Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-18
CLOTHES ARE SCARCE Frederic J. Haskin

there is something else you can do with your old
clothes. You clean them or dye them another
color and them again. For the first time
in many years lots of people are getting out their
last winters coats and suits to again this
Usually, they look much worse than you
remembered them, but it is surprising what can
be done with little ammonia, alcohol or dye.
Women can great deal in cleaning and
dyeng bills if they will only learn to do it them
selves. Suppose last winters wooden afternoon
frock has escaped the summer plague Of moths.
but is not clean. Here is a recipe guaranteed TO
clean it: Take four of soft soap, four
ounces of honey, the white of an egg, and four
tablespoonfuls of gin and mix them together, add
ing just enough water to have 1t work wei Win
a brush. Then lay the dress on HAT table anu
sCour it we'll with stiff brush, after which rinse
it thoroughly in cold water and hang 1t up to dry
Do wiring it out but let it drain toward the mar
rowest point. When it is still damp, iron with
a piece of muslin laid over it. If dress or suit
is only slightly soiled it may be cleaned with a
sponge dipped in mixture of one ounce OF sui
phuric ether, one ounce Of ammonia and one
quart of water.
Grease spots may be removed by the use of any
number of solvents, such as benzine, petroleum
spirit, gasoline, naphtha, chloroform, ether and
freshly distilled turpentine spirits. Inasmuch as
all of these extremely inflammable, with the
exception of chloroform they should never be used
near light great heat. Do not apply the
solvent directly the spot, but make ring
around the spot and work toward it from the ring,
until that part of the fabric is saturated with
the liquid. A pad should be held under the
spot plate to catch the drip. IT, instead OF
using this method, you work from the spot out
will be equally Objectionable as the spot ITSELF
Home dyeing is very easy and exceedingly in
teresting inasmuch as there is always an element
of suspense in it. You are never quite sure what
shade the garment will ultimately be. Dyes OF
all shades may be purchased at local drugstores.
The usual directions to mix the dye in cold
water, then boil 1t for five ten minutes in
pint of water, and add 1t slowly to a hot water
bath in a kettle or dishpan which has been put
on the stove in the meantime. 1t is necessary
to have some piece of cloth OF the same sub
stance as the garment to be dyed with which to
test the color of the dye, and the garment itself
should not be put in until the color Is satisfac-
tory. Add only little bit of dye to the bath at
time. 1t is better to have long immersion In
a leak dye bath then short immersion in
strong one.
White goods of course, will take any color
very well, but it is hard to change one color to
another. Put red dress In black dye and it will
turn a rusty black or dark brown, dip
yellow dress in blue dye and it will turn green.
Even light tans will sometimes surprise you when
dipped in another color, so the best Sway to do
Is to boil the garment until all the color has
left it.
Many women have long been IN the habit OF
dipping their silk shirtwasts in dye to restore the
color lost through constant washing, but have
been afraid to attempt anything so valuable
a dress. On the other hand, many women have
thrown away perfectly good garments, which, IL
dyed another color, would look as good new
Even rugs and carpets submit well to these clean
ing and dyeing processes, II the work Is done
carefuIly-a fact that 1t Is we'll to bear in mind
this year when American carpet looms are max
ing cotton duck for the army and very few car
pets.
So far, of course, there plenty Of fabrics to
be had this for those who can afford to buy
them, but II the war keeps up there Is no telling
how soon the world will be reduced to the sarorial
condition of our famous forebears In the Garden
Of Eden. Under these circumstances, women will
have to do without mourning; they viii be glad
to wear shoddy cloth, and there VIII be brand
new home industry in the cleaning and dyeing
of old clothes