Evening star., 1945-08-24
SHIRT IRONING;
QUERY?


from Mrs. r. B. w., Arlington, Va. }
A contributor recently wrote a
very definite letter on shirt ironing
which I thought should encourage
others to try until I came to the end
Of her letter. When she ended by
saying she irons four shirts in an
hour, wondered If any one would
try such time-consuming task. I
have my shirt ironing speed down to
1ve minutes per shirt. I. wondered
II could be wholly wrong until I
read Mrs. B. LIS comment on the
same letter in today's paper. Per-
haps I can add a few ideas for
speeding up ironing and add en-
phasis by repetition of some of Mrs.
B. LIS points. First be sure your
ironing board is nonwobbly. ]
found the purchase of new rigid
board Of extra length and width
very worth while. You cannot make
speed on a board that shakes. Also
have your iron quite hot. Then you
can 60 quickly with less pressure.
White shirts should have a cooler
iron as they scorch easily. Shirts
should be no wetter than necessary
to iron dry by going over the collar
and cuffs once on the wrong side
and once on the right side. / hang
mine on the line by pinning at each
end of the collar band and then
throwing the cuffs over the line. In
this way the single part of the body
doesn't dry out too completely before
The double collars and cuffs are dry
enough to be taken down and rolled
up prior to ironing. This saves
sprinkling.
Second, 1t isn't necessary to do
seams separately. They should be
ironed across whenever you come to
them. After all, the only part of a
mans shirt which shows is collar,
cuffs and small area in front, and
too much time spent on sleeves and
back Is sheer waste. Sports shirts
and slack suits, worn without coats,
should, of course, be given the care
full ironing you would give your own
blouse.
For an extra professional appear
ance, go over the bosom and the
collar tabs Of the shirt lightly with
the iron after you have folded the
shirt.
Can some one help me out on
the problem of eradicating traces
Of where braid and beads were sewn
to a black crepe blouse? 1 have
sponge pressed it, but am not en-
tirely satisfied. I'm afraid TO try
dry cleaning, as find that present.
day work is very poor.
SUGGESTIONS;
BLACK STAINS?
from Mrs. W. E. R., Takomd
Park, Nd
I am also a newcomer to Wash
ington, but I discovered your most
interesting department the very first
day and have oeen regular reader
ever since.
To newcomer Mrs. J. S. of Ar
lington, there are several excellent
brands Of plaster patch in small
Is to IS cent cans to be found at
paint stores. Clean, odorless end
quick drying. A child can follow
directions and they can be lightly
touched with casein paint when
dry.
To Mrs. II. E. S. OF Vienna. Va.
I have used my grandmother's
soap recipe for 20 years and it never
fails.
Render or melt out grease from
waste fats and put into double
its quantity of boiling water. Stir
well to take salt from fats into wa
ter, allow grease to rise and set
Skim of 6 pounds of the fat (don't
cheat, weigh and set aside. Now
empty one can of any good lye into
az pints of COOL water in an
iron or enamel pot large enough
to hold all materials ana allow for
the boiling up" Pour lye slowly
while stirring. Don't get your fin
gers in 1t and keep your vinegar
bottle near to wet hands, arms and
face II fumes settle on you.
When lye is ALL dissolved pour
into softened but not melted grease,
stirring gently but constantly. Con-
tinue to stir for 10 or 20 minutes
till it is smooth and creamy, but
DON'T BEAT. Have on hand a
small, wooden or heavy cardboard
box, about the size of an adults
shoe box and lined with a wet cloth
all around. Pour soft soap INTO Jnis
mold. Cover with newspaper and
set in n warm n1are for tuyo rove
Then cut into cakes, lift cloth and
remove soap to open air. A shelf in
the garage or cellar is excellent.
If grease is clean, clear and
strained, this soap is white and
sweet smelling but in any case is ex-
cellent for all cleaning and washing