^704 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



for each gallon of water used. Shake or brush the garments free from 

 dust, and put them into the water to soak for ten or fifteen minutes. 

 Before beginning to wash the flannels prepare a second tub of water 

 having the same temperature. Wash one garment at a time by drawing 

 through the hands and washing up and down in the water but avoid 

 rubbing if possible. Pass the garments from first to second water, which 

 should be a suds if the first suds has not removed all the soil. Rinse 

 free of soap, using several waters, being sure to keep the temperature 

 constant. Wring through a loosely set wringer. Turn wrong side out 

 and hang in a warm place but not near a fire as heat will cause shrinkage. 

 When nearly dry turn. Shape when drying by pulling and stretching. 



It is a mistake to ascribe all the shrinkage in woolen garments to wash- 

 ing. The moisture, heat and movements of the body may cause a marked 

 shrinkage. 



If flannels are to be pressed, they should be allowed to dry first and 

 should then be covered with a slightly dampened piece of cheese cloth 

 and ironed with a moderately hot iron. The cheese cloth draws up the 

 fibres of the flannel giving it the fluffy appearance of a new garment. 

 Undervs^ear and woolen stockings should be stretched into shape and 

 should not be ironed. For very soiled garments the soap formula given 

 under the heading "Soap" will be useful. 



Blankets are washed in the same way as other woolen articles except 

 that, because of their size only two blankets or only one pair are washed 

 at a time and fresh water is used for each pair. After wringing they may 

 be stretched and dried in curtain stretchers. If stretchers are not avail- 

 able, blankets should hang on the line until perfectly dry, and occasion- 

 ally the water should be squeezed from the hanging ends. To press 

 them, fold evenly and carefully and wrap in a sheet. Keep them smooth 

 and unwrinkled and place a flat board over the whole. Weight heavily 

 and let them remain thus for several days. 



SILK 



Silk should be washed in much the same way as wool. While it is 

 not so strongly affected by soaps and alkalis, its gloss is destroyed by 

 the use of strong reagents. The delicacy of the fibre makes hard 

 rubbing impossible for it breaks the fibres and destroys not only the 

 durabihty, but also the silkiness of the fibre. In wringing silk, place 

 between dry towels or hea\^^ cloths and put through loosely adjusted 

 wringer. Iron on the wrong side while still damp, with a moderate 

 iron. Silk is very easily scorched and if the iron is too hot the silk will 

 be stiff. Iron back and forth with a wriggling motion to give softness 



