Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-05-17
The FAMILY WASH
MADE SCIENTIFIC
Every Housewife Should Know
That the Health Of Her Family
Depends to Large Extent
Upon Proper Laundry Work.

AVERY housewife knows that
the health Of her family de-
pends to very large extent
upon the proper drying Of the
weekly laundry. Not only will gray
and dingy looking sheets and clothes
result from improper airing, but more
than one bad cold has been traced to
contact with garments that have not
been thoroughly dried.
Therefore for the sake Of health as
well as the appearance Of the weekly
wash every woman who runs a house
should understand thoroughly the best
way In which to dry clothes.
Perhaps stockings suffer more than
anything else at the hands of the un-
scientific laundry. Unless due warn
ing is given there seems to be nat
ural instinct that makes the laun-
dress hang up stockings with peg at
the toe. The mischief only becomes
apparent when the hosiery Is in the
hands Of the mender. 1t may be easi-
ly proved by any one that a small hole
In the toe Is turned into larger one
by the pressure Of the peg, that thin
place is turned into hole through the
same means, and therefore It may be
argued that even new hosiery is sim.
iarly weakened. although the damage
is not Immediately in evidence.
Holes Made Larger.
Shirts, vests and nightgowns should
be hung by the shoulders. Comblna-
tions should be hung with about twelve
inches of each leg passed over the line.
If the waist part hangs downward
less space is occupied, and, moreover.
the garment dries more quickly, as
there is less chance Of the heavy part
being lifted up by the wind and en-
tangled with the line.
Curtains and sheets require to be
spread out straight upon a line, for II
they dry awry they are very. difficult
to iron. Many housewives dry their
curtains so that they do not need to
be ironed, When curtains Of uniform
size are employed in the house they
have a frame of wood made the same
size as the curtains. Small pegs along
each Of the four sides serve to keep
the curtain tightly stretched. and when
1t is dry 1t Is ready for hanging at the
window. When not In use the frame
is taken apart at the four corners and
is stored without taking up much room.
Yet another way Of drying curtains
so that they need not be ironed is to
cover the carpet In spare room with
sheet and spread out the curtains
with pins along the edges until they
are thoroughly dry.
No Absolute Rule.
No absolute rule can be given for
the length Of time required for drying
clothes. since so much depends upon
the weather II the garments are to
be perfectly smooth when they have
been ironed or mangled they must be
fairly damp and. moreover. evenly
dampened. which can only be insured
by allowing them TO lie several hours
after they are folded.
In good drying weather the gar.
ments dry so quickly that they are too
dry when they are brought In from
the drying ground and need to be
sprlnkled with water. Water as hot
as can be borne should be used. for
when rolled up after the sprinkling
the steam from the hot water makes
the dampness more equal than when
cold water is used
When the weather is bad for drying
II is not necessary thoroughly to dry
calico and linen garments, hut discre.
ton must be used. and experience will
soon teach how damp a garment can
be when folded so as to get the best
results.