SHRINKING OF WOOLLENS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1938, Page 10

SHRINKING OF WOOLLENS

METHOD OF PREVENTION. The main cause of the shrinkiong of woollens is due to putting woollens into too hot water, or into rinsing waters of different temperatures. Woollen mills shrink their wool by changing from hot to cold water. The following method will prevent the shrinking:—Shave up a handful of good household soap into a saucepan, or else a couple of tablespoons of good soap-flakes or soap powder, pour boiling or, at least, hot water over them, and stir vigorously .with a stick or cooking spoon till you have worked them up into a good foamy lather. Then put into a copper or tub and add cold water till you have barely tepid, almost cold suds. Immerse the woollies in this, work and squeeze them thoroughly with the hands (but do not rub soap on them), and let them soak for half an hour or so. Then squeeze them out and rinse thoroughly once or twice in cold or barely tepid water. Some people like to put them through one blue water also. Finally, squeeze thoroughly or put through a wringer, shake, and hang out to dry, preferably on a windy day to dry them quickly.