Wei the sleeve all roun
where il joins the cuff by dipping tn
fingers III water ard rubbing them owe
it. taking care not to wet the cuff itself
the collar is attached. treat 1t in tn
same way. Then gather the sleeve ticht
~ into tho hand ana dip the cuff into tn
starch stirring the latter up each tim
with the finger. Rub the starch well il
squeezing the hot starch out, rub
Treat The collar the same way. If ON
The sleeve before starching the cuff.
would be disfigured with starch spot.
Roll the shirt waist tightly and lay
aside for an hour or more.
The cuffs should be ironed first an
require an iron hot can be use
without sCorching. BoX-irons are nice
for starched things than the ordinar
fiat-irons. as. not having to touch til
stove their surface they are cieane
keep their heat trom the red-hot fro