Dry Cleaning at Home

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 23, 21 December 1928, Page 12

Dry Cleaning at Home

THE coloured silks, patterned chiffons "* and velvets that are so fashionable mean an expensive cleaning bili when they are soiled, as these dainty fabrics cannot usually be washed suc. cessfully, and each time they are cleaned there is very little change left from ten shillings.

The girl with a small income will find it is quite a simple matter to clean them at home by substituting petrol for water. This is a very economical method, and you can rest assured that the garment will not suffer in any way. Petrol only takes out the dirt and does not affect colours in any way. The main point to remember is that petrol is inflammable and should never be used in a room with a fire or a naked light of any kind. The wisest plan is to do your drycleaning in the open air. To clean one dress half a gallon of spirit is required, which should be poured into two bowls. These must be perfectly clean without any suspicion of grease, If the dress has any bad stains, remove them first by dabbing a little petrol on them, but do not rub it in. Place it loosely in one bowl and cover with petrol, dipping and squeezing it for a few minutes until the dirt is removed. Rinse it in the other bowl, and if the petrol is still dirty, repeat the process, When quite clean Squeeze the dress as dry as possible, shake it well and hang on a coat-hanger to dry.. Do not dry near a fire, but hang it in the garden. Petrol evaporates quickly, and the garment will be dry in a few minutes, although the smell Will take longer to go off. | Wear rubber gloves, as this saves the hands. ; Hats, gloves, satin shoes, coats, cush10n covers, ete., can all be dealt with in this way, and woollies rarely shrink when "washed" with petrol. Do not waste the petrol when you have finished, but allow it to stand a Short time. The dirt will sink and it can be poured into a bottle for use on another occasion,