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White Lye for Washing

This is made by pouring a pailful of boiling water over 4 or 5 quarts of ashes. Let it stand a while to infuse; then pour in cold water to settle it, when you can pour it off clear.

White Linen and Cotton Articles. Set This is very good to boil dirty clothes in. aside the flannels and colored things, as they When made nice, is equal to soda, and does must not be washed in this way, then select not, unless made extremely strong, injure the from the clothes to be washed, all the coarse clothes. and dirtiest pieces from the fine; then put 484. To Wash Linen in Salt Water. them in separate tubs of soft water to soak Drop into sea water a solution of soda or over night (the night previous to washing.) potash. It will become milky, in consequence Then prepare in a separate vessel, the liquid of the decomposition of the earthy salts, and for a large washing, namely, 1/2 pound of good the precipitation of the earths. This addition brown soap, cut in small pieces; 1/2 pound soda, renders it soft, and capable of washing. Its and 3 ounces fresh, unslacked lime, mixed in milkiness will have no injurious effect. 1 gallon of boiling soft water. Stir well up, so 485. To Wash an Alpaca, Mousseas to mix the ingredients, and let it stand un- line-de-Laine, or Lama Dress that has til morning. Then strain off the liquid, being Bright or Delicate Colors. Boil 1 pound careful to leave all sediment behind. Having best rice in 1 gallon water for three hours. ready about 10 gallons of boiling soft water in When boiled, pour off what will be sufficient to starch the dress; wash the dress well in served by using a strong milk-warm lather of the remainder, rice and all, using the rice for white soap, and putting the dress into it, inthe rice for white soap, and putting the dress into it, insoap; rinse it in clean cold water, wring it stead of rubbing it on the material, and stirring well, then starch it with the rice water that into a first and second tub of water a large was kept for that purpose, and hang it before table-spoonful of ox-gall. (Sec No. 489.) the fire to dry. When dry enough, iron with Clothes. No colored articles should ever be 488. Hints for Washing Colored enough, iron with 488. Hints for Washing Colored a cool iron, as it is liable to scorch. If some Clothes. No colored articles should ever be parts of the dress get too dry, they must be boiled or scalded. Neither should they be althey must be boiled or scalded. Neither should they be aldamped with a wet cloth whilst ironing. No lowed to freeze, or the colors will be irreparaironing. No lowed to freeze, or the colors will be irreparasoap must be used. The best way is to boil bly injured. They should be ironed immediway is to boil bly injured. They should be ironed immedithe rice on the previous day, and merely warm ately they are dry enough, and not be allowed it up the next morning, for then you have the to lie damp over night, nor be sprinkled. day before you to complete the whole, as the They should not be smoothed with a hot iron . dress must on no account lie damp, even for an hour, or the colors will be sure to run. This receipt will be found equally well suited to delicate painted muslins and piqués as to lama and alpaca dresses.

Pink and green colors, though they may withstand the washing, will frequently change as soon as a hot iron is put over them. 489. To Prepare Ox-gall for Washing Colored Articles. Empty the gall in a bottle, put in it a handful of salt, and keep it closely corked. A tea-cupful to 5 gallons of water will prevent colored articles from fading.