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To Wash Colored Muslins
In washing colored muslins and linens, there are several very essential points to be observed, whereby the colors are preserved from injury. from injury.
In the first place, they should not be soaped 490. The French Method of Washbe soaped 490. The French Method of Washor soaked over night, as the more delicate ing Colored Muslins, Piqués, &c. Premore delicate ing Colored Muslins, Piqués, &c. Preof the hues would be deteriorated by such pare some rather warm (not hot) lather, made with soft water and the best white soap by such pare some rather warm (not hot) lather, made process. When ready for washing, they with soft water and the best white soap ; should, if not too dirty, be put into cold water and washed up very speedily; if very ; if very dirty, the water may be lukewarm and no more. But above all, be careful not to use the smallest particle of soda. The best soap wash the dresses one at a time, but do not soak them. As soon as the first lather looks soiled, squeeze the dress from it, and at once wash it again in a fresh lather. When thor- . When thoroughly clean, rinse in pure cold water , lastly for washing articles made of this material is in water slightly blued; squeeze (not wring) the common yellow. It is much better than the water completely from the dress, and hang the mottled, because it is less harsh, and re- it in a shaded place to dry; if wet weather, moves the dirt in a shorter period. A small dry it by the fire. The best prints will fade piece of alum should be boiled in the water in if hung in the sunshine. which the lather is made. The soap should 491. To Render the Colors of Cotton not be allowed to remain any time on the Fabrics Permanent. Dissolve 3 gills of linen; the latter should be soaped and washed salt in 4 quarts of water; put the calico in as rapidly as possible, and not lie in the water while hot, and leave it till cold, and in this any length of time. One article should there- way the colors are rendered permanent, and will not fade by subsequent washing. article should there- way the colors are rendered permanent, and fore be washed at a time, and immediately rinsed through two cold waters, the others remaining in a dry state by the side of the tub until they are taken to be washed each in its turn. The liquid in which the articles are will not fade by subsequent washing. 492. To Wash Chintz, so as to Preserve its Gloss and Color. Take 2 pounds of rice and boil it in 2 gallons of water, till soft; when done, pour the whole into a tub; to be rinsed in succession immediately as let it stand and cool till about the usual they are washed, should consist of 3 or 4 gal- warmth for colored linens; put the chintz in, lons of cold soft water, with a handful of table and use the rice instead of soap; wash it in salt dissolved in it. Should alum not be added this till the dirt appears to be out; then boil to the lather, then a tea-spoonful of vinegar the same quantity as above, but strain the rice from the water, and mix it in warm water. of vinegar the same quantity as above, but strain the should be stirred into the water for each rinsing; this will help to fix and brighten the colors. The moment an article is taken from the rinsing tub, it should be wrung very gently, being twisted as little as can be helped .
After rinsing, they should be hung out immeout immediately to dry. rice from the water, and mix it in warm water.
Wash it in this till quite clean; afterwards rinse it in the water the rice was boiled in; this will answer the end of starch, and no dew will affect it, as it will be stiff while it is worn. If a dress, it must be taken to pieces, and when dried, hang it as smooth as possible ; when dry, rub it with a smooth stone, but use , but use 493. To Wash Flannels or other washing almost any colored fabrics, it is Woolen Articles. Have the suds ready recommended to soak them for some time in prepared by boiling up some good white soap water to every gallon of which is added a in soft water, but do not use the suds when spoonful of ox-gall. A tea-cup of lye in a boiling; let them be as hot as the hand will pail of water is said to improve the color of bear when the articles are put in. The flan- nels should not be rubbed with soap, nor the color of bear when the articles are put in. The flanblack goods, when it is necessary to wash nels should not be rubbed with soap, nor them. A strong clean tea of common hay should the material itself be rubbed, as in will preserve the color of French linens. washing linen, &c., rubbing knots the fibres Vinegar in the rinsing water, for pink or of the wool together; hence the thickening of green, will brighten those colors, and soda the fabric and consequent shrinking in its answers the same end for both purple and dimensions. Sluice the articles up and down in plenty of suds, which afterwards squeeze 487. To Preserve the Colors of Merino, Mousselines - de - Laine, Gingham , no iron.
Chintz, and Printed Lawns. blue.
The colors of the above fabrics may be pre- (not wring) out. The patent clothes-wringers are a great improvement upon hand labor, as, | shirt should be the last part ironed, as this without injury to the fabric, they squeeze out will prevent its being soiled. All starck the water so thoroughly that the article dries should be strained before using. in considerably less time than it would do even after the most thorough hand wringing. Shirt-Bosoms Glossy. Procure 2 ounces Gum Arabic Starch for Making After rinsing, squeeze out the water, and dry of fine white gum arabic, and pound it to in the open air, if the weather is such as to powder. Next put it into a pitcher, and pour admit of the articles drying quickly; if not, dry in a warm room, but avoid too close fire. Let any dust or mud be beaten out or brushed off prior to washing.
All flannels should be soaked before they are made up, first in cold and then in hot wamade up, first in cold and then in hot water, in order to shrink them. on it a pint or more of boiling water, according to the degree of strength you desire, and then, having covered it, let it set all night. dregs into a clean bottle, cork it, and keep it In the morning, pour it carefully from the for use. A table -spoonful of gum water stirin the usual manner, will give a beautiful gloss red into a pint of starch that has been made