Evening star., 1944-01-25
THE FAMILY WASH.
(Thdnks to Mrs. r. D. L.,
Bethesda, Md

Bethesda, Md
Sometime ago one of your readers
asked for method of doing the
family wash. So far I have not no.
ticed any one coming to her assist
ance.
She did not say whether the FAM
lily was large or small or what equip
ment she had to work with. This
would make lot Of difference, as a
washing machine is great help.
However. I will give my method, as
I find it an efficient one for a large
wash. First the equipment.
A washer of as good a make rs
one can buy. standard double tube
with hot and cold water mixer on
the faucets, hose equipped with a
siphon for emptying the tub and
filling it, two baskets, one large to
hold the clothes and one small for
the clothes bags "a small canvas
bag to hang on the line is helpful,
too, a clock for timing, scales for
weighing the clothes, good pow
dered soap (use the one recon-
mended by washer manufacturers,
unless you have personal prefer
ence), plenty Of clothes pegs 90
dozen is a good number to have on
hanO. plenty of drying space, lines
outside in summer and inside in
winter. A large sorting table is
handy and prevents STOPPING. Waist
high bench for basket. Starch, blu
ing and a good bleach. A shelf to
hold the smaller articles. If there
are more than four in the family. It
is a good plan to allot two mornings
to the washing.
Gather the clothes together that
are to be washed. the fat work for
one morning, and the other things
for another. Usually the fat work
can be done the same day the beds
are changed. and the other things
the first part of the week.
Sort them out according to fiber
color and size. Wash one color
together; things that are not fast
color should be washed separately
or avoided altogether.
Weigh one batch to go into the
machine, about 8 pounds. Run hot
water for white cottons, and warm
for colored ones. Fill the machine
the recommended fullness and start
it running, put in soap gradually
until a desired soapiness is at
tanned. Put in the clothes and allow
to wash for 10 to Is minutes. A
clock is handy as the time of wash
ing is important, too long is as bad
as too short Rinse in warm water
and then in bluing water.
Hang sheets and towels straight
with good overlapping. When dry
fold and put away. Keep out things
that need starching. Make starch
by boiling quarts of water and
adding one-half cup dry starch dis
solved in cold water, cook until
clear, cool with cover over it
stirring occasionally. Use starch as
it is for collars and cuffs and aprons
dilute one-half for the rest, starch
ing few pieces at time and put
ting in the ones you want stiffe1
first.
Wash only two patches of clothes
in one water and change the first
rinse each time. Be careful not to
use too much soap, rub little extra
on collars and cuffs with stiffish
brush. Rayons and silks take only
3 minutes, and special soap.
Be careful to wash the clothes
only the time given, If they are very
soiled, soak them in suds for Is te
20 minutes.
Putting in the correct weight O
clothes is important, too, as a ma.
chine cannot work efficiently If over.
loaded.
| X X X
| TOMATO ASPIC:
TIPPING IN BEAUTY SHOP2
/ requested by Mrs. A. L. B.,
i Arlington.)
i would like a recipe for tomato
aspic, one that is easy to prepare
but not too highly seasoned.
i Here is a problem I would lik,
discussed. What do your reader.
think about tipping in beaut,
shops? I dislike the ideal