OCR Text |
Show I HOW TO WASH AND IRON LACE ! ?NLESS one la expert at lino ' I f laundry work or has an cxpe- IpLS rlenced maid to "do up" the I laces and muslins which are a very Important part of every woman's wardrobe, nowadays the dainty collars and cuffs, fichus nnd undersleeves. are apt to be much the worse not only for wear, but for washing. The difficulty of getting these frills of fashion cleaned except at expensive establishments has resulted in a great number of women becoming their own ' laundresses. t A few instructions may , be of use to those who would like to handle the lace accessories, but arc dubious du-bious of their ability as queens of the tub. The dressing of lace is really very easy, like everything else, when ! you know how. Indeed, this branch of i laundry work requires merely delicate J, handling and careful attention to dc-! dc-! tails. ; Beforo the washing begins carefully examine the articles to be laundered and, when necessary, apply first aid to f the injured. A stitch Sn time is won-i won-i derfully potent in the preservation of I laces and fine linen. If the article is 5 very much soiled soak it for several rj hours in warm, soapy wator to which 3 has ben added a few drops of ammo-vi ammo-vi nla to make a lather. Dip the lace up 31 and down in this solution several times Lj and then squeeze out. Now tho real if process of washing begins. Place the N articles in a small tub of warm, soapy Rfj water and work them up and down, H opening and shutting the fingers, but l$j never twisting or wringing the lace ) and on no account rubbing it with soap. H It should always be borne in mind that bj the threads of lace are usually very M fine, and the least strain will cause N them to break; consequently rubbing r nnd twisting are most disastrous. f( When the lace is clean rinse it thor-r thor-r oughly, first In warm water, then in I" cold, allowing the cold water from the I spigot to run on it until the lace is I-' quite free from any suggestion of soap, f. Now squeeze out tho lace and clap I gently to and fro Jn the hands. I Boiling of laces and fine linens is nev-I nev-I er resorted to except in extreme cases, I but when this is necessary they should I be placed in a Jar with sufficient cold I water and soap jelly to cover them. I' Stand the jar in a saucepan of boiling I' water which comes half way up the I' sides of the Jar, put on the lid and boll 1 slowly for two or three hours. Re-l- move the lid occasionally and add wa-I wa-I ter if necessary- "When the lace is I- clean rinse out in warm water, then in I cold, as in the ordinary washing. I' i IST'?V,M,rVT'iTVTSlT',lT'.'TVTVTVT' Many persons object to lace being stiffened on the theory that It rots the fabric, but some stiffening is necessary neces-sary to give it a fresh, crisp appearance. appear-ance. The object to be aimed at Is to give it the same slight atlffncBs it had when new. For the stronger makes of lace starch may safely be used if it is thinned down with cold water until it has the feeling of slightly thickened water. Allow Al-low the lace to soak In this starched water for some time, then squeeze out 7VTVTVTVTS'TYTVTYrYrV.'VTYT gontly with the hands or put through a wringer in n folded cloth. Jf one wishes to give the lace a cream tint mix a little cream colored starch with the white or add to the dry white LACE WASHING UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. - i : starch a little clear coffee or tea before be-fore pouring on the boiling water. The tea or coffee given a duller tint than the cream starch, which Is apt to be too yellow. Instead of starch or gum arable ara-ble many persona prefer a little powdered pow-dered sugar dissolved In tho last water the lace is rinsed In. When the lace Is starched spread it out on a clean, dry cloth and pull out the edges carefully. Roll it up In the cloth and let stand some time beforo ironing. For the finer kinds of lace gum arable aa a stiffening Is preferred to starch and may be used without the least danger dan-ger of rotting the filmy laces. The very best way to make this gum arable starch Is as follows: Into a half pint of boiling water put an ounce of gum arable. Let this slowly dissolve over the fire, stirring occasionally. Then strain and bottle for use. This will keep for a long time. When required for use add one tableBpoonful of the melted gum to half a pint of cold water, wa-ter, sonk the lace In It for half an hour, squeeze it out and proceed In the same manner as for other starching. The lace Is now ready to be wrapped around a large bottle which has been wound with thick white mUslln. Placo the bottle In the nun until the lace Is perfectly per-fectly dry. White silk lace, especially the blond variety which Is once more to bo fashionable, fash-ionable, may be washed exactly ll:o other sorts except that no starch la used, Its place being supplied by dipping dip-ping It Into a half pint oC hot milk to which one teaspoonful of gum arable has been added. Black laco or net that has been discolored dis-colored by age or exposure to the sun Is freshened by the following process: After shaking the lace free from dust spread it on a sheet of paper and brush with a soft broom. When there are spots or stains rub them gently with a spongo dipped In cold tea: then let the lace soak In tea prepared from this formula; One teaspoonful of gum arable ara-ble and one teaspoonful of tea added to a pint of boiling water. Simmer these Ingredients over tho fire until the gum Is thoroughly dissolved, then strain. The gum arable In the tea gives' a slight stiffening to the lace. If your lace Is Spanish or other silk makes add to the above reclpo one teaspoonful of methylated methy-lated spirits, which will rcotore to the washed lace much of its original silky gloss. To Iron silk lace spread a piece of brown butcher's paper on double felt or a thick Ironing blanket. When the lace has been pulled out nnd smoothed placo another piece of paper on top of lu Iron the lace on top of the paper with a cool Iron and when partly finish ed remove the top paper and pull out tho edges. Then covor again and iron -until dry. Never touch the lace with the bare iron, as this would produce a most undesirable glaze. When quite dry hang the lace In the air. Ironing of lace Is often the bcglnner'3 Waterloo, but disaster Is hardly possible possi-ble if these directions are carefully carried car-ried out: A pleco of clean white felt or flannel is first laid on tho table and the lace spread out on this and covered with an old sheer handkerchief or a piece of fine inuslln. When partly dry remove tho covering and pull out the points and little loops of lace then recover re-cover and Iron until perfectly dry, pressing out the pattern with the end of the iron. If real lace lo being manipulated ma-nipulated Its appearance Is greatly improved im-proved when tho pattern Is punched out with a lace iron. This lxindy little Instrument In-strument has a short handle, with a small steel ball at the end of It. The ball part is heated and Is then worked quickly up and down on that part of tho lace to which you wish to give a ralGcd appearance. When a tie of chiffon chif-fon or muslin with ends of lace or a handsome lace handkerchief is to be Ironed press the muslin or chiffon first on the right side and the lace next ou the wrong. If a collar or fichu with lace ruffles Is at the mercy of tho iron, press the ruffle first, being careful to bring the point of the Iron well up Into the gathers and avoid making small plaits. Iron the center last. Silks and chiffons are ironed wet, and a piece of sandpaper rubbed over the Iron makes It run more smoothly over the fabric. The old adage, "If you want a thing done well do It yourself," Is certainly true In the case of waohlng silk blouses, as they need care and attention. To wash them properly make soapsud3 In a gallon of warm water and add a teaspoonful tea-spoonful of borax If the silk Is cream color or ammonia If It Is pure white. Let the waist stand In the suds for twenty minutes, then souse and squeeze It until It Is clean. Wash It again in wator with half the quantity of borax or ammonia, then In clear cold water. Tho blouse should then be wrung out as dry, as possible and hung rhere It will dry quickly. Roll It In a towel, and In. an hour It will be ready to Iron. Iron the waist on the wrong side upon a fiannel covered board. Use an Iron which Is not very hot. Press any Insertion In-sertion or tucks very hard, and the result re-sult will be satisfactory, I am sure The washing and Ironing of laces snd silks require time and care, and they cannot be hurried over. But the work is interesting and repays one for the labor bestowed upon it. GRACE GRISCOM. |