Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-06-10
ON WASHING SHIRT WAISTS.


The season of the thin shirt waist is
again upon us, and with it the problem
of the laundering of the shirt waist.
Those who send all their waists to the
public laundry complain of the wear and
tear, those who must do their own laun-
dering and do not know how to do 1t
in the best way groan over the material
spoiled or the woful appearance OF the
garment when it comes from the ironing
board. Even the skilled housekeeper is
glad of anything that will make this
hard work any easier. The best public
laundries have solved many of the most
perplexing of these problems, and every
effort is being made to spread the
knowledge and use of these methods.
At the Boston cooking school there
are laundry as well as cooking demon
STATIONS, and Miss Marietta Mcpherson,
the assistant, has given much attention
to shirt waists. In washing, Miss. Nc
Pherson urges the girls to avoid strong
yellow soap, ammonia and all washing
powders. "Use OILY mild white SOAP"
she says. eff the color does not run,
soak the waist in tepid soapy water five
minutes. This lOoses the dirt and
lessons the necessity for rubbing. Do
not boil. Rinse thoroughly in two OF
three clear waters, using bluing with
discretion. Lavender or green waists
should never be blued.
In ironing her rule, as laid down in
the cooking school magazine, is to begin
with the cuffs, pressing first on the
wrong side and then finishing on the
right, until perfectly dry. Next iron the
collar band, and then the sleeves. The
sleeves are the most difficult part of the
waist to do we'll; and sleeve board car
be purchased for about 25 cents, which
is considered by-many as a great help
These are commonly used in hand laun.
dries, and when used the sleeves are
ironed last.
If the sleeve is to be ironed without 6
board, press it fiat, ironing both sides
Finish the top by putting small iror
inside of the sleeve, through the arms
eye, and smoothing out the gathered
top. Many object to the fold in thu
sleeve when ironed fat, and this can bt
removed by rubbing with damp cheese
cloth and pressing out with small
iron.
Pique waists should be ironed on the
wrong side, excepting the sleeves, ant
on well padded ironing table, so tina
the cords will stand out we'll. If tn,
cuffs be desired very stiff, place them OF
a clean board, and with one hand rub il
thick-cooked starch, until the Innings
and outside of the cuffs are as ont
piece; then wipe superfuous starcl
from both sides of cuffs and dry. LIE
stand in the dampened body of thu
waist under pressure for about half al
hour before ironing.
Wash silk waists should be washed a.
the colored shirt waists. Before the.
are wholly dry, iron on the wrong side
A little gum arabic water will give tn,
waist slight stiffness, if desired.
| Many find flannel waists hard to do
For these Miss Mcpherson fills tut
full with warm go F.) soapy water, t.
which have been added two tablespoon
fuls of borax. Wash the waist up ant
down in the water with as little rubbing
as possible, she says, as this mats tn
fibre. Never rub soap directly on fan
nell Rinse well in two or three waters
of the same temperature as the first
adding to the last water one tablespoon
full of glycerine. This helps to keel
the wool soft. Loosen the tension o
the wringer, put the waist through, ant
hang until nearly dry. When ready Il
iron place a slightly dampened cheese
cloth over the flannel on the right side
and press with moderately hot iron
In removing the cheesecloth, the fibre
cling to it and are drawn up, giving tn
flannel soft finish much like the new
material, Boston Advertiser.