LAUNDRY TIPS

SWEATER WASH

1 medium box soap flakes 3 ounces oil of eucalyptus 2 cups methyl hydrate (or isopropyl) alcohol Stir the methyl hydrate into the soap flakes. Mix well. Add the oil of eucalyptus and mix well

again. Dissolve 2 teaspoons of the above emulsion into large basin of lukewarm water and gently squeeze the sweater up and down in the water. Rinse the sweater in exactly the same temperature water used for washing. Rinse again in lukewarm water to which | teaspoon of the emulsion has been added. After the final rinse, squeeze sweater to bring out as much excess moisture as possible without wringing the sweater. Lay on three thicknesses of newspaper with a top of brown paper. Shape sweater on paper. Button if necessary. Pat and work out any wrinkles. Cover with a layer of brown paper and three more thicknesses of paper. Throw a small, heavyish rug over all this if you wish and walk over the rug to help squeeze out excess moisture.

Note: Please don't hang sweaters up to dry. Don't put them outside, even in the shade, to dry. The sun will filter through, even ona cloudy day, to brown and permanently stain your favorite woollens.

BLANKETS

Here is the Soak Laundering Method for blankets: Fill washer with lukewarm water. Add low sudsing detergent; run machine a few minutes. Submerge the blanket (only one at a time) and let soak 15 to 20 minutes. Turn once or twice by hand. Spin off the water, or drain it off. Fill the tub with rinse water of the same lukewarm temperature and submerge blanket for 5 minutes. Remove water and add more of the same temperature. Rinse again and extract rinse water. Stretch blanket by pulling at ends. (You'll need someone to help you here.) Spin in the dryer, following carefully the instructions for drying woollen blankets. Remove while slightly damp. Stretch again and finish drying at room temperature by placing blanket over the two lines. Brush blanket on both sides. Press bindings of blanket.

CRINOLINE STARCHES

Gelatin: 2 or 3 envelopes gelatin softened in 1/2 cup cold water. Add boiling water to measure ] quart. Work into dry slip, hang from waist or shape over plastic-draped umbrella to drip-dry. Shape as it dries. Do not iron.

Starch: Work in very heavy starch. Drip-dry. Permastarch: As on bottle. Work into dry slip, let drip-dry. Dampen dried slip lightly and press.

SUGAR STARCH (For Doilies)

Boil 1 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water for 2 minutes. Immerse doily and soak thoroughly. Let drip- dry, shaping as it dries. Or use a heavy laundry starch and work it thoroughly into the doily.

GUM ARABIC STARCH

Gum Arabic Starch is successfully used to stiffen silk, voiles and organdies. Pour | quart boiling water over 1/4 pound white gum arabic powder or crystals and stir thoroughly. Let stand in warm place until dissolved. Strain through cheesecloth and bottle. Use 1 to 3 tablespoons of the starch for each cup of water.

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