Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/35

 17 WOMAN'S HOMI home: LAUNDSIY FINE FLANNEL WASHING Soap Jelly— The Wringer— Children's Flannels— Washing Blankets I HThe writer of this article has devoted years of thought and study not only to laundry work, but especially to the washing of flannel. Flannel garments which have been put away during the summer months will prob- ably be of little use for winter wear, unless they have been washed at home, for flannels usually return from laundries thick, hard, and shrunken. If properly washed, however, they should be of the same size arid feel like new, even after three years' wear. SOAP JELLY The following is a method of washing flannel which will be found quite easy, even to people who are not used to hard work : Cut into shreds a pound of yellow soap, and put them into a saucepan with two quarts of water, near the fire or over a low gas- jet ; and the odds and ends left in the soap-bowls of the kitchen box can also be added. Do not allow the soap to boil, only to simmer, and put it aside until the following day or until wanted. It should then have formed into a strong jelly. To wash the flannel, two large pans, or a divided wooden tub, will be required. This latter is a most useful article for washing flannels, since an indiarubber wringer can be placed on the division of the tub. Fill both divisions with water, as hot as the hands can bear it, and into one put sufficient soap jelly to turn the water into a soapy lather. If flannel be new, use more jelly, and keep the article immersed quite soapy. Should the second water used for rinsing not remove all the soap, use a third water, but do this very quickly. The flannels should be arranged in order of colour and cleanliness, white and clean articles being washed first. Shake each article well, and plunge singly into the soapy water ; then rub lightly all over, and, with the aid of a piece of soap kept near at hand, give an extra rub to those portions likely to be soiled, such as the collar and wristbands of shirts. EXPENSIVE FLANNELS When expensive flannels are being washed, it is better to employ two persons. The flannel then can be passed from the soapy lather quickly by the one to the other, who can rinse it immediately in the clear water. By the time it is rinsed, wrung, and hung out, the next flannel should be ready to be treated in the same manner. Every housewife should, if possible, possess a wringer ; it spares the clothes, preserves their colour, enables them to dry quickly, and saves labour. If you have no wringer, wring out each article separately with the hands, roll in a clean cloth, and leave until the next one is ready ; then take it out of the cloth, shake well, and hang out to dry, or put before the fire. While flannels are drying, even out of doors, it is advisable to shake them once or twice, and to pull each into shape. When dry, turn, fold, and press them ; but take care to see that the irons are not too hot or the ironing blanket too thick. The flannels may then be aired and put away. Any buttons that have been carelessly pulled off should be sewn on before laying aside. children's flannels In washing infants' flannels, great care must be taken, as they must not be soaked either in very hot or cold water, which will thicken the material and give the articles a felt-like appearance. Take the soiled parts, and wash them in a little heated soapy water ; then immerse the flannel or garment in fresh water, as hot and as soapy as before ; lightly rub all over. Quickly wring from this water, and rinse in a clear one that has had a little borax powder stirred into it, the heat still being the same as the other waters — just as hot as the hands can bear with com- fort. Wring out, shake well, pull into shape, and dry immediately. Merino and woollen underwear, nuns' - veiling garments, woollen shawls and mufflers, may be treated in the same way as flannels. WASHING blanket When washing blankets, don't spare the soap jelly, but remember that it must be all rinsed out thoroughly before wTinging. New blankets require double the amount of soap jelly that is needed for those that have been washed before. On no account put more than one blanket into the water at a time. Each blanket must be well immersed and thoroughly rubbed all over, wrung out, and quickly placed in the clear water, which should be slightly blued. If this does not remove the soap, a third water may be used, but must be used quickly. Next pass the blanket through the wringer, and shake well. When hanging out, do not pull the blankets too tightly, and, when drying, be sure to reverse the sides once or twice. It is advisable to shake each one carefully before it becomes quite dry. To be continued in Part 2 of EVERY Woman's Encyclopedia. The following are good firms forsupplying materiak mentioned In this section: Messrs. Bratt. Colbran & Co. (" Heaped" Fire); John Bond (M.irking Ink) ; Cooper. Dennison & Wallcden, Ltd. (Melaiiyl Marking Ink); L.J. Ehreniayer (Pianoforte Sight Reuling System) ; Heal & Son (Bedsteads) ; Harris St Co. (Sewing Machine) ; Mabie. Todd & Co. (Swan Fountain Pen) ; J. L. Morison's (Washer).