A weekly wash being the necessity if perfect cleanliness
exists, the simplest and best method of thoroughly accom-
plishing it comes up for question. While few women are
obliged to use their own hands in such directions, plenty
of needy and unskilled workwomen who can earn a living
in no other way being ready to relieve us, it is yet quite
as necessar}^ to know every detail, in order that the best
work may be required, and that where there is ignorance
of methods in such work they maj^ be taught.
WASHING-DAY, AND CLEANING IN GENERAL. 55
The advantages of washing on Tuesday are, that it
allows Monday for setting in order after the necessary
rest of Sunday, gives opportunity to collect and put in
soak all the soiled clothing, and so does away with the
objection felt by many good people to performing this
operation Sunday night.
To avoid such sin, bed-clothing is often changed on Sat-
urday ; but it seems only part of the freshness and sweet-
ness which ought always to make Sunday the white-day
of the week, that such change should be made on that
morning, while the few minutes required for sorting the
clothes, and putting them in water, are quite as legitimate
as any needed operation.
If Monday be the da}^, then, Saturday night may be
chosen for filhng the tubs, supposing the kitchen to be
unfurnished with stationary tubs. Sunday night enough
hot water can be added to make the whole just warm —
not hot. Now put in one tub all fine things, — collars and
cuffs, shirts and fine underwear. Bed-linen may be added,
or soaked in a separate tub ; but table-linen must of
course be kept apart. Last, let the coarsest and most
soiled articles have another. Do not add soap, as if there
is any stain it is likely to set it. If the water is hard, a
little borax may be added. And see that the clothes are
pressed down, and well covered with water.
Monday morning, and the earlier the better (the morn-
ing sun drying and sweetening clothes better than the
later), have the boiler full of clean warm suds. Soft soap
may be used, or a bar of hard dissolved in hot water, and
used like soft soap. All the water in which the clothes
have soaked should be drained off, and the hot suds poured
on. Begin with the cleanest articles, which when washed
56 WASHING-DAY, AND CLEANING IN GENEBAL.
carefull}^ are wrung out, and put in a tub of warm water.
Rinse out from this ; rub soap on all the parts which are
most soiled, these parts being bands and sleeves, and put
them in the boiler with cold water enough to cover them.
To boil up once will be sufficient for fine clothes. Then
take them out into a tub of clean cold water ; rinse them
in this, and then in a tub of water made ver}^ slightly blue
with the indigo-bag or liquid indigo. From this water
they must be wrung out very dr}^, and hung out, always
out of doors if possible. A wringer is much better than
wringing by hand, as the latter is more unequal, and also
often twists off buttons. The lines must be perfectly clean.
A galvanized-iron wire is best of all ; as it never rusts, and
needs only to be wiped off each week. If rope is used,
never leave it exposed to weather, but bring it in after
each washing. A dirty, weather-stained line will often
ruin a nice garment. Leave clothes on the line till
perfectly dry.
Page 27
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A weekly wash being the necessity if perfect cleanliness exists, the simplest and best method of thoroughly accomplishing it comes up for question. While few women are obliged to use their own hands in such directions, plenty of needy and unskilled workwomen who can earn a living in no other way being ready to relieve us, it is yet quite as necessary to know every detail, in order that the best work may be required, and that where there is ignorance of methods in such work they may be taught.
The advantages of washing on Tuesday are, that it allows Monday for setting in order after the necessary rest of Sunday, gives opportunity to collect and put in soak all the soiled clothing, and so does away with the objection felt by many good people to performing this operation Sunday night.
To avoid such sin, bed-clothing is often changed on Saturday ; but it seems only part of the freshness and sweetness which ought always to make Sunday the white-day of the week, that such change should be made on that morning, while the few minutes required for sorting the clothes, and putting them in water, are quite as legitimate as any needed operation.
If Monday be the day, then, Saturday night may be chosen for filling the tubs, supposing the kitchen to be unfurnished with stationary tubs. Sunday night enough hot water can be added to make the whole just warm — not hot. Now put in one tub all fine things, — collars and cuffs, shirts and fine underwear. Bed-linen may be added, or soaked in a separate tub ; but table-linen must of course be kept apart. Last, let the coarsest and most soiled articles have another. Do not add soap, as if there is any stain it is likely to set it. If the water is hard, a little borax may be added. And see that the clothes are pressed down, and well covered with water.
Monday morning, and the earlier the better (the morning sun drying and sweetening clothes better than the later), have the boiler full of clean warm suds. Soft soap may be used, or a bar of hard dissolved in hot water, and used like soft soap. All the water in which the clothes have soaked should be drained off, and the hot suds poured on. Begin with the cleanest articles, which when washed
carefully are wrung out, and put in a tub of warm water. Rinse out from this ; rub soap on all the parts which are most soiled, these parts being bands and sleeves, and put them in the boiler with cold water enough to cover them. To boil up once will be sufficient for fine clothes. Then take them out into a tub of clean cold water ; rinse them in this, and then in a tub of water made very slightly blue with the indigo-bag or liquid indigo. From this water they must be wrung out very dry, and hung out, always out of doors if possible. A wringer is much better than wringing by hand, as the latter is more unequal, and also often twists off buttons. The lines must be perfectly clean. A galvanized-iron wire is best of all ; as it never rusts, and needs only to be wiped off each week. If rope is used, never leave it exposed to weather, but bring it in after each washing. A dirty, weather-stained line will often ruin a nice garment. Leave clothes on the line till perfectly dry.