CASHING COLOURED FROCKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 67, 12 December 1907, Page 3

CASHING COLOURED FROCKS.

Tho following 'hints for washing coloured frocks comes from a country where cotton frocks are worn most of the. year, so . they should'be' ; worth following : —Ncarl.y all summer goods designed for the tub. will have a better appearance if ironed before they aro entirely dry. -; The :older method .-of first drying and' then sprinkling is apt to causo a spotted -appearance with; some goods/ The great point in'washing summer materials'is to avoid strong soaps and hot water, using a very little borax "in the first water, to loosen the' dirt, in' badly-soiled' garmerits, and then to thoroughly' rinse away all soap, and hang the. garments wrong* ..side i out in' the shade. But- there are. also especial ways of caring for certain colours, and here is where "scientific laundering comes in. Tho popular "shepherd's plaid" in washing goods should bo washed as above, and just »before ' rinsing dip into a pail of very hot suds made with pure white soap, with a pinch of borax added; then rinse as usual, and hang in the shade wrong sjde ou'tr~Light yellow is a very good colour in wash materials, but into' the rinse water, which -should be the same temperature as the water in which the gown is ' washed, put one tablospoonful of salt to every quart of water. This salt rinsingwater should, also'be used for pink, ; red', and j light or pale blues. For-lavender and all shades of purple and heliotrope, use vinegar in the rinsing water ■ instead of salt, and in the same proportion; the vinegar should also be used, for dark blues, blacks, browns, and other dark shades. No blueing whatever should be used in the rinse water for any of these shades, excopt, for the blues. Green is a remarkably difficult colour to "keep" in washing goods, but. by the use of powdered alum in the following manner it may bo retained until the garment'is worn .out: —Before attempting to remove any of the dirt, plunge it into a bucket filled with water, to which has been added a large piece of alum. Let it soak half an' hour, and then lift out of the' water without wringing, and hang it at once in the shade to dry; when well dried, wash according to above directions, dry in the shade, iron on the wrong side, and the goods will appear like now. ' An excellent means of retaining the colour in all goods of delicate shade, whatever the colour may bo, is-to purchase a packet of dye to match, whether pink, or green, or lilac, and to the last rinsing water, after using the salt and water, add a pinch of the dye—enough to distinctly colour the water, and the gown will retain its delicate tint until worn _ out,. For all black goods use spirits of turpentine one tablespoonful to a gallon of water— when rinsing; instead of salt or vinegar, to keep them from becoming rusty, and nso gum arabic for stiffening, instead of starch. All washing goods should be dipped ir.to tho starch from the wrong side, or the goods will no't have a new appearance; for the same reason all coloured goods should be ironed on the wrong side.