New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
it Is Necessary to Know Good Soaps, Starches and
Bluings and To Be Able to Test These
When Necessary for the Presence
of Harmful Adulterants.

to the housewives advantage to buy more
of the so-called white soaps, because they
are likely to contain less of either an adul-
terant or Of an extra cleansing agent which
may affect not only the fibre but the color
Of tho clothes. Coloring material In laundry
soaps Is usually a curtain (or at least likely
to be oneD to hide materials that are false
constituents.
The housewife would find it more eco
nomical to buy her soap in large enough
quantities so that the unwrapped cakes
may be stored for several weeks to be dried.
This drying prevents the soap from being
wasted in the water. All scraps of soap
should be saved for use in the boiler or for
the soap solution for the washing machine.
Blue Must Be Soluble.
With good water and good soap and much
rinsing, after which hung in the sun and
air, clothes will naturally he Of good
color. Lest they he not as white as snow
and lest the conditions he not perfect, the
laundress will find the use Of blue water of
help Rinsing the clothes in this water
gives blue tint which Counteracts the yell
low of the fibre, and the clothes become
whittier than without its use A good blue
contain no iron A bluirg which is not en-
tirely soluble is a hindrance, because II
settles on the sides and bottom OF the tub
and may even settle in the folds of the
garment, causing s.reaks and spots, which
the laundress must take time TO wash out
or, II they are stubborn. boil out. An in
soluble blue is not only a hindrance in pre-
venting spots, but an unnecessary expense
as one does not have the use OF all the
bluing one buys. Liquid blues are easy TO
use and are soluble. but care must be taken
that they or any of the other blues do not
contain iron. Clothes that are not properly
rinsed. so as TO be entirely free from the
soap before bluing, will often show upon
ironing, streaks or spots Of iron rust
The soda or potash of the soap has COM
bined with the iron Of the blue, and iron
rust is the result To test bluing Tor IRON
one may take a tablespoonful Of blue from
the bottle Of bluing, or from a solution
made by shaving some OF the ball or pIoch
blue into a tablespoonful OF water ana 10
this add a strong solution Of soap or soda;
heat this mixture. and, If iron Is present.
the bluing will change to a reddish brown
Three Kinds of Starch.
with Inc rlRHl klEu VI NoNCI' eoNf
bluing attention should also be given TO the
question of starch There are three KINGS
of starch. as well as several substitutes
which have their special purpose CORN
starch, such as we use in the kitchen, Is
fine grain from corn which has the special
power of making starch paste which resls's
moisture. 1t makes fabric which has been
dipped into IL stiff harsh and brittle. corn
starch is therefore better adapted to the
starcbing of a cuff or collar than TO the
finishing of baby's dress. Wheat starch
when used In the laundry makes a SOFT
pliable fabric, smooth finish and a good
gloss.
Each starch is useful in its own way
For general work. however, the TWO
stsrches combined give much better results
than ~ used singly For this mixture use
two-thirds TO one-thrd. according to the
stiffness or pliability desired. For example
for shirt bosoms. collars, cuffs, etc. use
two-thirds cornstarch and One-third wheat
starch. While for pettcoats. dresses, ETC.
use two-thirds wheat starch and one-third
cornstarch. Mixed starches blended for the
purpose may be bought at laundry supply
houses. Rice starch is the third kind Ihis
f. used mainly for fine French lingerie. IL
has a very small grain and makes a starch
~ very pliable nature. II may be bought
in packages or may be obtained by USING
the water in which rice has been cooheo'