The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-04-14

The working surface of nearly
dI laundry equipment is usually set low and
the woman operating it is so out of balance that
she Is soon fatgued. Little of the washing process
Is done in the bottom of the tub and the work
ing height is about halfway up the side. For the
average worker the top rim of the tub should be
80 inches from the floor; in all eases the tubs
should be placed that the worker does not
stoop from the shoulders but bends at the hips
A portable washtub may be easily raised low
cred 10 the right height. If the top of the wash
board is too high. it may be lowered by cutting
on part of the legs. The ironing table board
should be low enough that force from the
shoulder can be easily applied; 81 inches is a
good average height. Where no special room is
provided for the laundry and there are no set
tubs, n portable bench of the correct height and
size is convenient
a wooden tub is difficult to keep in good condi-
ton. If kept dry it is likely to shrink and fall
apart; if kept moist enough TO prevent shrinking.
it is likely TO become water-SOaked and Shiny and
may have a disagreeable odor. A portable, gal
vaniZediron tub is fairly light durable and easy
keep clean but may corrOde. fiber tub is still
lighter, is easily kept clean and is durable if left
dry but is more expensive than an iron tub any
portable tub may have a hole bored in it and
plug inserted so that water may be drained from
it without lifting the tub. Hot and cold water
can be piped TO portable tub well as TO a
more expensive stationary one.
For set tubs. wood, which is now little used, has
the same qualities for portable ones. Soap
stone and similar materials are cheaper than
more difficult TO be sure that they are clean
Porcelain or epameled-iron tubs heavily glazed
and do not rust or absorb grease Both white
and yellow porcelain tubs the market; the
latter are cheaper but the color may make ii hard
TO tell when the clothes white. A home laun-
dry is most often equipped with two tubs, but
when there is no washing machine a third tub
saves much handling of the clothes.
Washboards reduce the work of cleaning gar
ment but are somewhat hard the clothes. A
glass board, although more easily broken, is pref
cradle TO metal one, because the corrugatiOns
are rounded and the friction the clothes is
less When the surface of a washbOard is broken
IL should not be used. WashboardS should always
be put away dry, that they do not warp.
Wringers save labor, make the clothes much
dryer and less destructive to fabrics than hand
wringing. To prevent buttons from being torn off
by 81 wringer, fold them into the garment and
hold ii fiat. reversible wringer is much more
useful than a one-way wrnger if two or more
tubs are used. To keep wringer in good condi-
ton it should be oiled with good machine oil and
the pressure screws should be lOoSened when il is
not iii When the pressure is put again,
both should be turned at once; then the
pressure is more likely TO be even. The rollers
of a wringer may be cleaned with cloth moist
ened with two or three drops OF kerosene; but
since kerosene dissoIves rubber, the rollers should
be washed with soap and water the
discOloratiOn disappears.
a tin boiler costs less than any other, but is
not particularly durable. 1t must be well dried
| after using tin boiler with a copper bottom
| is durable, conveys heat better, and is worth
the additional cost. boiler made entirely OF
copper is expensive but is the most durable of ALL
Some elaborate laundry equipments have station
nry boilers which save much lifting.
Some helpful washing devices are on the mar
ket. One is perforated funnel, made TO place in
a wash boiler, which works on the same principle
coffee percOlator, spraying the clothes and in
creasing the circulation of the water The funnel
on-a-stick washer creates a partial vacuum and
makes il possible TO wash more clothes at a time
and also TO wash very sOiled clothing without i'm
mersing the hands or scrubbng.
Washing machines, whether operated by hand
or by motor, are efficient because they do more
| work in a given time and do much Of 1t without
direct and constant supervision. While wooden
tub machines cheaper than those with metal
tubs, they likely TO dry and then leak, if kept
in a heated room; il is better TO store them in a
cellar, barn, she'd q porch. Leaving
| a wet sponge in the machine helps 10 provide
moisture. Metal tubs must be protected against
rust, and the working parts of all machines must
be kept properly oiled.
While there are two hundred more washing
| machines the market, they may all be grouped
| under FIVE heads:
ID Machines of the dolly" type have device
like shortlegged stool that revolves in a tub.
| usually of wood, and cleans the clothes by draw
| ing them through the soapy water, first way
and then the other. In some cases there are cor
| rugated boards around the side of the tub. There
is special danger OF tearing the clothes if many
| are Put in at time.