The Laundry. 7^7 



It is said that irons that are to be used for starched garments should 

 not be polished by rubbing them on salt or emery paper, A better 

 method is to secure a good yellow pine board, free from all sand and 

 dirt and rub this with a hot iron until a hard coat of burned resin is 

 produced. This can be used for polishing the iron. The iron should 

 occasionally be wiped with a piece of wax or paraffin and then with a 

 clean cloth. 



Have ready and at hand a flat, firm, unwarped ironing board or table 

 tightly covered with a blanket and clean sheet, securely fastened under- 

 neath ; clean irons; an iron stand, which may well consist of a clean brick; 

 two pieces of old cloth for cleaning irons ; a piece of paper folded several 

 times for testing irons; a piece of beeswax, or paraffin tied in a cloth, for 

 keeping irons smooth ; a bowl of water and a clean cloth for moistening 

 parts dried by exposure to air. Spread a large paper or place a basket 

 under the ironing board to receive the clothes. 



For ordinary ironing a good firm surface is desirable and a thin woolen' 

 blanket and a linen cover are sufficient. For embroideries or wool a 

 thick covering is better, as the fabric should sink into a soft foundation 

 to bring out the pattern in one case, and give a soft finish in the other. 



The following simple rules for ironing may be followed: 



Iron first that part of the garment which will be least mussed by 

 further handling or in which a little wrinkling will not seriously inter- 

 fere with good results. 



If a garment is trimmed, iron laces and embroideries first, as these 

 dry out quickly because of their porous nature. 



Leave as much of a garment folded as possible, to keep it moist. 

 Sometimes it may be convenient to lay a piece of dampened cheese cloth 

 over any unironed part to keep it moist. 



A series of illustrations appended will give some of the methods of 

 folding various garments. 



METHOD AND ORDER FOR IRONING 



Night dresses. 



I, embroidery ; 2, sleeves; 3, yoke; 4, body. 



Drawers. 



I, trimming; 2, tucks; 3, body; 4, band. 



Skirt. 



I, ruffle; 2, hem; 3, body. 



Shirt waists. 



I, cuffs; 2, collar band; 3, sleeves; 4, yoke; 5, back; 6, front. 

 Silk waist. 



Iron as above, while still damp and on wrong side. 



