FROM THE MAIL BAG

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 27, 29 December 1939, Page 44

FROM THE MAIL BAG

Dyeing a Carpet Dear Aunt Daisy, I am not always able to listen to you, but this morning I happened to hear your S.0.S, about dyeing a carpet, and I felt I must hasten to the rescue. In 1926 I was seized with a desire to turn a grey and-write bedroom into a rose and cream one; and I dyed everything including the carpet, which was a pale grey with a persian design in black, and little bits of blue, rose and maize. This is how I went about it. 1 pegged the carpet on the line, and turned the hose on it quickly to damp it all over and make the dye spread evenly. This is very important, Then I laid the carpet on the lawn. I had previously mixed the dye and allowed it to become just warm. I wanted the carpet to become a light fawn colour, so I mixed a packet of nigger brown dye, and added about a dessertspoon of scarlet to give it warmth. This was all mixed with boiling water to fill a washbowl about sixteen inches in diameter. After cooling as previously mentioned, I painted it on to the damp carpet with a large whitewash brush! It was a huge success, It came out something the colour of the woollen stockings we have all been wearing. That carpet is still in use, and has never varied, That quantity of dye did a carpet nine feet by seven feet. I don’t know whether the dye I used is still on the market, but I have also had wonderful results with another well-known brand, Hoping this will be of assistance, and wish you all that is good. -" Grace" (Wellington). That is wonderful, Grace. People have told me, also, that they have renovated faded carpets in a similar way even without taking them up. They mix little jars of the different coloured dyes, and have a brush in each; then go over even the pattern with the appropriate colours, and leave all the windows open so that the carpet dries fairly quickly. But I think your way of taking it out in the garden is a very good one. What an enormous satisfaction it must be to contemplate one’s handiwork after a big and successful job like that. Another link in our Daisy Chain writes a very helpful letter, telling us how she dyed her mats. Dyeing Mats Dear Aunt Daisy, I have just heard you reading a letter about dyeing floor rugs. A few years back, I dyed all my rugs, for they seemed to look so shabby, worn and faded; and when I had spring-cleaned the house, these mats still looked terrible to me, although I had cleaned them as best I could. So I sat down and thought, while I was having my cup of tea in the (Continued on next page)

(Continued from previous page) morning, and I decided to try dyeing them. So I hurried down to our country store, and spent six shillings on three colours of good dye, and hurried home. I got my copper going, and started my new experiment. The dyes I purchased were scarlet, green and brown. First I dyed three rugs green, and they lookéd jolly good. So then I prepared the scarlet, and dyed four in that colour; and then four in brown. Well, I was thrilled, Aunt Daisy, they all dyed so well and looked so fresh. After I had rinsed them, I laid them flat on the washhouse floor, and rolled them tightly to get the creases out. Then I dried them on the line, and when dry, I rolled them over a broom handle, and rolled and rolled them on the floor. They did look so good, and I felt as if I had all new floor rugs. So I think that if the lady does the same to her rugs, she will be well satisfied. There is another waynamely to make up the dye, and then having made sure your rugs are clean, paint the dye all over them. This is quite good, but doesn’t last as long as my way. Hoping this will be of some help to our listener.-" Irene" (Waikino).

gen, quarter of a cup each of ammonia and glycerine, and the juice of two lemons. I have never tried it myself, for my mother washes the blankets in the old Scotch way and stains come out quite easily. This is her way: Take two cakes of good soap and one pound of borax, put on the fire in a saucepan with water and stir all the time until dissolved. Take off the fire and add a bottle of the best household ammonia. Bottle, and keep lid on tightly. When ready to wash the blankets, use enough to make a tub of cold water soapy. Dip the the blankets in and out without much washing, and the dirt just tumbles out. Then rinse in cold water. It is all done in cold water. The results are wonderful, and the blankets keep their colour beautifully.- " Palmerston North." Yes, that cold water method of washing blankets is excellent. It the tea stains are obstinate, it may help first to soak | those patches in water with a little dry | borax rubbed in; or leave the stains | soaking all night in a solution of four parts of peroxide and one of water. I think your recipe uses rather too much ammonia, however, so here are two more well proven ones-one sufficient for two blankets, and one for four blankets.