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Classic
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page 387
In ironing a shirt or a dress, turn the sleeves on the wrong side, and leave
them until the rest is done, and then turn and iron them. In this way the bosoms
are less likely to become rumpled. Pull muslin and lace out carefully, iron it
over once, and then pull into shape, pick out the embroidery and proceed with
greater care than before. Embroideries should be ironed on the wrong side over
flannel. Always have near a dish of clean cold water, so that any spot which has
been imperfectly ironed may be easily wet, with a soft sponge or piece of linen,
and ironed over again, or any surplus bit of starch removed. As fast as articles
are finished, they should be hung on the clothes-dryer until thoroughly dry,
especial care being taken with those which are starched stiff, as they retain
the starch much better if dried very quickly.
If a machine is used in washing, it is better to soak the clothes over night in
warm soft water, soaping collars and wristbands, and pieces most soiled. Have
separate tube for coarse and fine clothes. In soaking clothes for washing
Monday, the water should be prepared Saturday night, and all clothes which are
ready thrown in, and the rest added when changed. If washing fluids are used,
the recipes which follow are the best.
Another method is to half fill tubs Saturday night with clear, soft water,
warmed a little if convenient, but not hot; in one put the finer articles, such
as muslins, cuffs, collars and shirts; in another put table-linen; in another
bed-linen; in another the dish-cloths and wiping-towels, and in still another
the coarsest and most soiled articles; cover all well with water and press down.
Rub no soap in the water, as it may "set" spots or stains. Of course, articles
which can not be had on Saturday night are put in the next day as they are
changed. Monday morning, heat not very hot a boiler full of clean soft water,
add to it water in which soap was dissolved Saturday night by pouring hot water
over it, and stir it thoroughly; drain off the water in which the clothes were
soaked after shaking them up and down vigorously in it, pressing them against
the sides of the tub to get out all the water possible. Then pour over them the
warm suds, and wash out as before described, washing each class separately. If
found impracticable to make so many divisions, separate the coarse and fine, and
the least soiled and the dirtiest.
In the summer clothes may be washed without any fire by soaking overnight in
soapy soft water, rubbing out in the morning, soaping the dirty places, and
laying them in the hot sunshine. By the time the last are spread out to bleach,
the first may be taken up, washed out and rinsed. This, of course, requires a
clean lawn.
In washing flannels use soft clean, cold water, in winter merely taking the
chill off. Let the hard soap, lie in the water, but do not apply it to the
clothes. Wash the white pieces first, throw articles as fast as washed into
blued cold water, let them stand twenty or thirty minutes, wash them
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