THE LAVNDRY. 481 



To Prevpn* Spotting. — A teaspoonfal of black pepper will prevent gray 

 or buff linens from spotting, if stirred into the first water in which they are 

 washed. It will also prevent the colors running, when washing black or 

 colored cambrics or muslins, and the water is not injured by it, but just aa 

 soft as before the pepper was put in. 



To Prevent Lumps in St«rclii — To keep flour Starch from lumping, 

 mix the flour with water first, then remove the boiling water fit)m the fiia 

 for a minute before stirring in the mixture, or it will cook into lumpe before 

 it reaches the bottom. It is well to| remember this in making gruel, corn- 

 starch, etc. 



Iron Rnst. — Iron rust, it is said, may be removed by tjHng a little cream 

 of tartar in the stained spot before putting the cloth to boil. If this does not 

 succeed, thicken lemon juice with equal parts of salt and starch, add some 

 soft soap, apply the mixture to the cloth, and lay it in the hot sun. Renew 

 the application several times. 



To Malce Potato Starch. — Grate six medium-sized p>otatoes and mix 

 thoroughly with one gallon of water; strain through a coarse towel, let settle, 

 drain off the water, and turn on another gaUon of clear water, and let settle 

 again; drain again, put in an earthen diah, and set in a warm place (not too 

 warm) to dry. Use same as com-star«h for starching clothes. 



To-weL* Slioold be Thorongbljr Dried. — Many persons iron towels, 

 fold them and put them away before they are thoroughly dry. This is an 

 error, and sometimes leads to results not expected. In their damp condi- 

 tion there is a mold which forms on them called oidium, one variety of which 

 causes numerous skin diseases. 



To Save Soap — ^The addition of three-quarters of an oimce of borax to 

 a pound of soap, melted in without boiling, makes a saving of one-half in 

 the cost of Soap, and three-fourths the labor of washing, and improves the 

 whiteness of the fabrics; besides, the usual caustic effect is removed, and 

 the hands are left with a peculiar soft and silky feeling, leaving nothing 

 more to be desired by the most ambitious washerwoman. 



To AVIiiten Yello'w Linen. Linen garments which have become yel- 

 low from time, may be whitened by being boiled in a lather made of milk and 

 pure white soap, a pound of the latter to a gallon of the former. After the 

 boiling process the linen should be twice rinsed, a little blue being added 

 to the last water used. 



Alam In Starch. — For starchirg muslins, ginghams, and calicoes, dis- 

 solve a piece of alum the size of a shellbark, for every pint of starch, and 

 add to it. By 6o doing the colors will keep bright for a long time, which is 

 very desirable when dresses must be often washed, and the cost is but a 

 trifle. 



To Prevent Calico from Fading. — To render the colors of cottoa 

 fabric permanent, dissolve three gills of salt in four quarts of water; put the 

 calico in while hot, and leave it till cold; it will not fade by subsequent 

 washing. 



To Prevent the Iron from Sticking. — A spoonful of kerosene oil pot 



into cold starch will prevent the iron from sticking. 



