MISGELLANEOm. 519 



one, take the body and sleeves apart and to pieces; rip off the trimming from 

 skirt and over-skirt. Brush off all loose dust first, and then, with a sponge 

 dipped in the soap bark decoction, wipe over each piece thoroughly, folding up 

 as you proceed. Have ready a ladies' skirt board, for pressing, and well heated 

 irons. Smooth every piece on the wrong side, including even silk trimmings; 

 and when you have once more put it together you will be amazed to see the 

 results of the simple process. One advantage in taking the whole dress apart 

 is that, by putting the trimming on in some style a little different from what it 

 was at first, the attraction of novelty is added to make the effect more pleasing. 

 If one has not time, however, to go through the whole process, a dress may be 

 greatly improved by being wiped over with this mixture (or the borax water 

 above), and pressed on the wrong side while damp — indeed, for a time, it will 

 look quite as good as new. The process may be repeated from time to time, as 

 shall seem advisable. I have seen a cashmere, which had been worn two whole 

 winters, taken apart and treated in this way, and the closest observer would 

 have supposed the dress to have been put on for the first time, such was its soft, 

 fresh look, and the vividness of its black. Grenadine may be submitted to the 

 same sort of cleaning with fine results. 



" When a black lawn has become limp, tumbled, and generally forlorn- 

 looking, the best mode of treatment to subject it to is, first a submersion in a 

 pan of warm water, colored highly with indigo; then exposure to the air until 

 just dampness enough is left to enable one to press it to advantage with a hot 

 iron; and if this is carefully done, always on the wrong side, the lawn will 

 come forth quite fresh, stiff, and renovated from its blue bath, and again do 

 good service for another while. 



";Every particle of dust should be removed from a black silk or poplin 

 every time it is worn, for nothing cuts either out so soon as these often imper- 

 ceptible little gritty motes with which the air of a city is filled where coal is ia 

 such universal use." 



17. Washing or Cleansing Woolen Blankets.— It is quite as 

 important to have the woolen blankets on our beds clean, as to have our sheets 

 pure and white. For the emination from our bodies are more quickly absorbed 

 by them than by the muslin sheets; and as the women look upon the washing 

 of a pair of blankets as a great undertaking, I will give them the easy way, 

 recommended by the Boston Journal of Chemistry, which is about the same as 

 practiced by my wife, in her lifetime. It is as follows: Put 2 heaping table- 

 spoonfuls of powdered borax and 1 pt. of soft soap (or its equivalent of dis- 

 solved bar soap), into a tub of cold soft water. Stir well to dissolve and mix; 

 then put in the blankets, thoroughly wetting, and let them soak over night. 

 Next day rub (the author says pound), and drain them out, and rinse thoroughly 

 in two waters, and hang them to dry. Do not wring them by hand, but press 

 out the water. They may be put through a wringer. 



Eemarks.— This makes light work of washing blankets. It will not be 

 amiss, however, to say the washing water and the rinsing water should always 

 be as nearly as possible the same temperature, but only to take the chill off, so 

 as to avoid taking cold by having the hands in cold water — no soap should ever 

 be rubbed on the flannels, but sudsing be used; and do not hang out on a very 

 ccld day, nor hang close to a hot fire or stove; and iron with a moderately cool 

 iron — not very hot— while damp, and there will be but little, if any shrinkage, 

 alter moderate pulling even of skirts or other woolen goods. Under-skirts, 

 etc. , of wool can oe washed in the fluid water, as above given, otherwise aa 

 neaxiy like blankets are done as you can. 



