Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1910 — Home Course In Domestic Science [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Home Course In Domestic Science

XlL—Hints on Home Laundering. By EDITH G. CHARLTON. In Charge of Domestic Economy, I'vwa State College. Copyright. 1910. by American Press Association. TO many women the laundry is the least interesting part of the home, and often the weekly washing and ironing are the work most dreaded by the entire family. In fact, in many homes they prove to bethe one insurmountable task, and because no other solution is found for the problem the washing is sent to the laundry or is done in any way and by any one so long as it is taken out of the House. Why the washing and iron- „ ing should prove such unpleasant work as to cause both mistress and maid to rebel against it has always been a mystery to me. I can fexplain it only by the natural supposition that neither knows how to do it well and that the possibilities for doing the work quickly, easily and thoroughly are few in most houses. We generally find that a properly equipped laundry is among the last things to be added to the house and that in the majority of cases a tub or twp. perhaps a washing machine of possible merit and occasionally a wringer comprise the average washing, outfit in private homes of moderate- means. And. small as that equipment is. it can be made to give very satisfactory results if a little

knowledge and intelligence are brought to the task. The trouble is most women do not like to wash because they have not been taught to do it properly and because they make extremely hard work of it They appreciate to some degree fine fabrics and dainty clothing, but they do not, as a rule, appreciate these to the extent that makes them desirous of preserving materials and colors. While it is difficult at any time and in almost any locality, to obtain well trained helpers for housework, it is oftefa an easier task to get a good cook or housemaid than it is to find a first class laundress. Because of this it is all the more necessary that the mistress of the house should be familiar with fabrics and how to cleanse them. •The Modern Laundry Equipment. Whenever possible the laundry should bg a separate apartment in even small houses. It may be located in the basement or adjoining the kitchen; but, wherever it is. the room should be well lighted and well ventilated and should have a good floor and hard finished walls. There should be no soft or porous material used in the laundry to absorb moisture. For a small home laundry the following list of furnishings will be found sufficient: Three or four tubs, stationary if possible, made of soapstone, enamel or porcelain; a good washing machine, clothes wringer, clothes stick, clothes boiler, tin or copper; zinc or glass washboard, clothespins (kept in box or basket), water pail, clothes basket, scrubbing brush, large granite spoon, galvanized iron clothesline, skirt, sleeve and bosom boards for ironing, ironing blanket, mangle and several good irons of different weights. An electric or even a good gasoline iron is such a valuable labor saving device that its first cost should seldom be considered, because it very soon more than repays it. Besides this amount of furnishing a number of comracn substances for removing stains of various kinds should always be on hand. Among those most frequently needed may be mentioned borax, ammonia, salt, vinegar, alum,- naphtha, muriatic and oxalic acid. These should be kept in a closed box and out of- the reach of children, as some of them are poisonous. Wax. blueing, starch, French chalk and javeiie water are also often needed in the laundry, and if a supply of them is kept on hand time and effort may be saved on washing day. A valuable addition to this equipment would be an electric or water motor with which to run the washing machine. wringer and mangle. With such an addition it is possible for one woi man to finish a large washing with tomparatively little outlay of strength. Removing Ordinary Stains. Washing’s the mechanical cleansing us clothes 1 remove all Impurities and dirt. To do this four simple, short rules should be kept in mind—viz: Get out all the dirt. Keep all articles; a good color. Use nothing to injure the material either mechanically or chemically. Have some definite knowledge of dlf-

ferent fabrics io order to treat eacn in the way least likely to injure or changers character. y Unsatisfactory results, in laundry work can often be traced to carelessness in preparing the various articles to be washed. Too often articles coarse and fine, white and colored, are put into the suds together without the slightest attention to such preliminary steps in the process as sorting, removing stains, temperature and soapiness of the water. After such indiscriminate preparation what wonder if fine muslins are soon torn or made yellow. If stains are made permanent and the entire washing takes on a dingy hue! Before any article is sent to the wash it should be examined and all stains carefully removed. This requires care and some knowledge of chemicals and their action on fabrics and stains. All stains cannot be removed by the same substance or in the same way, and yet it is remarkable how many different kinds of stains may be removed by cold water alone. For this reason £ recommend that all articles be soaked in cold water for fifteen minutes or longer before being put Into the washing suds. The white pieces should, of course, be kept by themselves, and If there is any question about the fastness of any color a little salt and vinegar added to the cold water will help to set it. Alum added to the rinsing water will make the color still more permanent. The following are general directions for removing stains of various kinds: < Tea and Coffee.—Spread the stained part over a bowl and pour boiling water over it from a height. < Chocolate and Cocoa.—Wash first in cold water, then rinse and pour boiling water through it. Fruit.—Many fruit stains may be softened and dissolved by alcohol. If heated the alcohol will be more effective. For peach stain it may be necessary to use diluted muriittic acid or sulphur fumes. Boiling water will remove fresh stains of small fruits. Grass.—Alcohol will dissolve the green coloring matter. Washing with naphtha soap and warm water or spreading on a paste made of soap and baking soda will also remove' grass stains. *

Grease or Oil.—Soak first in cold water, then wash with cold water and soap, then dry and If necessary use other agents. Chloroform or ether will remove grease from fabrics which cannot be washed. Wine.—Put a thick layer of salt over the stain from red wine while fresh, then pour boiling water over it If a yellow wine wash first with cold water, then with soap and water. Ink.—ls stain is on a white garment put to soak for several days in milk, changing frequently. Red ink poured over the black will remove the black stain. The red may be washed out in cold water and ammonia, then boiled. Equal parts of peroxide of hydrogen and ammonia may remove fresh stains. Oxalic acid will remove old ink stains from white garments. Salt and cold water may be used in fresh stains on delicate colors. Iron Rust—ls fresh, lemon juice, salt and strong sunlight may remove stain, but generally it is better to use muriatic acid at once. Spread the stain over a bowl containing a fairly strong solution of borax and water or soda and water. Drop muriatic acid on the stain a little at a time until it darkens, then rinse thoroughly in the borax and water. Mildew.—This is a mold growing on the fiber of the cloth. If fresh it may be removed by wetting in strong soapsuds or covering with a mixture of chalk and salt and bleaching in strong sunlight for several hours. Old mildew stains can rarely be removed without injuring the fabric. Milk or Cream.—Wash out with cold water and later use soap and cold water. Paint or Tar.—ls fresh and washable use soap and water or rinse in turpentine, then wash. If not washable use gasoline. If dry soften with lard or oil, then treat as for fresh paint. Perspiration.—Use cold water and soap and put the garment in the sun for several hours. The perspiration under the arms is different from that of the rest of the body =and requires diluted muriatic acid to neutralize it.

Sugar of Gum.—Dissolve with warm water if washable, with alcohol if not washable. Blood.—Soak in cold water, then rub out in fresh tepid water. If very dry soak and wash out or use peroxide of hydrogen or javeiie water. A word of caution is necessary when using acids to remove stains. These should not be used on colored fabrics, and after using on any white article always rinse thoroughly in borax and water or afnmonla and water and afterward in clear water. Javeiie waiter is an excellent’ bleaching agent w\Jch will often remove old stains. It mi easily made and may be kept indefp nitely in glass bottles in a cool, dark place. Javeiie Water.—Dissolve one,pound of salsoda in two quarts of wa-_ ter, then add one-fourth of a pound of chloride of lime. Stir with, wooden stick until lumps are broken, then let stand several hours to settle. Pour off dear liquid and bottle for use. Foe bleaching purposes use one-half to one cupful to one pail of water. Always rinse thoroughly in ammonia water. To remove stains brush over with javeiie water full strength, then rinse quickly in ammonia water. Some-practical suggestions for washing silks, woolens and laces, starching, etc., will be given in a later article.

WASHING NOT UNATTRACTIVE