Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-19
.wAsA,No DELICATE FABRICS.

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The processes Of dyeing have 50
improved that almost all wash goods
are now considered to have fast col
ors. This ia particularly true OF the
better grades Of fabrics, In which the
dye seems to attach itself more nrmiy
to the fbers OF the cloth. but even
though a color may be said to be fast
this is only a relative term, and col
ored goods require more careful treat
ment than white goods. Avoid the
conditions which most affect the sta
bility Of colors In fabrics, such as
long continued action Of water and
soap. strong alkalis or acid, and strong
sunlight which la q powerful bleach
ing agent and Is constantly used Tor
this purpose.
When washing colored clothing
these things should be kept in mind.
Colored clothing cannot be soaked for
any length Of time unless the color Is
known to be very stable. Any soap
used In the washing process should be
a mild soap used in solution, or II the
color is very delicate it should be re-
placed by soap bark, rice water. po-
tato water or cooked starch water.
The washing process should be con-
Quoted quickly, and the water should
not be very hot.
After washing, colored garments
should be turned inside out and hung
L. CHI AorH noQro and
should be taken in as soon as dry.
Fading Is more often due to careless
drying than to any fault In washing.
Washing powders or strong alkalis
should never be used. If the water
needs softening, use borax. II starch,
bran, rice water, etc, are used instead
Of soap, use the mixture as If 1t were
soapsuds. tso IA s.,=
Sometimes fabric shows a decided
tendency to fade even under the best
conditions. 1t Is always we'll II there
| Is any doubt on this subject to test
q small piece of cloth before washing
It, If 1t fades, then an attempt should
| be made to set the color. With GER
tain colors dyer uses a mordant,
substance which forms insoluble COM
pounds with some dyestuffs, which I'M
| der certain conditions, unite with the
| textile material or cloth. The same
principle as mordanting or making a
color fast may sometimes be used by
the housekeepers in strengthening
| weak colors with satisfactory results.
The household mordants are brine,
vinegar, sugar of lead and alum, used
In the following proportions: To one
gallon of water one-half cup Of mild
| vinegar or two cups of salt, or one
| tablespoonful of alum, or one table
spoonful of sugar Of lead (poison)).
Vinegar is best for pinks. Small
pieces of cloth should be tested in
each of the above solutions, and a
choice made after experimenting. The
cloth should he left in the solution
| over night, and may be left in for sew
eral days with good results. It should
be thoroughly dried before being
washed. Even with relatively strong
colors soaking fabric over night in
q brine solution before washing 1t
for the first time may render 1t far
less susceptible to fading influences.
The effect of brine Is said not to be
lasting. Colored goods are often
| rinsed in salt solution Just before
| drying them.
Silk should be washed in much the
same way as wool. While 1t is not so
strongly affected by soaps and aka
| lies, it's gloss is destroyed by the use
of strong reagents. The delicacy of
the fiber makes hard rubbing impos-
sible, for 1t breaks the fbers and de-
stroys not only the durability, but
also the sickness Of the fiber. In
wringing silk, place between dry
! towels or heavy cloths, and put
through loosely adjusted wringer.
Iron on the wrong side while still
damp with moderate iron. Silk Is
very easily scorched, and II the iron
Is too hot, the silk will be stiff. Iron
back and forth with wriggling mo-
| ton to give softness and pliability. It
is often best to iron silk under cloth.
This gives less body and softer fin
ish. Ribbons, of good quality, may be
very successfully washed. To iron,
cover with dry cloth and move the
iron frequently back and forth over
the surface of the cloth and above
the ribbon.
It is often better to dry-clean fine
laces, as they thicken slightly in wash
ing. To wash them, use warm soap
solution to which has been added am
monia or borax. Squeeze out the dirt
by pressing the lace in the hands. but
do not rub 1t, as rubbing breaks the
delicate threads. A good way to
wash fine lace is to first haste 1t to
strips Of cheesecloth, being careful to
catch all the points down. Put to soak
over night in warm soapy water con-
tanning a little borax or ammonia.
Wash by squeezing and rinse free Of
soap. Old yellow lace may be bleached
by stretching 1t while wet about a
bottle and standing 1t in the sun, re-
wetting occasionally. Javelle water,
may be used to bleach lace.
Lace may be stiffened by rinsing in a
mixture Of two tablespoonfuls Of al
| cohol to one cup Of water; by rinsing
in borax water, two tablespoonfuls to
the cup, or by using gum arabic, one
eighth teaspoon to cup Of water. II
a yellow color Is desired, dip in coffee
or tea. 49, - ~ 81. &.
Black lace should be cleaned by
squeezing out In mixture of one cup
Of strong coffee and one tablespoon
Of ammonia. Rinse in gum arabic
water made with coffee to give natural
stiffness. .-;-&, Sr,EEns>. u I'd =
Lace curtains should be washed