A RELIABLE METHOD OF WASHING BLANKETS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 November 1946, Page 5

A RELIABLE METHOD OF WASHING BLANKETS

(Contributed by the Sarali Anne Rhoaes Fellowship in.Home Science.) Ilcrc arc soinc suggestions Tvliick \vill lielp to make a success of wasliiiig blaukets. Tliey are made as easy ou the housewife as possible aad. they are reiiable. Woolleu libres are made up of scalelike cells which interiock and felt if rubbed while wet. This felting and hardeuing of wool libres takes place more rapidly if they are rubbed iu a warin soap solutiou. Because of thc felting properties of wool libres special oaro must be taken while washing biankcts and woolleu quilts, if they arc to retain their flulfy appearauce. Wheu they have once become shruuken aud matted they can uever be restored to their origiual softuess aud fluliiuess. Methods 1. Wash oue blanket or quilt at a time. 2. Have washiug suds aud rinsing water 10U-110 deg. F. Use a thcrmometer or test with elbow. Have water comfortably warm. lietaiu the saiiie teuiperature throughout the process. 3. Softeu hard water, preferably with borax or houseliold ammouia before addiug soap solutiou. Use oue or two tablesxjoous of borax to oue galloii of water, or oue tablespoou of ammouia to three gallons of water. The amouut depeuds ou the harduess of the water. 4. Use a ueutral soap. JDissolvd either granulated flakes or bar soap iu a small amouut of water. Add this to the softeued water uutil a good foamy, rich suds is f'ormed. 5. Use a large tub aud pleuty oi' water so there will be uo crowdiug of the blanket. Crovvding aud frictiou cause shrinkage, felting aud hardeniug of the wool libre. (j. Wash without soaking. 7. Iiaudle wet blanket aud quilt very geutly. 8. Whake and kuead the blanket geutly iu this lukewarm suds for live miuutes. 11. Lift the blanket out of the suds into a large tub or pau and press aud squeeze out Ihe suds water. If stil) soiled put through a secoud suds with the same teuiperature aud cousistency as the Tirst. If the top of the blanket is quite soiled, place this part ou a liat surface aud scrub with a medium stilT brosh. Much lcss felting and shrinkage are caused by this scrub bing method than by rubbing the more soiled parts on a board or in the liands. 10. If tlie washiug luacliine is useii, run the machine i'or oue minute ouly for eacli washiug suds. The rapid sxieed of the washiug machine tends to cause shrinkage aud felting of woolleu libres. 11. Binse in three or more elear riuses, usiug the same teuiperature as the suds, 100-110 deg. B. Borax may bo added to the rinse water if desired. 12. Wqueezo aud let drip. l)o uot twist to wring water out of blanket. A ceutrifugal wriuger may be used with safety. If rollcr type of wriuger is used it should be very loosely set. 18. Dry out of doors in the shade in summer and indoors at room temperature in winter; uever in the frost. ■. : 1-t- Bull aiicl ha'ng eveiilv, preferably bver two lines so there will be a space bctween the parts Iiaugiug. 15. , Place blanket ou liue so coloured stripes haug iqi and down. If the coiours tend to run aud the blanket sides touch, put an old sheet betweeu the blanket layers to xneveut stripes toucliiug. 1(5. Wqueezc edges of blanket auil quilt while drying to hasteu the process. 17. Brusli ivith a vvhisk broom or u good stilT brush to raise the nap, iiumc diately after removing from the linc. .18. Whake the blauket aud press under a damp cloth with a medium liot Lrou to take out auy wriukles. This step cau be omitted. Causes of Shrinkage 1. Uhange iu tenqieralure of suds or rinse water, lligk tcnqierature of suds and rinse water. (Juld temperalures aud slow drying. 2. Wtrong soax> aud stroug water sof Leuers. 8. Crowding, insullicient water aml vigorous haudling aud rubbing either by liand or machine. Note: Place a washable iirotcclor, made of tlour sacks or unlileached muslin, etc., at the toi) en(l of a blan ket. Let it extend 12 iiiclies on eacli side. This can bo used to luck 111. The protector cau be removed and washed vvheu it becomes soiled. This practice will kecp the end of tlie blanket clean for a loug time.