Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 12, 12 November 1908, Page 33

Domestic

By MAUREEN

• — *. Washing Blankets. The thrifty housekeeper will now be thinking of washing her blankets, and it is 7 far cheaper to do so at home than send them to a laundry, whilst there is far less risk of getting them spoiled. If one goes the right way about it, the "amount of ' labor involved is .not so very great, particularly if there is a wringer available. But there •is a right way and a wrong, and the wrong way invariably results in-dusty, hard, thick, and, sad-colored blankets. /The Day to. Choose. Choose a rather windy day for the operation, holding over the blanket-washing until you find a day that suits it. The weather must be airy and warm, and if a nice breeze is blowing so much the better. While the water is heating, take the blankets outside, and shake them well —they are laden' with minute particles of cuticle whicsh are invisible •to the naked eye, but which fly off in a white dust when shaken. Look over the blankets, and in a small bath of water try to take out all the spots, using soap jelly for" the purpose. Stains are more easily seen when the blankets are dry, and can be more' easily manipulated. The Washing Process. - - Have plenty of soap jelly, made of Jib yellow soap and j gib soft soap, boiled in three pints of water. Prepare a«tubful of hot soapsuds, using two parts hot to one of cold, and-into this put the soap jelly till the stirring of one hand raises a fine bubbling lather. Put the blankets in this mixture, and leave for a quarter of an hour before proceeding. Souse tip and down thoroughly, using the hands or a dolly, then when clean pass through a wringer. Put into a second tub of hot water with less soap, then wring again. Put % little blue in the rinsing water, as this helps to keep them from turning yellow. Now fold ( lengthwise and pass through 'the wringer "as smoothly as possible., 1 ~ • Hanging and. Drying. Now take the blankets outside, and'shake thoroughly, hang- . ing up at once to dry in a windy, shady place, if possible. Do not fix the pegs in at the corners; fold in two", and stretch the double thick end on the line. If pegs are used, change their position when the blankets are half dry, to prevent puckering. While still damp take down once or twice, and shake thoroughly. This raises the nap, and. makes, them look thick and fluffy. If a blanket must be washed on a, day when it 4s not possible"to dry off out of doors, hang on a clothes-horse before the kitchen fire, but not too close. Turn occasionally till aired. . If done in the above way the blankets will be soft and fluffy and look clean. Quilts, eiderdowns, and shawls should be washed when one is in' the way, and has plenty of soft h6t water and soap jelly. Quilts and shawls are done exactly in the same way as blankets. Eiderdowns, however, require hiuch attention in the drying, as if washed, hung out, and never looked at again the down will be Idmpy. They must b« taken down and shaken thoroughly and often in the drying process, which fluffs up the down to its pristine condition. } - To Take Out Medicine Stains. Stains made by medicines and liniments are V amongst the most obstinate of removal; and'frequently'tax. amateur' knowledge the utmost. lodine marks <pogy, however, be successfully removed by means of liquM^amnj\|snia, a little, of the spirit being., poured into a saucer? the stained article laid across it, and spot' dabbed' repeatedly with the fingers until it disappears. *Jt should then be rinsed in tepid water and washed with strong soapsuds in" the-usual manner. -■ Cod-liver oil stains can be likewise-be eliminated by means of ammonia, while fuller's earth made into a paste with cold" water is usually successful in removing maiks caused by linseed oil,, two or three applications being necessary. .