Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12
RIGHT LAUNDRY METHODS.
BY Alice Il. Whitaker.

An inexperienced housekeepor has
asked me how to make table linen APP
pear like new after It is Numbered. She
is not successful in starching it, as the
cloth is sure 10 he like stiff paper Sow
the recret Of giving pure linen gloss
and very slight stiffness is in either
drying and spriTking il so as to be
about as vet as when taken from the
tub, or in wringing ii from the last rims
ing water as dry as possible and ironing
Immediately with very hot IRONS. 1t is
important that the ironing he continued
until the last trace of dampncss is gone.
Not less than scven-pound iron should
be used for table linen.
Many housckecpcrs now agree that
boiling tahlc linen turns it yellow and
sots any trace Of stain. If washed BY
itself. as it always should be, it does
not need sterilzns. Wash with any good
soap. especially any Of the various kinds
that have naphtha in their composition.
rinse well. blue lightly and if possible
dry in tho sun and the linen will be
white and clean.
The high gloss which shows on one
side of the linen sent home from steam
laundries comes from the wet fabric be-
ing placed under great pressure in heat
ed rnang."s. The folding OF manglcd
linen. however is cxcr1hle. In fact, table
linen should be- folded as little as posi-
bic FOR cloth lies much smoother #
folded but once through the center and
then is rolled or folded loosely without
pressure. This is in direct contrast 10 the
fashion so many home laundresses have
OF folding cloth until when spread on
the table it presents series of ridges.
Napkins are now often folded but once
and then rolled around large pasteboard
tubes. When placed on the table they
are folded again lengthwise. and once or
twice across, but without pressure The
tubes for rolling can he bought large
enough for half the width Of table cloths
and in some linen closets all the cloths
are kept on their respective rolls. Small
er tubes are especially convenient for
keeping centerpieces and doilies from
being rumpled and are more saving Of
space than boxes.
Some damage comes to table linen from
being tossed while damp into d clothes
hamper with other sOlled clothing Mil
dew results, and this is the most obsti-
nate OF all stains. When such =. spot is
found. dry and brush il. then dip into
buttermilk or lemon juice, and after
standing in the sun while rub on a
paste made of soap softened with a lit
lie water and a little dry starch rubbed
in. Expose to the hot sun and persist in
the treatmept until the stain is removed,
Fruit stains are the most common and
are easily taken out before the linen is
placed in soap and water After wash
ing thc,' are more or less indclible To
take fruit, tea and coffee stains out
stretch the spots loosely over a bowl
allowing for a little sagging. From "a
heigh- OF twelve inches pour boiling
water in a fine stream. Continue until
the color disappears, then the cloth may
be Numbered in the usual way. If cocoa
and chocolate stains are soaked in
solution 90 borax and cold water for "a
| while before the boiling water treatment
they will disappear more readily.
Sometime candles are allowed TO drip
on the cloth, making troublesome spot
unless 1t is handled in the right way.
Lay "A piece of blotting pap over and
and be absorbed in the paper Keep
| moving the paper and pressing until
| there is no trace of wax. The careless
laundrcss vii sometimes leave the i'm
preston of a hot iron on linen. or per-
haps a good napkin is taken to llft some
thing from the gas stove and scorch
results. This sort of mark will not come
out quickly. The only cure is to place the
there day after day until it fades,
| which II will do eventually II hut slight
| II the fibres of the material are broken
| there is no remedy.
Another accident results from some one
bringing bottle of ink into the dining
| room for moments use; il is upset or
| the wet pen laid down. Dip the spot into
| cold milk and as soon . this is disclo-
| ored change 1t and repeat until the spot
| clears away. If the stain is overlooked
| and the cloth goes through soap and
water bath. then javelle water must be
! used. Mix one-quartcr Gu, in half pail
| OF boiling water and soak tho spot in il
| a few minutes. Then rinse several times
for the solution will destroy the cloth.
Danger of iron rust to table linen is
not so great now as when steel knives
were used; when such a spot appears,
scatter salt over, then drip on enough
lemon juice to moisten and lay the
cloth in bright sunlight Perhaps this
will need to he repeated, but it will take
out the mark finally without iniuring
the cloth. like more powerful acids. Do
| not he in n hurry to get results. but lay
it aside each day to work slowly,