The Laundry. 7^5 



and pliability. It is often best to iron silk under a cloth. This gives 

 less body and a softer finish. 



Ribbons, if of good quality, may be very successfully washed. To 

 iron, cover with a dry cloth and move iron frequently back and forth 

 over the surface of the cloth above the ribbon. 



LACES 



It is often better to dry-clean fine laces as they thicken slightly in 

 washing. To wash them, use a warm neutral soap solution to which 

 has been added ammonia or borax. Squeeze out the dirt by pressing 

 the lace in the hands but do not rub it, as rubbing breaks the delicate 

 threads. A good way to wash fine lace is to baste it onto strips of cheese 

 cloth, being careful to catch all the points down. Put to soak over 

 night in warm soapy water containing a little borax or ammonia. Wash 

 by squeezing, and rinse free of soap. Old yellow lace may be bleached 

 by stretching it, while wet, about a bottle, and standing it in the sun, 

 re-wetting occasionally. Javelle water may be used to bleach lace. 

 Lace may be stiffened by rinsing in a mixture of two tablespoons of 

 alcohol to one cup of water; by rinsing in borax water, two tablespoons 

 to the cup; or by using gum-arabic, one-eighth teaspoon to a cup of 

 water. If a yellow color is desired, dip in coffee or tea. 



Black lace should be cleaned by squeezing out in a mixture of one 

 cup of strong coffee and one tablespoon of ammonia. Rinse in gum- 

 arabic water made with coffee to give natural stiffness. 



Lace curtains should be washed with as near an approach to the car*- 

 given to lace as is practical. Clear starch them, stretch and pin out on 

 sheets, one curtain over another. Curtain stretchers are better if avail- 

 able, but good results may be obtained by pinning, if care is taken to 

 make the first cvirtain straight and even. This is best done by measuring 

 sides and corners with a tape measure. 



BLEACHING 



In former times dependence was placed on sunshine, fresh air and a 

 green sward for bleaching all manufactured cottons and linens. This 

 dependence on natural agents has been obviated by the ability to procure 

 the same results from the use of chemicals. 



In the home laundry, we still use the natural agents to whiten and 

 purify household linen. This is the greatest advantage which the home 

 laundry is able to exercise over the commercial laundry, when in a 

 majority of cases clothes are dried in steam closets, and some chemical 

 must replace the sun's rays to bleach a garment left yellow by washing. 



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