Evening star., 1922-02-03
Health and Thrift in the Home

rubbing the velvet lightly with this to
remove dust and spots. then let 1t dry.
Now heat q pan full Of clean sand In
hot oven to degree too hot to handle.
paper. Pour this evenly over the velvet:
which has first been slightly dampened
on the wrong side. With a stiff bristled
brush, toss the sand In all directions
until every bit Of the nap has been
raised. II the sand gets cold. heat 1t
again and repeat the brushing. The
dress will look like new when you have
finished the work.
A raincoat may be kept looking like
new even In muddy weather. To
clean 1t. first dip it in cold water
which has been softened by borax,
the kitchen table, and with scrubs
bing brush and some good laundry
soap gave it a hard scrubbing. When
the dirt is removed. dip 1t in clean
water and rinse it several times. then,
without wringing, hang the coat in
the air to drip and dry. Hot water.
of course, must never be used on a
raincoat.
To Launder Curtains and Clean Rugs
and Carpets.
When putting lace curtains on a
frame it is best to attach them in
pairs. SO that the scallops will come
to measure the curtains while dry and
set the stretchers to those measure
ments. You will then find no trouble
in fitting the curtains to the stretch
ers, and they will hang straight when
dry. After taking them from the
stretcher and hemming them by hand
in the usual way. place them on the
carpet one on top Of the other and
crease them the desired length. then
set the sewing machine for the long
est stitch and hem them. This will
take but a short time. and YOUR cur
! tains will hang even. provided you
get the first one the right length.
If you have no curtain frames and
wish to dry them in the house. they
! can be 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
wet curtain down. spreading ii out
the original length and width. II
will cling to the padding. no pins be-
ing needed. Four curtains may be
dried at one time by placing one on
top Of another. being careful to make
each exactly as the one Underneath.
To launder and make front door and
transom curtains fit, first wash and
starch them, wiring very dry. then
| run the brass rods that are fastened
above and below the window in the
door or transom. through the castings
of the curtain while wet. stretching
just as much as is needed, and stick
ing pins here and there to hold the
curtains in place until dry. The re-
suit will be a perfect hanging curtain
equal to new.
To clean cretOnne curtains. first
shake them free from dust. and have
ready in a tub a tepid suds. in which
there has been placed one fourth of a
cup Of kerosene. Allow the curtains
to soak for half an hour. wash. place
them in a second tepid suds and then
rinse them in bluing water. Do not
rub soap on the curtains and do not
use alkali of any kind. Dry. sprinkle.
fold the curtains and then iron them
on the wrong side.
FreshenfnE Rugs and Carpets.
When a carpet or rug has a dusty,
dingy look. it may be greatly fresh
ened and frightened by washing it in
a solution of alum and water or one
made of soda and water. DO not al
low the solution to soak into the car
pet. but wash the surface off quickly.
using stiff brush or a coarse. rather
heavy rag.
Tobacco is also a good brightener
for rugs and carpets. Steep a quarter
Of 4 pound of smoking tobacco in a
gallon Of water for twelve hours.
strain and add to. the water three ia
blespoonfuls of OF ammonia. Wiring