The Laundry 



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Table linen and clean towels 



Bed and body linen 



Handkerchiefs 



Soiled towels and cloths 



b. Colored clothing 



c. Flannels 



2. Mend rents, except in stockings. 



3. Remove stains. 



4. Put as many white clothes to soak as is practicable. Some 



colored clothes having fast colors may be soaked if very 

 much soiled. 



The purpose of soaking soiled clothes before washing them is to soften 

 and separate the fibers of cloth in order to loosen dirt. Water alone ac- 

 complishes this purpose to a great extent; but the use of a soap solution, 

 or a soap solution to which has been added borax, ammonia, or other alkali, 

 and tiirpentine, kerosene, or benzine, makes the washing process both 

 easier and quicker. 



It is well before beginning the washing to make a soap solution, as it 

 gives a quick suds and is more easily handled, and its use will therefore 

 save time. 



All the clothing should not be put to soak in the same tub. If three 

 tubs are available, soak table linen and clean towels in one, bed linen and 

 body linen in a second, soiled towels and cloths in a third. If only two 

 tubs are available, wash table linen and clea'n towels without preliminary 

 soaking. Soiled towels and cloths should always be soaked before washing. 



If colds have prevailed in a family, the handkerchiefs should be put to 

 soak in a solution of boric acid in a basin by themselves, and should be 

 separately washed and boiled for twenty minutes. 



Wet the garment to be soaked, rub the more soiled part with soap solu- 

 tion, and fold that part in. Fold and roll each garment separately and 

 pack it into the tub with the other garments. Folding and rolling pre- 

 vents the dirt in the soiled parts from spreading. Cover the clothes with 

 warm soapy water, to which may have been added an alkali such as borax 

 or ammonia, and an oily substance, perhaps turpentine, kerosene, or ben- 

 zine. Directions for making soap solutions are given under the heading 

 "Soap" (p. 117). Cover the tub, and if possible let the clothing soak in 

 it during several hours or over night. If colored clothes are to be soaked, 

 cover with warm water or with water very slightly soapy. No alkali 

 should be used with the colored clothing. 



No arbitrary order can be recommended for washing clothes, but 

 flannels, white goods, and colored goods should be washed separately as 

 the washing process differs somewhat for each case. 

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