The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-08-17
Homemakers' Column
Edited by Miss Mildred Barton. Home
Demonstration Agent, Oakland.
Cotton In The Kitchen

the L. S. Department of Agriculture
gives the following helpful hints about
the use of cotton fabrics in the kitchen
The various ways in which cotton
fabrics may be used, their durability
Responsiveness, GOODNESS and tha
easy manner in which they may be
Numbered make them especially ap-
propriate for kitchen use.
House dresses, probably the most
extensive use Of cotton in the kitchen
should be cut simply. Materials such
as bingham, percale, chambra, seer
sucker, and medium weight broadcloth
are best. These cottons do not need
the starching that lighter weight ma
terials require, yet they are easier to
iron than heavy cottons. 1t is easier
to keep dress in condition, too, if
there is no superfuous trim, such as
ruffles and embroidery, that need
special attention in the wash Buttons,
buckles, and slide fasteners should be
durable as the dress material. Avoid
belt buckles and buttons of fabric on
a metal mold. These fall apart and
wear through quickly. Avoid, also,
buttons that melt or catch fire if they
come in contact with hot iron. Pock-
cts should be stitched fiat, reinforced
on the corners, set where they are not
likely to be in the way. Frilly pockets
and long sashes are kitchen hazards,
because they are likely to catch on
pan handles, door latches, cupboard
knobs, handles or fixtures on the
stove.
A label guaranteeing colorfastness
should state exactly to what the color
is fast. Cottons for housedresses
should be colorfast to light, washing,
and perspiration. The most dependable
shrinkage guarantees are those that
tell how much the dress or material
will shrink in terms of percent. If
this residual shrinkage" is not over
1 or percent, washing will not alter
the fit enough to worry about.
For kitchen curtains, cotton is also
a good material. Sometimes informa-
ton concerning shrinkage and color
fastness of curtain materials, especial
ly those for draperies, is printed on
the selvage of yard goods. Cottons
for curtains should be colorfast to
light and to washing.
Because kitchen curtains must be
taken down and washed often, it's
convenient to have two pairs for every
window. These should be styled
simply so as not to interfere with
ventilation. If the view is pleasant or
the room dark, side draperies of cool
looking gingham, seersucker, muslin,
or other medium-heavy cotton will be
enough.
Some of the best dishtowel news Of
the past few years has been the intro
duction on the market of specially |
treated cotton dishtowels-which are
lintless and which absorb water better
than ordinary towels. By this treat
ment manufacturers have overcome
the two main objections that home
makers have always had to cotton for
toweling.
Of the cotton towels that have not
had this treatment, generally the finer
and softer the cloth, the easier and
more quickly dishes may be dried with
them.
Cotton fabrics catch fire easily. So
sometimes it's a good idea to fireproof
pot filters, curtains near the stove, and
ironing board covers. The following
simple home freproofing method has
been worked out by the Federal Blu
reau of Agricultural Chemistry and
Engineering.
Make a fireproofing solution by STIR
ring into 2 quarts of hot water, 3
ounces of boric acid and ounces of
borax. Stir this until the solution is
clear. Or if powdered boric acid is
used, mix it to a paste with little
water first so it will dissolve more
readily. Then take the fabric to be
freproofed, which is clean and dry,
and thoroughly saturate it in this
solution.
Squeeze it out-hang it to dry. Then
iron after it is practically dry. Do
not try to iron the treated fabric while |
it still feels damp. Naturally this
treatment must be repeated each time
the fabric is washed. Incidentally,
curtains treated this way will wear |
longer.