The household (of the Detroit free press)

To Set the Color. When washed for the first time, use a little ox gall (it can be procured at the druggist's) ; use it in the first water only ; also have one teaspoonful of powdered borax to every pail of hot water. Use very little soap. After the first use of ox gall, borax will answer every purpose. Do not let the stockings remain long in any water ; hang in the shade to dry. MUSLINS, CAMBRICS AND CALICOES. In washing muslin dresses, the colors may be prevented from running by pursuing the following course : Take out all the gathers at the top of the sleeves and the waist, wash the dress quickly in not too warm water, rinse it immediately, roll it smoothly in a dry sheet, and let it remain until just damp enough to iron. Another process for washing fine muslin of delicate colors is to take some wheat bran — about two quarts for a lady's dress — and boil it for half an hour in some soft water, then allow it to cool, strain the liquid, and use it as a substitute for soapsuds. It removes the dirt from the material like soap, is inert in regard to the colors, requires to be rinsed out in only one clean water, and starching is unnecessary. This may be regarded as the best method, on the whole, of washing fine muslins, lawns and calicoes. A great number of beautiful dresses' are, from time to time, spoiled in washing by the discharge of their colors, from the use of warm suds. In all cases the suds and rinsing water for colored articles of dress should be used as cold as possible. The bran, used as above, should be nice and clean, and a bright, fair day is better for the operation. If bran is used, no soap is necessary, the water should be only milk warm and perfectly clean. Add a tablespoonful of salt if there is black in the dresses or any color that may run. Rinse thoroughly in only one water. No starch is needed, but if one thinks it desirable use a little white glue water, not hot. Light Colored Prints and Cambrics may be washed in this way : Take a tablespoonful of alum and dissolve it in enough lukewarm water to rinse a print dress. Dip the soiled dress into it, taking care to wet thoroughly every part of it, and then ring it out. Have warm — not hot — suds all ready, and wash out the dress quickly ; then rinse it in cold water. (White castile soap is the best for colored cottons, if it can be commanded.) Have the starch ready — but not too hot ; rinse the dress in it, wring it out, and hang it wrong side out to dry, but not in the sun. Place it where the wind will strike it rather than the sun. When dry, iron directly. Prints should never be sprinkled; but if allowed to become rough dry, they should be ironed under a damp cloth. It is better to wash them some day by themselves, when washing and ironing can be done at once. Black Calico — Boil about one dozen potatoes in one gallon of water (do not pare them), wash the goods in this water without soap ; then take four good sized potatoes, pare them and grate into a deep dish, sprinkle about a tablespoonful of salt over this and pour boiling water upon it to make it the consistency of thin starch ; strain, and rinse the goods in this; hang them up to dry; iron on the wrong side.