HOW TO WASH SILK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 4, 30 September 1907, Page 3

HOW TO WASH SILK.

%re are. a, few 'suggestions about washing silk, which;; so: few.. peopla know how to do successfully. Sofi..s)'lks such as China, : India: loulardi- surah and soft satin; may be washed: sto .-look almost' like new, hi:!.' there , are-some- heavy corded silks which.do not take kindly to the operation. Do not wash white and.coloured Bilks together l ; wash white aiono, each colour' alone, and, of course, Hack alone.-Never rub soap on to' the silk. In the beginning havo prepared a tub of tepid, soapy water; —use some good, pure, 'white, soap.. Never wash silk in hot'water, for hot-water will rnrn white, silk, yellow, and will fade coloured'.silks. For black-and .white silks a few-drops'of,-ammonia -may be/added to, the ( water, but- omit tho ioimnnia in washing "coloured silks'. Always wash your silk until it is olean—you may' need' to wash it in several soapy waters before you':accomplish this., .llinse thoroughly in tepid: water— to rinse out every bit of soap—and then rinso in plenty of-cold water.'A little vinegar, added to the last rinsing water, tends to brighten bright-coloured silks, and it is well to add a.little ammonia tn;the last rinsing: water for black silk' ' Never handle silk harshly in the washing; move it about in tho water, squeezing it very gently between tho hands; shako it out- and snap well, but never wring it; it may'be folded smoothly between cloths and • put through the clothes-wringer ,- It is well to lay dark and bright-coloured silks in salt and water for'an hour before'washing; this helps to "set" the jolour, for (lark and bright, colours very likely to "run." It is well, :00, to put such silks through tho eiiciih process, piece by. piece, "not alkiv.--them to fie around wet. '' ' > "gloss" silk is-a very simple mat:' 'V- Kiviifg the-silk a in water to whifh alcohol , added in the proportion 'of V '. of, idcolml .to liirlf b -iter Never hang silk iipjhe »»•';t' v/ill dry unevenly. and it ig 'UiUlo, impossible to sprinkle it without spotting it; -fold it sm'rutbiy and wrap, it. in'a cloth' until almost dry: .then- spread it out ever.!;,- on an' ironing-board, cever with n eloth, end nroL-.i with a moderately hot iron, if the.silk stiffens in the le;v7t ir.r.k r tVo iron shake it out again ami .pisil it gent 1 # o:i the ,:i tvj'.li'iiiKn-.en.;, then p.rcs3.ass:ii. . .