MISCELLANEOUS. 533 



the following directions for -vrasluug the above named line of goods, and also 

 says their own experience enables them to testify to its excellence. Dissolve 1 

 lb. of nice soap in 4 gallons of warm soft water in which well rinse the articles 

 to be washed, drawing them repeatedly through the hand; press them as dry 

 as possible, to remove the soap; rinse them again briskly in clean, lukewarm 

 water; press out or put through a wringer, if you have one, and stretch them 

 to their proper shape, and dry in the open air if possible. The only effects of 

 iiibbing are to shrink and destroy the material; it should therefore never be 

 resorted to with these kinds of goods. The material used in manufacturing 

 silk underwear being an animal product, it is absolutely necessary that nothing 

 but the best quality of soap and warm water should be used. 



Washing Flannels of Any Kind, so they Shall Not Turn 

 Yellow or Shrink. — A lady signing herself " Michigan," says she wants to 

 tell the ladies of the Blade how to wash flannels of any kind, so they won't 

 turn yellow, nor shrink up, and that sort of thiug. Wash in cold water, using 

 soap in both suds. Of course you can take the chill off if you are afraid of 

 taking cold, but not have it a bit hot. Now don't laugh at such- an idea and not 

 give it a trial, but this spring you wash your flannel blankets, woolen stockings, 

 baby's flannel and then report. I learned of a Scotch lady years ago and never 

 think of using hot water ; use soft water of course. 



Remarks. — Certainly the water being made a little warm will not cause 

 shrinkage. The suds should be made before putting in the flannels, and not 

 by rubbing the soap on them. 



For Washing Scarlet Flannels, etc., Without Fading or 

 Shrinking. — To prevent scarlet flannels or worsted goods of any kind of this 

 color, from fading by washing, it is claimed by some washer-women that the 

 following plan is perfectly safe: ilix flour, J^ cup, little by little, with cold 

 water, 1 qt. ; then boiling 10 or 15 minutes and mixing with the lukewarm 

 suds, pressing and rinsing, up and down, a number of times, then passing 

 througli the wringer, the goods wiU not be faded or tliickened, as there is to be 

 no rubbing. 



IUmar1cs.—E.aX{GXs make wool, or felt hats, as they are called, by plaiting 

 out a layer of wool upon a piece of cloth, at first, and dipping it into hoi 

 water, then rolhng it with a little roller, re-dipping and rolling till they get the 

 desired thickness, by the little hooks that are seen by the microscope only, 

 which are upon the fibers of all good wool, to so take hold upon each other, as 

 to make as heavy a body as desired. The same is done, to a certain extent, 

 every time woolen goods is washed in hot water, by rubbing. Now any one 

 can see to avoid thickening, "shrinking," as it is called, in washing flannels,, 

 simply avoid hot suds, and do not rub them. (See Washing Fine Under Cloth- 

 ing, etc., above.) Sudsing by an up and down motion, in first and second suds,, 

 is the safest method. 



Colored Silk Handkerchiefs, To Wash.— To wash colored silk 

 handkerchiefs make a good suds in lukewarm water, in which a little bit of 

 carbonate of ammonia has been dissolved; rub the handkerchiefs lightly in th© 



