All-wool dress goods or colored flannels should be washed out
quickly in tepid water, rinsed in water of the same temperature, wrung
dry, and then folded up for a time, together with one or two sheets,
so that the moisture shall be extracted by the cotton or linen ; they
should then be ironed till dry. A patent wringer (made of India-
rubber rollers, which can be adjusted) is almost indispensable in
washing. It does not wear the clothes like the twisting and wrench-
ing of hand-wringing, and saves the most exhausting part of the
wash, besides having the clothes drier than can be the case with
ordinary hand-wringing.
Salt or beefs-gall in the water helps to set black. A tablespoonful
of spirits of turpentine to a gallon of water sets most blues, and alum
is very efficacious in setting green. Black or very dark calicoes
should be stiffened with gum-arabic — five cents' worth is enough for
THE LAUNDRY. 293
a dress. If, however, starch is used, the garment should be turned
wrong side out.
To Wash Light-colored Cashmere, and Method for Remov
ING Spots. — All spots should be removed from the goods before they
are put into the water, and the method must depend upon what they
are and also the color of the goods. Benzine, which should always;
be used with caution because of its inflammable character, is one of
the best and quickest means of taking out grease. A little rubbed
lightly in the direction the warp runs will usually remove it entirely.
Get the highly rectified benzine, such as first-class druggists keep.
Chloroform rubbed on lightly and quickly will also remove grease.
Unless done rapidly and finished by rubbing with a dry cloth it is
apt to leave a slight stain. Fruit stains can usually be removed by
a little salts of lemon. Frequently a lighted sulphur match held
under the stain will drive it away. Acid stains, unless they be nitric, ,
will yield to an application of ammonia, while those produced by
alkalies, such as soda, ammonia, etc., will usually disappear by the
application of acetic acid, diluted in a good deal of water. Of course,
the use of these things depends much upon color and material.
After the spots are removed, put the goods in warm (not hot) soft
water and wash carefully. Lay it while still very damp upon the
ironing-board, with a linen cloth over it, and iron with a hot flat-iron
until dry. Press a fold down the centre of each breadth, and the
cashmere will look almost if not quite as well as new.
Potato water is excellent to wash black calicoes in, as it starches
the calico without impairing its cleanness. Ordinary starch cannot
be used. The potato water should be boiled to a thick consistency.
Black bombazine may be nicely washed by making good suds,
and adding to it a small quantity of ox-gall. It should be squeezed
and rinsed, but not rubbed or wrung out.
To Wash Blankets. — Wash them in good suds until quite clean ;
if much soiled, they will require two or three waters ; rin.Te them in
tepid water until clear, adding to the last rinsing-water a very little
fine soap.
294 THE hearthstone; or, life at home.
To Clean Black Cashmere. — Wash in hot suds with a little borax✪ To Clean Black Cashmere
in the water; rinse in bluing water — very blue — and iron while damp.
It will look almost equal to new.
Page 191 · 1 recipe record on this page
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
All-wool dress goods or colored flannels should be washed out quickly in tepid water, rinsed in water of the same temperature, wrung dry, and then folded up for a time, together with one or two sheets, so that the moisture shall be extracted by the cotton or linen ; they should then be ironed till dry. A patent wringer (made of India-rubber rollers, which can be adjusted) is almost indispensable in washing. It does not wear the clothes like the twisting and wrenching of hand-wringing, and saves the most exhausting part of the wash, besides having the clothes drier than can be the case with ordinary hand-wringing.
Salt or beef's gall in the water helps to set black. A tablespoonful of spirits of turpentine to a gallon of water sets most blues, and alum is very efficacious in setting green. Black or very dark calicoes should be stiffened with gum-arabic — five cents' worth is enough for
a dress. If, however, starch is used, the garment should be turned wrong side out.
To Wash Light-colored Cashmere, and Method for Remov ING Spots. — All spots should be removed from the goods before they are put into the water, and the method must depend upon what they are and also the color of the goods. Benzine, which should always; be used with caution because of its inflammable character, is one of the best and quickest means of taking out grease. A little rubbed lightly in the direction the warp runs will usually remove it entirely. Get the highly rectified benzine, such as first-class druggists keep. Chloroform rubbed on lightly and quickly will also remove grease. Unless done rapidly and finished by rubbing with a dry cloth it is apt to leave a slight stain. Fruit stains can usually be removed by a little salts of lemon. Frequently a lighted sulphur match held under the stain will drive it away. Acid stains, unless they be nitric, , will yield to an application of ammonia, while those produced by alkalies, such as soda, ammonia, etc., will usually disappear by the application of acetic acid, diluted in a good deal of water. Of course, the use of these things depends much upon color and material.
After the spots are removed, put the goods in warm (not hot) soft water and wash carefully. Lay it while still very damp upon the ironing-board, with a linen cloth over it, and iron with a hot flat-iron until dry. Press a fold down the centre of each breadth, and the cashmere will look almost if not quite as well as new.
Potato water is excellent to wash black calicoes in, as it starches the calico without impairing its cleanness. Ordinary starch cannot be used. The potato water should be boiled to a thick consistency.
Black bombazine may be nicely washed by making good suds, and adding to it a small quantity of ox-gall. It should be squeezed and rinsed, but not rubbed or wrung out.
To Wash Blankets. — Wash them in good suds until quite clean ; if much soiled, they will require two or three waters ; rin.Te them in tepid water until clear, adding to the last rinsing-water a very little fine soap.
294 THE hearthstone; or, life at home.
To Clean Black Cashmere. — Wash in hot suds with a little borax in the water; rinse in bluing water — very blue — and iron while damp. It will look almost equal to new.
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To Clean Black Cashmere