The Washington times., 1908-08-15
HINTS ON CLEANING
SUMNER FROCKS
Various Methods by Which Laun-
dry Bill May Be Re-
duced.
duced.


duced.
The summer laundry bill and the
cleaners bills as well are always large,
alarmingly large TO many. and direc-
tions for removing spots. when reliable.
are always in order.
Dimity and organdie. linen and pongee
and other thin frOCks can be freed OF
small spots at home just as well as at
the cleaners and at a great saving OF
expense, and then. too, there IS no delay
in the cleaning. and the garment is on
hand ready for use.
The most valuable aid OF all cleansers
is sulphuric ether. II may be bought II.
scaled tin cans, or small bottles OF
Squibbs' ChlOrofoTm may be purchased
II is. however. extremely inhammable.
and should under no circumstances be
used in any room having an open fire or
lighted gas jets. Used in the daytime
remote from fire it is perfectly safe.
IT evapOTates with great rapidtty, and
leaves no circle around the erstwhAe
soiled spot as does gasolene or most
other cleaHsers. II cleans the most deli
cate white satins and silks and chiffon
as soap and water does linen. The bot
tie or tin containing 1t must be kept
cOrlsed tight. OF It will entirely evap-
crate
To use ether. first spread the soiIed
spot IN the garment over a smooth, all
BOrbent surface linen towel or white
flannel. Then take q bit OF white fan
mel and putting IL TO the mouth of the
bottle, wet il thoroughly. corking the
bottle Immediately and also fastening
10 get the wet cloth on the soiled spot
before the precious fluid is dissipated.
The spot should first be thoroughly
mOistened with the ether and then
rubbed gently along the thread of the
goods. When dry apply a fresh supply
and repeat until 1t is quite clean. Ether
Will take out all greases especially well
and also remove dirt, etc, that has set
tied in the grease.
II one is away from home FOR the
summer ether should be taken along
also goOd-sized piece of flannel, a
small Ane clothes brush, and a good.
firm. fiue. small sponge. a cake of flnt
white soap, a bottle OF giycerine, a small
bottle of ammonia. and another Of
peroxide of hydrogen, and also q few
OXalc acid crystals should be taken
along. All these may be put in a tin
box, the bTeakable things wrapped in
cotton wool, so that they VIII neither
nave their corks shaken out nor be
broken.
Another Indispensable article is block
magnesId, of which several cakes should
be taken, and fullCF's earth and q small
nailbTuSh are valuable adjUnCts.
II one spills ice cream or gravy on q
gown, the magnesia should be rubbed
On as SCOn as possible II It Is a white
fTOck, a fine soft toothbrush may be
used TO work the magnesla into the
goods. The dress need not be taken eff
Tor this purpose. After the magnesia is
rubbed in and COnceals the spot IL will
not be noticed. The next morning dust
out the magnesia and apply more. Al
alcohol lamp. some white blOtJerS. and
@ hot iron, heated over the lamp, viii
usually take out all the grease. Put a
blotter under as well as over the grease
spot, into which all the magnesia Dos
sible has been rubbed, and press with
the warm-nOt hot-iron. If this leaves
any trace of the grease, use the cholOTO-
form as previously directed
Wine stains on white lingerie froCks
can usually be entirely removed by
WeFling them Win water. 70 Whlcn a
little ammonia and spirits of wine have
been added
Pure alcohol will usually take out
grass stains, but here, If unsuccessful
with the alcohol, wet with peroxide Of
hydrogen, ard then with pure ammonia.
This forms strong bleaching compound
that Will remove almost any stain If
repeated several times.
Kerosene is said to TemOVN fruit
stains, but the writer has never tried it.
Tea stains may sometimes be re-
moved with warm milk or with glycer-
ine. but here, TOO. the ammonia ana
peroxide come in well.
Egg stains should never be touched
with hot water which sets them, but
pure cold water viii take them out.
Hot water should as a rule never be
used on any stains.
Ink spots may be removed by a weak
solution of oXalic acid. The writer has
removed them by first wetting the ma
teTial with peroxide and then with am
mOnia.
In cleaning spots the garment should
be stretched as much as possible into a
smooth, fat surface over pad or tight
" rolled ball of cloth. so as to isolate
the spot 10 be wet and prevent the ma
ferial being wTinkled. After cleaning,
and the spot is free Of all stain or dirt,
* should be gently stretched over dry
Vad and fastened fiat. or else hung
where the air may dry il as quickly as
POSSIBLE The alcohol lamp and small
iron will be found invaluable in pressing
the material after 1t IS nearly dry.