WASHING COLOURED THINGS.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2563, 24 March 1877, Page 4

WASHING COLOURED THINGS.

(fbom the queen)

In washing coloured things the chief points to be borne in mind are—l, not to allow them to. become damp before washing j 2, not to soak" them; 3, to use. soft ■water if possible ; 4, to use soap in which is the least amount of soda, such as curd soap or the best yellow; 5, not to use pearl ash or soda save in the special instances we shall give later on; 6, to wash them in a lather of luke warm water, and not to-rub. *the soap on them; 7, on no account to boil or scald any delicate shade (some coloured prints and muslins, however, wash quite as well as white); 8, to wash one article at a time, to rinse immediately in two cold waters and to hang out to' dry at once ; 9, to dry them in the shade, not in the sun nor by the fire. In some laundries colored things are aired in the .darfc. l'resses should be hung up by the hem, gathers downwards. Folds and gal hers must be kept apart,'if possible, in the drying. For example, with a dress, it is advisable to place a cloth inside the skirt to prevent tbe fold touching. 10. Never, to allow them to lie about, wet. If they are kept long wet thecolor will run, and, once run, it is difficult and often impossible to restore it; 11. Not to twist; them by handwringing, but to pass them evenly through a wringing machine. 12. Not to iron •with a very hot iron ; some colors change in ironing. 13. If they cannot be ironed at once it is best to let them become dry, and to damp them for ironing. The water in which flannels have been washed a second time can be used for coloured thiugs. Salt should be put into the rinsing water in the proportion of one handful to: thrpe gallons of water, nnd a little salt should also be used in. the starch.; Treated in this way, and with ordinary care, delicate colours will not suffer. Some, however, require special treatment... Greens and blues aiv best preserved by bting rinsed in alum watei 1. A solution of loz of saltpetre in a tubful of soft water is good for green chintzes. Mauves and violets, retain their colour, and are improved, when faded, by being washed in water with a little potash or " soda dissolved in it.

. Pearl-a.-h is good for purples and blues; blue muslins and prints- can be washed satisfactorily in the following decoction, which will fix the color :—Three handfuls of green ivy leaves, one quart of bran, .Jib of common soap, boiled together till the soap is dissolved ; strain it, and when cold use it, with only enough water in which the- things can be comfortably washed. Ammonia will turn scarlet to crimson. .

In washing colored .dresses of delicate shades it is often effectual to. soak them iFor several hours in a bucket of water with one pennyworth of sugar of lead. On taking them out, they should be wrung dry; and then carefully washed according to the directions given above ; -but,'.'sngjir. of lead being poison, we by no means recommend the use of it. T.

There is nothing safer or better for washing crewels, silk embroideries, coloured dresses, muslins, and delicate colours generally, than bran. The mode of; using; it is to make a lather with the bran and tepid Water without either soap or soda. It is a good plan to tie the bran in a muslin bag, so as to avoid its mixing with the waterj and getting into the articles. We have seen the finest Persian and other Oriental silk and gold thread embroideries on both muslin and silk washed in this way, when far dirtier than ordinary things are likely to become, so as. to look like new, 1 gold thread being restored to its pristine brightness. In this case, instead of-haad-rubbing, the muslins or silks were worked about in the water with wooden pats. With ordinary^care crewels can be washed satisfactorily with soap and; water. If the groundwork has been dyed with, coffee; tea, or saffron, the dying process must be repeated, as v the colour will be washed out. ' ; "

: Ox-gall fixes \ colors and discharges grease. It can be procured at the chemist's or from- the butcher's, and should'be kept in a bottle. Put four or five tablespoonfuls into, three quarts of hot soapsuds, and sponge the garment oarefully, rubbing eveiy spot separately, then sponge it in clear "wateri' andhang it to dry. Woollen dresses; bkekmerinoes, can be thus cleaned. Foi colored muslins and silk handkerchiefs, it is best used in the form of a soapball made 6f 3lbs of mottled soap cut into slices, and one pint of ox gall, boiled until the soap Is dissolved, and then made into balls; lib of borax, dissolved in five, quarts of water, will answer the same purpose, as will also 80 drops of, elixir of vitriol in three gallons of spring water and one gallon of rioe water.

Ammonia added to the water will preserve any colour from running, and it has great tleansiDg properties. Woollens and velvets are improved by being rubbed with a piece of flannel dipped in it. A wineglass of- spirits, of wine mixed;-with the soap jelly.is effectual with all coloured goods,: a little 6t the same spirit being added to the rinsing water. It must not be forgotten that the most brilliant shades pf colour known as aniline dyes are fixed _on muslin with white of egg, which naturally will wash out, and the colour with it ■■■■.;■.': ■ : ; :.;- .■

Starching presents many difficulties where" delicate-coloured things are concerned, and it will be found, an excellent plan to mix a teaspopriful of turpentine and a little borax with the starch, especially for black dresses, the starch not taking, so long to dry. Dark muslins should be starched in rice-.water, as common starch leaves white patches. Gumwater is added with a good result to starch used for black prints and lawns.