Evening star., 1915-03-21
Washing Window Curtains.

,pc1, ,a,sure the width of the cur
IL ,.ins to keep for reference. Lace
u curtains in particular are often
torn by being stretched beyond eneir
original width. They are not haro ~
wash if properly handled. Shake tnei''
free from dust and look them over 70
coo that they hold no needles OF pms
70 iniure the hands. Then careiuliS
mend all torn places by placing pieee
of net under the place to be mehueu'
old 1ace curtains should be saved TOT
This purpose Never put lace curtains
in a washing machine. as II Will leaf
the delicate fiber, and do not WASH TOO
,anv at once If laces or nets nave
rrayish cast, they should be pleacheu'
PIT little I've in the boiling suds 70
make them a clear white. Add ohls
enough TO the water to make II sllsnely
slinnery to the touch. If they are not
to he bleached. but just washeo' saVe
the first wash water ratner " and nacie
the curtains well. roll them, s, ana pacn s.e1f
them into the tub. Keep them wen
covered with water. Add at leas. ca. "a
hIespoonful of kerosene 10 the .lrS
water This will loosen tne nt dunt ,ben
them overnight if convenient tnsn s
wash them carefully, put them IN tne
hoiling suds, wash a second time ano
r;nse Make the starch very thtn.
Never wiring lace curtains, put squeeze
them.
IF curtains are to be lroned, they
should be stretched before they are
sprinkled. All ruffles must be puiled
into shape Net curtains VIII hane
straighter if folded through the center
edge to edge and ironed dry from one
end to the other. Fold again through
! the center and hang over clothes
rack A No. 9 iron is not TOO large
| It retains the heat and presses the cur
tains more quickly. No moisture snoulo
he felt in a curtain after 1t leaves the
| ironing board. II they are dried upon
| curtain stretchers, keep all but the end
| fastened in the basket or a large pan,
so that no part will drag on the floor,
and choose sunny place Tor the ory
| ing. e T..
is hest to attach them in pairs SO that
| the scallops will come exactly opposite
/ Be sure to mea sure the curtains whiie
| dry and set the stretchers TO those
| measurements. You will then ma nc
| trouble in fitting the curtains 10 the
stretchers and they will hang stralght
| when dry After taking them from the
stretcher and hemming them by hano
in the usual way, try laying ,neni ol
| the carpet. one Oil top ~ ~
| crease the desired length. Then sci
your machine for the longest stitch and
hem. This will take but a short time
| and your curtains will hang even, pro.
vded you get the first one the risht
| length. ;,,,
| If YOU have no curtain frames and WISH
| to dry them in the house they may De
| stretched on the floor. Cover the floor
with a clean sheet and pin the curtains
| to this. A still better way Is to make a
| dining or extension table the desired
: length. place the table padding over
this then put tho wet curtain down:
spreading it out the original length and
width. 1t will cling to the padding. no
pins being used. Four curtains may De
dried at one time by placing one on TOP
of another being careful to make eacn
exactly as the one underneath.
| If YOU wish to dry them outdoors on
the clothes line hang them lengthWays on
the line. Place opposite scallops together
and pull the whole curtain straight The
starch will stick the opposite halves to-
sether, no pins being needed. The cur
tains will be straight and even and no
ironing will be necessary. only pressing
of the scallops A favorite way with
many housekeepers is to pin them on the
clothes line and fasten another line as
far, down as the curtain hangs. Then
pin the curtain securely to both lines so
as to pull it taut This is almost as good