Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-19
Washing Delicate Fabrics.
THE processes of dyeing have so inn
proved that almost all wash goods
are now considered to have fast

TVHE processes of dyeing have so i'm
proved that almost all wash goods
are now considered to have fast
colors. This is particularly true of the
better grades of fabrics, in which the dye
seems to attach itself more firmly to the
fibers Of the cloth, but even though a
color may be said to be fast this is only
relative term, and colored goods require
more careful treatment than white goods
Avoid the conditions which most affect
the stability Of colors in fabrics. such as
long continued action of water and soap.
strong alkalis or acids, and strong sun
light, which is powerful bleaching agent
and is constantly used for 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 wash
ing process should be a mild soap used
in solution, if the color is very deli
cate III should be replaced by soap bark,
bran, rice water, potato water or cooked
starch water. The washing process
should be conducted quickly, and the
water should not be very hot.
After washing, colored garments should
be turned inside out and hung in
very shady or dark place, and should
be taken in as soon as dry. Fading is
more often due to careless drying than
to any fault in washing. Washing pow
ders or strong alkalis should never be
used. If the water needs softening, use
borax. If starch. bran, rice water, etc,
are used instead of soap, use the mixture
as il Ii were soapsuds
Sometimes a fabric shows decided ten
dency to fade even under the best con-
ditions. 1t is always well if there is
any doubt on this subject to test small
piece of cloth before washing it, II it
fades. then an attempt should be made
to set the color. With certain colors
dyer uses a mordant, substance
which forms insoluble compounds with
some dyestuffs, which, under certain con-
ditions, unite with the textile material or
cloth. The same principle as mordanting
or making a color fast may sometimes be
used by the housekeeper in strengthening
weak colors with satisfactory results.
The household mordants are brine, vine-
gar. sugar of lead and alum, used in the
following proportions: To one gallon OF
water one-haiI cup of mild vinegar. or
two cups of salt, or one tablespoonful OF
alum, or one tablespoonful 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 be left
in the solution over night, and may be
left In for several days with good re-
Suits 1t should be thoroughly dried be-
fore being washed. Even with relatively
strong colors soaking fabric over night
in brine solution before washing it for
the first time may render it far less sus-
ceptible to fading influences. The effect
of brine Is said not to be lasting. Color
ed goods are often rinsed in salt solu-
ton just before drying them.
Silk should be washed in much the
same way as WOOL While il is not so
strongly affected by soaps and alkalis. its
gloss is destroyed by the use of strong
reagents. The delicacy of the fiber makes
hard rubbing impossible, for IT. breaks