Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-10-08
THE EXPERT LAUNDRESS.

A good many people think that wash
ing is a humble and mental task which
any one at all, with mere physical
strength and little or no intelligence,
may perform. But in this they are
greatly mistaken, for the expert laun-
quite as much as do many higher paid
and more pretentious workers. 1t IS
true that many women are not strong
enough to do the actual work of washing
but they will find it decided advantage
if they are acquainted with the methods
of the expert laundress.
There is q fine knowledge in the use of
the best starches, brands of soap and
their application.
The effect upon certain textures and
the skill involved in methods of blning.
rinsing, summing and drying is one little
dreamed of by either the unskilled laun-
dress or the average housewife.
From the standpoint of economy there
are probably few services that can be
rendered family equal to those of the
laundress who understands how to pre-
serve fine garments that are entrusted
to her care.
Most colors can be retained by the
use of either salt or vinegar in the pro
portion of I tablespoonful to quart of
water.
As a general rule the lighter colors
should be immersed in salt water and the
darker shades in water containing vim
egar
Blue is a delicate color, yet any shade
OF blue may be permanently fixed by be
ing soaked before it is Numbered for a
half an hour in bucket of water con
tanning an ounce OF sugar of lead.
Green is another color that fades east
ly, but lump of alum in the rinse
water will usually preserve this.
Colored garments in laundering should
nf in of with boil iraey tor
or dried in the sun. Soap should not be
applied directly to the surface of a gar
ment that has the least color, but should
be dissolved in boiling water and al
lowed to cool before using. Take a brush
and carefully apply it to the spots or
solled streaks. Remove them if possible
before immersing the garment III the
soapy water.
In washing colored clothes strong
soaps or alkalis like soda or ammonia
should never be used, but white soap of
dependable brand. Even this must be
used sparingly.
The expert laundress never uses a
dashboard, but avails herself of little
Improvements upon this old time con
venience that will enable her to handle
garments with greater ease and care.
Before placing them in tub. how
ever, she first examines the clothes to
assure herself that spots or soiled streaks
are not stains. When assured of this
fact she dissolveS white soap in boiling
water and with a brush carefully ap-
plies 1t TO the streak or spot. After this
she gently souses the garment in the tub
untll the water has many times penetrat-
ed each portion and examines it again
The same process is repeated if neces-
sary in a second suds, only rubbing
gently this time with the hands and
sonSlng again in clean, soapy water.
Then the garment is well rinsed in
clean water at least twice.
The whole process should consume IS
little time as possible in doing the work
When several garments are to be laun-
dered half dozen tubs containing sudS
and rinsing waters should be prepared
before, single garment has been i'm
mersed.
The first tub should contain cold
water, in which a pint of salt must be
dissolved to set the color. Into this
should be placed first the most delcately
tinted garment. 1t should be allowed to
remain there at least half hour.
The next step depends on the garment
II can be gently washed and rinsed IN
thin starch water and quickly hung in
shade to dry.
If it is a light tint and much soiled, it
may be necessary TO treat the solled
spots separately with a brush or with
rubbing between the hands and souslng
in the first suds. If it can be perfectly
cleanSed in one suds it should be at once
rinsed in two waters and quickly hung
out to dry.
If garment is much soiled it may be
necessary to put it through a first and
second suds. followed by two or three
rlnsings in clear water.
Most colored clothes are better irOned
before quite dry, but if this is not con
venient and it becomes necessary 70.
sprinkle them. iron them at least before
the expiration If two bours.