The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-05
LAUNDERING Of SUMMER
CURTAINS NOT DIFFICULT
But Care Must Be Taken in Hand
ling Those of Somewhat
Fine Fabrics.

Summer curtains and draperies gen
orally being of inexpensive material,
if Is essential they shall always be
fresh looking. Otherwise they have no
beauty for their prettiness lies in their
.daintiness. Soiled, dusty or draggled
looking curtains are certainly worse
than bare windows and doors could
ever be.
Perhaps the entire absence of all cur
tains and draperies during the sum-
mer Is the cooler plan, but much Of
the cosy effect is lost, so l think 1t
will be better TO dispense with heavy
pieces OF furniture and let the tight
draperies remain, for every house
keeper knows how much they help to
furnish a room.
The fabrics used for summer cur
tains are known as madras, both white
and colored. dotted Swiss, plain Swiss.
fish net, printed cotton wolfe, figured
lawns, and thin cretonne.
None Of these fabrics is really diff
cult to launder at home. so there Is no
reason why the laundering should pre-
vent one from adjoining their homes
for the summer
The white and cream colored ma
dras requires no special skill in re-
newing. The curtains should first be
release the dust. If put into hot water
the CRIME is apt to hold to the fabric
with the result that the curtains when
finished appear TO be dirty white or
a dull looking cream.
This laying in clear, cold water will
apply to all curtains and draperies
whether white or colored. If the lat
ter. 1t will be well to add a handful
of salt TO set the color,
After taking from the cold water the
goods should be placed in q bath of
warm soap suds. Often as | mention
1t, | again repeat, soap must never be
rubbed directly on delicate fabrics, as
it has a tendency first TO thicken the
threads, and second TO take out any
coloring lin spots and hlotches, of
coursel that may be in the material
Rubbing, too, must he avoided.
Speaking generally, curtains show
the same amount of soil all over, so all
that is necessary for cleansing pur
poses is to squeeze through the hands.
dipping the goods up and down in the
water. When clean, they are ready
for rinsing In first warm and then
clear cold water. little blueing--
Just a tiny drop--may be added II the
curtains are white. a thorough shak-
ing before hanging on the line should
be given, and II hung evenly the cur
tains viii be ready for rehanging as
soon as dry.
The cross stripe curtains in colors
on an ecru ground are as easy TO
faunder as the plain madras.
For blue, pink and red stripes, add
salt to the first water Mauve and
green colors' may be set by mixing
vinegar instead OF salt.
From five to ten minutes will be
suffi Client to set the colors. Then the
curtains should be put through the
warm soapsuds bath. rinsing as di-
rected before. A teaspoonful of am
monia added TO the last rinsing water
will restore any color. that may have
faded In the washing process. Cross
stripe curtains may be pressed of
with warm iron or be hung at the
windows exactly as they come from
the line.
The laws and swisses require lit
tie starch, and this, of course. in
creases the labor Of laundering them,
because .starching usually means IRON
ing too when quite thin goods are In
question. Lace curtains are starched.
but require no ironing.
The frilled curtains, though pretty
and FUZZY looking, take so long 10 get,
up that many housekeepers are using
the plain broad hem edging or not
with q narrow lace or ball fringe.