The Washington times., 1920-01-19
Saving Money in the Home
>LittLe Tricks For Women
ea in Household Economics
By ELIZABETH LATTIMLR
By ELIZABETH LATTIMER.

JIN almost every home there are
soiled garments and furnish
- ings which cannot be washed
In the usual way and which hardly
seem worth the expense OF clean
ing by a professional. Most OF
them can be cleaned at home at
small expense. Fine woolens, silks.
!, velvets, corduroy. Knitted articles
%snd lace may be rendered tit for
further service by simple freshen
Ing and cleaning.
Woolens may often be washed
with lukewarm water and mild soap
provided the color is fast. soap.
bark Is excellent for dark woolens
which might streak or fade with
ordinary soaps (sailor suits and
MILDLY blouses, for example). 1t
may be purchased cheaply at
drug store. Make a solution by
Rolling one cup OF soap bark, (about
ATee ounces) and one quart of
water for five minutes. Cool. strain
aud mix with wash water like or
dinary soap solution. or put the
soap bark into a small thin oaE
and soak and squeeze IL In the wash
water. A little soap bark used In
the rinse water gives the goods =
slight stiffness.
Sponging and pressing are used
to freshen garments which are not
soiled enough to need washing or
will not stand II. To remove wrin'
kIes, use clear water. To remove
grease or dirt use mild soap or soap
bark dissolved In water. To remove
shine use one tablespoon ammonia
to one quart of water. Apply with
a clean, soft, lintless cloth or piece
of the material itself. Iron on the
wrong side with a medium hot iron
or press with damp cloth over the
right side. Brush up the nap IL too
closely pressed down.
t Steaming is especially good for
removing water spots. Work over
q tub or bowl of very hot water or
use one OF the novel steam spread
ers that At over the spout Of
teakettle. Shake dry or, in the case
of outer garments, dry on a frame
which holds the garment In shape.
Dry Cleaning Methods.
Dry cleaning is cleaning without
water. but not necessarily without
liquids. There are two kinds of
dry cleaning, one by the use of
gasoline, benzine, or naphtha, which
disselves out the grease and thus
frees the dirt; the other by the use
OF powders and meals which absorb
it. There is great danger in clean
ing with gasoline, benzipe, or
naphtha because they explode and
take fire so easily. Always use
out of doors. in the shade, away
from flame or fire and in a cool
place.
Mark spots with a white thread
otherwise they will be hard to find
when the whole garment is inn
mersed. Take out spots by rub
bing very lightly between the fin-
gers. Wash as you would with
water. A washing machine is ex-
cellent provided the materials are
- sufficient quantity to use this,
also much cleaner. Rinse in clear
liquid, changing 1t until 1t remains
ctsar. II too little cleaner Is used
the garment will look grimy. Dry
out of doors. Gasoline that has
been used can be strained through
muslin or chamois skin and used
again for the frst washing. but
never for the final rinsing.
~ Powders used in dry cleaning are
French chalk or magnesia, fuller's
earth, cornmeal, sawdust, etc.
Warm the meal or powder. Spread
II on tho material and rub 1t in
either with a brush or the hands.
Let 1t remain at least several hours
and renew as it becomes soiled. If
one treatment Is not enough cover
again with warm powder or meal
and let it stand over night. This Is
especially good for collars or other
parts Of a garment which show soil
before the rest Of the garment.
How to Clean Silks.
Silks may be treated in much the
same way as woolens. For ribbons,
spread the ribbon. nat on a smooth
surface and sponge with lukewarm
water in which a little soap has
been dissolved. Rinse by holding
the ribbon stretched between the
3 hands and passing 1t through a
bowl of clear water. Draw the
hand gently over 1t to press out
the bubbles which may have form