Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06
THE INEVITABLE WASH DAY
VALUABLE HINTS FOR CLEANSING
THE CLOTHES.
Likewise SugGestions for Hanging
and Soda Are Good Allies.

Written for The Evening Star.
Even with set tubs two wooden ones OF
handy size nelp out amazingly. One had
better be kept especially for table linen and
for rinsing the finest white things. Use the
other for soaking, but do not soak too long.
An hour is long enough to soften and dis
solve the dirt, yet not long enough to set
1t all through the garment. Soaking suds
strong with soda will eat and destroy the
fabric, but dirt comes out easier and with
out damage TO the fiber II the soiled things
are wet through with and well wrung out
Of warm soda water before they go in soak.
This wetting and wringing out will whiten
and sweeten without hurting the clothes.
The caustic soda attacks the dirt first and
is washed out, or dissolved away. before 1t
has time to eat the fabric. 1t must not be
too strong-a tablespoon of soda to three
gallons Of soft water is about the right pro-
portion. Hard water requires q fourth
more soda, as some Of 1t goes to neutralize
the lime.
Keep a sharp lookout for spots and stains
In the sorting. Either wet fruit stains in
stream Of full boiling water through them.
A stain once set by suds Is thenceforth al
most hopeless. Beware especially Of grass.
paint, mud and wagon grease marshall of
which must be taken out before washing or
not at all.
Kerosene in the boil whitens clothes safe
ly. especially such as are yellow from long
lying. Use tablespoonful to a gallon OF
water. For things very yellow or grimy
make an emulsion of kerosene, clear lime
water and turpentine in equal parts
snake together until creamy. then add
cupful to boilerful of clothes and keep
sion is good for very dirty things, as jump
ers, overalls, working shirts childrens
trousers. Use it in conjunction with very
strong suds. as hot as the hand can bear,
1 20 f1o tat
Leave the clothes five minutes before
washing out, and be sure the second suds
and the rinsing waters are as hot as the
first suds.
Things properly as to wash them we'll. II
big things. such table and bed linen dry
out or shape stretching and pulling them
stralgnt wears them more than use. Hang
sneets, table cloths, towels and napkins
across the line, ends down. Warp threads
are so much stronger than filling that il
things are habitually hung Iengthwise they
VIII certainly split along the fold. indeed,
all washable things should be hung out
that the weight while wet-which is thrice
the weight dry-comes upon the lengthwise
threads To do this with skirts, shirts aud
maze garments generally. get a strip of
clean fnch-square deal. some wooden barrel
hoops and plenty Of good-siZed screw hooks
along with few picture hooks. Saw after
the manner of coat hanger. For shirts
the deal ought to be long enough to reach
| r
neckband and slip the hook over the line
mus a fuli-size shirt will be properly dried
ana aired In about six inches of line space
Inc barrel hoops are for skirt hangers Tie
stout Irvine so it makes a knotted cross in
the middle of the hoop. and slip a picture
nook under the cross. Then fasten the
skirt band, put the hoop inside the skirt
ana nook upon the line. The line must be
extra stout. and properly braced for such
hangers. as they mean extra strain through
quadrupiing its drying capacity
Whether hung on hangers or sfmnIv
iihe' take pains to hang out shirts so the
oosoms will not drag. Once the several
. :. pull apart and dry In creases
| 1t will be hard work to get them back int
shape. It Is the same with cuffs and col
lars Snap them out straight and hang so
warp and Woof pull true. All the stiff and
pollshed things need to get bone-dry be-
tore stretching. They also need to be we'll
wet In blood-warm water before rubbing
SUN linen Is nearly as breakable as card
board, especially the fine sorts used In good
shirts. e'ON