The Washington times., 1920-03-19
I. HUMORESQUE
Saving Money
In the Home
By ELIZABETH LATTImDR.

~ garments at home Is not as
4 difncult as many people think.
With a little practice any one who
can use an iron and has fair
amount OF patience can press out
the wrinkles which wear has put
into a garment. and press In again
the creases found In q new gar
ment. Careful pressing will do
much 70 keep wooden clothing in
shape and to prolong its period OF
wear as we'll as to improve itA ap-
pearance while being worn.
To press wooden garments easily
requires special equipment, but
good results may be obtained with
the ordinary household equipment.
with the addition OF a heavy cotton
cloth.
Additional Equipment.
A good equipment. which might
be acquired by making occasional
additions to the appliances already
in the house, consists OF an ironing
board OF the type used for skirts, q
tailor's press board, a tailor's cush-
ion, irons. wax, cloth for rubbing
of the iron after waxing. press
cloth. cheesecloth or old thin mus
lin, and an old bath towel.
The seam board Is a triangular
board, about eighteen inches long
and six inches wide, and has the
upper edge slightly rounded; 1t is
slipped into sleeves when seams
are to be pressed open. The tailor's
press board, which Is padded,
rounded at the ends, and some
what tapering, is supported by two
upright pieces set on a heavy base.
1t may be used on any table and Is
excellent for pressing shaped and
tailored garments. such as coats.
The tailor's cushion. sometimes
called n ham" is oval in shape and
narrower at one end than at the
other; il is made of heavy cotton
duck or other flrm material, stuffed
very tight with wet wooien rags,
then dried in the hot sun or in
cool oven to prevent mildew. II Is
used in pressing parts OF garments
that are curved. such as the bust of
a coat. Smaller cushions made in
the same way are used for the tops
of sleeves.
A strip of heavy cotton duck
about one and one-quarter yards in
length makes a satisfactory press
cloth because, when thoroughly wet,
1t does not dry out quickly under
the heat of the iron.
Brush Before Pressing.
\ Before pressing a wooden garment
it should be thoroughly brushed.
care being taken to brush with the
nap if the cloth has such a sur
face, and then well shaken to re-
move lint and bits of dirt Pocket
fans should be turned back so as
to remove dust and lint that &C.
cumulates underneath: pockets
should be turned wrong side out:
and stitching and the under side or
seams and tucks should also be.
carefully brushed.
All spots should be removed after
the garments are brushed. Some
times a little clear water Will re-
move a spot made by drop or
syrup, but for a spot mace py
grease a special cleaning agent,
such as carbon tetrachloride, may
be necessary.
How to Press.
The garment should be laid on the
board and covered with the press
cloth, which has been thoroughly
soaked in water and well wruns
out. An iron, not too hot. should
be moved back and forth over the
press cloth until it is nearly dry.
If IL becomes absolutely dry, shine
is likely to appear on the garment.
The garment should then be hung
whore there Ia q good circulation OF
air and allowed to dry thoroughly
before it Is put away.
Parts that have worn shiny may
be sponged with ammonia water
Zone tablespoon Of ammonia to one
quart of water), covered with a
wet cloth, and pressed with q me-
dium-hot iron until the press cloth
is almost dry. The cloth should
. then be removed. the garment
brushed with a stiff brush to raise
the nap, covered with the cloth
again and pressed, care beipg taken
not to let 1t become dry.
Bagginess at the knees of
trousers or at the elbowS Of coats
may be shrunk out in many cases
BY spreading the garment fiat on
an ironing board. placing. Q we'll
dampened press cloth over the
baggy portion, and pressing until
the press cloth Is not quite dry.