The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-04-12

kinds of white clothes In one tub. Aft
er soaking In cold water to which a
good naphtha soap or washing pow
der has been added little or no rubbing
will be necessary before putting the
clothes In the boiler Kerosene used
in small quantity In the cold water In
which clothes are soaked makes the
washing easier. The success of laun-
dering also depends on the kind and
amount of soap used. For wool and
silk articles use only a good white
soap containing very little alkali or
acid Both these chemicals have an
injurious effect on silk and wool. Sal
soda makes wooden garments yellow,
makes the fiber harsh and less elastic
The fiber of wool Is composed of num-
berless sect fns, or sheaths. each with
more or less Jagged edges and each
one growing out Of the other. These
sheaths form a tube which, with its
ragged edges, explains the reason for
shrinking. Diluted acids roughen the
wool fiber; strong acids disintegrate 1t.
Chloride of lime Injuries the fiber even
If cold; used hot, the fiber is destroyed.
Ammonia has the least injurious ac-
ton on wool. therefore is the most sat
isfactory agent for cleansing it.
Silk is strong, elastic, lustrous dou-
Bile fiber. All alkalies act upon it, &C
cording to the kind, strength and tenn
perature of the solution and the length
Of time the silk is left in the solution.
The luster Is first lessened, and the
fiber is finally dissolved. Dilute acids
roughen silk and strong acids ruin 1t.
Thus 1t Will be seen that all garments
Of silk and wool should be washed
with only the mildest soap. This
ting the soap into thin slices, dissolv-
Ing in hot water and adding to the
suds In which the garments are to be
washed. This method is much better
than rubbing the soap directly on the
garment Both silk and wool are in
jured by dry heat. Silk first stiffens,
then breaks. so that the water in
which it is washed should not be hot
Flannels should be washed In water
of the same temperature throughout
the process and should be hung to dry
in a temperature the same as the wa
ter The expansion and contraction of
the wool fibers. caused by change In
temperatures, make flannel thick. Tep-
Id water and a moderate temperature
for drying and the best white soap
added to the washing water are simple
rules to observe In washing wooden
garments.
The vegetable fbers, such as cotton
and linen. are of a woody nature,
tough, strong and not so easily at
fected by chemicals. For this reason
cotton and linen materials are not so
soon spoiled by careless washing as
either silk or wool, and yet too much
soap, prolonged boiling in dirty water.
Indifferent rinsing and inattention to
stains soon make the best cotton or
linen dingy and unattractive. One Of
the commonest neglects in ordinary
washing is that the water is not
changed often enough. Garment after
garment is washed In water so satu-
rated with dirt that it is impossible to
make 1t remove any more. This wash
ing is followed by careless rinsing in
only one water. which does not begin
to take out all the soap. Ii the bluing
follows. as 1t too often does, this rims
ing in soapy water. the clothes are
very liable to be stained with iron
rust This will almost certainly be the
case If Prussian blue Is used. This
substance is salt of iron, and with
an alkali such as there Is in soap
changes to iron rust. A simple expert
ment to determine whether or not you
are using Prussian blue is to heat a
little of 1t in strong solution Of sal
soda. If Prussian blue the mixture
will turn yellowish red. and iron rust
will settle In the bottom of the vessel.
Simple General Directions.
1t is more often neglect of little
things than carelessness about big
main points that makes washing an
unsatisfactory task. Attention to these
details may tighten the work for some
women and bring them better results.
Remember to make fresh suds when
ever necessary. 1t is a mistake to
think you can make clothes clean in |
dirty water
Put the clothes to boil in cold water !
and heat slowly. The best results are |
obtained when there is large quaint |
ty of water and the boiler is but half |
full of clothes. Each boilerful of |
clothes should be put on in clean. cold |
water
Rinsing Is very important The |
clothes must be free from soap before |
bluing. Use soft water for first rims |
ing. then hard water if color of soft is |
not good
Hard water may be softened by boil
ing, then cooling before using, or a
of salsoda may be added. |
This ought not to be too strong or the
salsoda will injure both the fabric and
the hands.
In bluing shake out each article and
drop it into the bluing water, rinse
through the water. then
wiring out at once. Do not allow clothes
to stay In bluing water for any length
Of time or they will be streaked
Thick starch is made by mixing one
half cup of laundry starch and one
quarter cup Of cold water. then add
one-quarter teaspoonful of white wax
or lard and one quart of boiling water.
Put over the fire and boil for several
stirring constantly. Uncook-
ed or partly cooked starch will stick
Thick starch may be diluted, or If a
thin quality is desired use twice as
much water.
Ironing is the completion of good
laundry work and the test of the laun-
dress. 1t requires a good thick iron
ing blanket tackled securely to an iron
ing table or board, clean irons, an iron
stand. piece Of beeswax tied in a
10th on which to clean the irons, a bit
IF old cloth on which to wipe them
md piece Of paper folded several
lines on which to try the irons. This
s the necessary outfit. but in addition
here must be practice, care and skill
o insure complete success.