Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-05-06
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.
Correspondence On topics Of ixssrest the lAdie
10 solicited. Address: Editor HonEnAkfhs
CoLunN, oxford Democrat, Paris. Maine.

HCW TO lAUNOER LACE AT 1OME.
In the laundering of laces, as In the
washing of all clothes, care should be
taken in examining each piece, and In
mending all holes and weak places.
The doing-up of laces is really very
pleasant work, but it requires time and
patience; there is needed, also, q good
supply of water, soap, and pins, and,
besides, flannel-covered board.
To illustrate the process, let us take a
piece of white lace; if it has been only
slightly soiled, it can be cleansed by
rubbing in cornmeal, magnesia, or corn
starch, and, then, after allowing the lace
to remain in the meal over night, by
brushing very carefully with clean
brush.
If the lace has become discolored by
Precipitation, it can be whitened thus:
Soak in solution of CASTLE soap ten
minutes, then place in the sun, still
saturated with the soap solution, and
repeat the process until the original
color is restored. 1t is absolutely
necessary to have the effect of sunlight;
soap and water alone will not suffice.
If the lace be soiled evenly in all parts,
without any special stains, make q soap
solution of tepid water, using either
white CASTLE or Ivory soap. Put the lace
into this, and shake it up and down,
changing the water as soon as 1t Is the
least discolored; do this until the lace
assumes its original color, and the water
is clean; then gently press it between
the palms of the hands-never wiring it
and rinse in several clean tepid waters;
never use hot or cold water.
1t it be necessary to stiffen the lace,
into the last water put small amount
of sugar, just enough to make the water
feel sticky; or, if more stiffness be de-
sired, dissolve two or three kernels OF
gum arabic in pint of lukewarm water.
Let the lace soak in this five or ten
minutes, then press between the hands
again, and pat until partially dry. Now
it is ready for pinning; this is the part
that requires patience and perseverance,
and is quite the most important item in
the operation.
| Secure board the length of the lace,
if possible; cover smoothly and tightly
with at least two thicknesses of flannel.
Pull the lace into shape very carefully,
and place right side down on the flannel.
Pin evenly each point or scallop on both
sides, being careful not to pull the lace
too tightly, but just tight enough; after
you think it is all done, 60 over it again,
and, am quite sure, you will find places
for fifteen or twenty pins more. Let
the lace remain pinned on the board
about twelve hours; then remove pins,
and, with fine needle, pick out each lit,
tie bead, and you will have a piece OF
lace that looks like new-that is, pro.
vided you have followed faithfully the
above directions.
Lace handkerchiefs should be washed
in the same way. If they be very much
soiled, small amount of ammonia may
be added to the soap solution, and the
handkerchiefs allowed to soak in the so
luton for ten minutes; then renew the
water and proceed as with the white
lace.
In pinning the handkerchiefs great
care must be taken. Place the handker'
chief upon the board, and pull into shape
See that the threads in the centre run
parallel, otherwise the handkerchief will
have twisted appearance when done
Pin the centre, then pin the outside
when you can find no other place for a
pin, put in the sun to dry; let the hand
kerchief remain on the board for day
then remove, and you will feel repaid
for your work.
White silk lace which has become vel
low, but is not soiled, may be whitened
by first sewing on to flannel and soaking
in solution of milk and .borax for half
an hour, and then by bleaching in the
sun.
Both borax and ammonia should be
used cautiously, as they have tendency
to weaken fibres.
1t ought never to be necessary to iror
laces; but, should one be in great haste
after rinsing place the lace between fian
nels, and press with a rather cool iron
We do not advise to treat expensive
laces in this way.
Sometimes it is convenient to know
how to wash black lace; for, although il
never looks soiled, it is often mucf
ldirtier than we realize. Make prepare
ton of one ounce, each, of camphor
Ialcohol, borax, and ammonia; add one
third cup of this to two-thirds cuI
of water. Spread the lace on piece OF
black cloth and sponge with the mkt
ure; when thoroughly sponged, proceed
with the pinning as with the white lace
Black lace may also be washed in equal
parts of black coffee and ammonia, and
rinsed in equal parts of skinned mill
and water, then partially dried ano
pressed between black goods.
Gum arabic water may be used in re
storing lace to its original stiffness; bu
great care should be taken in stiffenine
laces.
To some these directions may seem toe
Iexplicit, and to others too discouraging
but, to me, there is no branch of laundr!
work that gives such genuine satisfaction
as the laundering of laces.-Maria viii
lett Howard in Boston Cooking-Schoo