The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-28
FOR FEMININE READERS
WAYS OF CLEANING, TINTING AND
CARING FOR LACE OF ALL SORTS.
An Argument i'm Favor of Mourning
Garb Social Position of n
Congressman's Wife.

Lace is used in such profusion. not only
in gowns. but in millinery and household
decorations, that the process of home clean
ing has become a matter of interest 10 most
women. says the Millinery Trade Review.
With plenty of care, patience and time (the
first essentially a good lace that has be-
come soiled may be made to look as well as
new.
In washing fine laces have a strip of fan
mel on which to haste the lace, using care
to have every point basted down smooth
ly. Make a strong suds with white soap
and water. Dissolve one teaspoonful of
borax in half a pint of boiling water and
add to it two quarts of the suds. When
this liquid is tepid lay the lace in it and let
it soak for ten hours or more. Then sop
and squeeze the flannel, but do the work
carefully and gently. Then squeeze out all
the suds and drop the flannel in a bowl of
hot suds. Work gently in this water. Now
rinse in fresh water until the water looks
clear. Finally starch and squeeze as dry
as possible.
Tack the flannel on a clean board, draw
ing 1T very tight in all directions. See that
every part Ga the lace lies smooth and that
all the meshes are open. When dry cut
the basting threads and draw them out
very gently. The lace may be tinted in
the last rinsing water if the dead white is
not liked. If the lace is point or any of
the laces with raised designs it will be
necessary to lift the raised work with a
small pointed instrument.
To starch lace mix one teaspoonful Of
starch with two teaspoonfuls of cold water
and pour on this one pint of boiling water.
Place on the fire and add one-fourth of a
teaspoonful of sugar and one-fourtn of a
teaSpoonful OF gum arabic which has been
soaked IN one tablespoonful Of cold water.
Boil for five minutes. stirring all the while.
Strain through cheese cloth. For laces in
winch only a suggestion OF starch is de-
sired double the quantity of water. For
heavy laces that are required TO be rather
stiff use only half the quantity of water.
Gum arabic starch is made by putting
one-fourtt of an ounce of the best white
gum arabic in a cup or wide-mouthed bottle
with one gill Of cold water. Let it soak for
two or three hours, then place in a basin
OF cold water and put on the fire to dissolve.
Stir frequently; strain through cheese
cloth. This makes a very stiff starch. For
articles that need to be only slightly
stfnened a quart of water or even more may
be added to the dissolved gum arabic.
In cleaning common laces make the suds
as for fine laces and let the lace soak in
this for ten hours or more; then rub gently
between the palms of the hands. Wash in
q CGOllI SGIS III lie AN manner. InGl
rinse until the water is clear. If the lace
is to be tinted do it now; then starch. Have
a flannel tackled tightly on a board; spread
the lace on this and pin to the flannel. Be
sure that the lace is drawn out properly
and that each point is fastened to the fan
mel with = pin. Dr. the wet lace may be
drawn out perfectly smooth, covered with
a piece of cheese cloth and ironed with a
moderately hot iron until quite dry.
To give thread lace a SOFT, old look pass
it through water that has been slightly
h1rxnA and 20 wIfnh hoe hAAA alI- -
little black ink one drop of ink for. every
half pint of water. For an ecru tint use
tea, coffee or saffron. Make the tinting
fluid fairly strong and try a corner of the
lace in it; if too strong add water. Tea is
the most satisfactory agent. but it does not
give as yellow a tint as coffee or saffron.
To clean lace with absorbents mix to-
L gether equal quantities of cream Of tartar.
magnesia and powdered French chalk.
sprinkle it thickly with the mixture and
roll up. Let the lace lie in this for a week
or ten days, then shake off the cleaning
mixture. With a soft, clean cloth wipe the
lace. This method will only answer for
laces that are not much soiled.
I'd dry-clean laces put the laces in a bowl
and cover with naDththa. Let them soak
for an hour, then wash by sopping and rub
bling between the palms of the hands. Rinse
pull il into shape. The texture of the lace
is not changed in the least by this method
of cleaning. If the lace needs stiffening dip
it inaa thin solution of gum arabic, pin il
to a covered board and let it dry. There
must be neither fire nor light in the room
when the lace is being washed with the
naphtha, and the windows must be open.