FoodNetArchive

The standard book of recipes and housewife's guide, comprising as complete cook book

1901

Page 88

Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Then take a large piece of black cloth or other material, dip it into the liquid, and wash the stuff well. If the fabric be cloth, care must be taken to wash it the rioJit icaw so as to keep it sf?ioof/i. When washed, fold the material in half, and place it in a clean towel, layini; one piece over the other in case the garment has been taken to pieces. Iron the wrouir side, laying the stuff on a thickly folded blanket or slieet. with a thin sheet of paper, or other thin material, over 439 72 THE MODEL COOK BOOK the blanket or sheet. Iron each piece on ' the wrong side until quite dry. Then fold the pieces, but be careful not to fold so as to crease them, especially cloth. Gentle- men's clothes can be cleaned in this way without taking to pieces, or ironing, unless convenient. Vest and coat collars are easily renovated, and grease spots and white seams removed. Colored Fabrics. Nearly all colored fabrics stain the water used to clean them, and that without losing their own brightness in any way. No article of a different color should be plunged into a wash or rinse so stained, and no colored article should be rinsed in a blued lather. Scarlet is particularly likely to color wash water. Colors are often improved by the use of certain substances in the wash or rinse- Sugar of lead has the credit of fixing all colors when first cleaned, and may be used with those likely to run. To brighten colors, mix some ox-gall with the water. Of course the quantity must be regulated by the quantity of suds in the wash and rinse. For buff and cream-colored alpaca or cash- mere, mix in the wash and rinse a small quantity of friar's balsam for one skirt. For a dress of black materials, use a little ammonia in the wash and rinse. For violet, also put ammonia, or a small quantity of soda, in the rinsing water ; but it must be borne in mind that some violets and mauves fade in soda. For green, use vinegar in the rinse, in the proportion of two tablespoon- fuls of vinegar to a quart of rinse. For blue, to one dress, put a good handful of common salt in the rinse. For brown and gray, use ox-gall. For white, blue the water with laundry blue. Blankets may be similarly dealt with. Pull them out well, while wet, in both di- rections, two persons pulling. When half dry it is a good plan to take them off the line and pull them again ; and when quite dry, give them a little more pulling out. This keeps them open and soft. Never use soda to them, and never rinse them in plain water or rub on soap. 440 Flannels. It is very important, in washing flannels, to prevent shrinkage. The articles should be ivashcd and 7^i)iscd in water of the same temperature, and not allowed to cool be- tween. Do not rub soap on the goods. Use a strong suds, about as hot as the hands can bear ; rub through two soapy waters ; wring out and rinse in plenty of warm, clean water ; then in another water of same temperature, blued a little. Wring, shake well, and hang up, but not in a freezing air ; better dry them in the house, unless a warm sun is shining. Flannels should dry quickly.