What will help in washing greasy clothing or dish
towels? A tablespoonful of coal oil to about a gallon
of water, will cut the grease ; they must be thoroughly
boiled afterwards with plenty of soap, and very thor-
oughly rinsed, and hung in the open air.
Why should stains be removed before clothes are put
in hot soap suds or soda water ? Because hot water, soda
and soap set many stains.
Why does linen shrink more than cotton? Because it
has little notches or joints along its walls, but these little
teeth are not so long as on wool fiber.
Do alkalies, like washing soda, borax and ammonia,
have much effect on cotton? Not very much, but they
should be rinsed out thoroughly, especially washing soda,
for when the cloth dries the absence of water makes the
remaining amount of soda full strength, and it will act
for some time on the cloth.
Why will clothes dry quicker in a draft? Air will only
absorb a certain amount of moisture, and that next the
clothes becomes saturated and cannot take up any more
moisture ; but dry air blowing against them continues to
absorb the moisture.
WASHING WOOLENS.
Why do woolen garments shrink more in washing than
any other kind? The wool fibers are marked by cross-
wise divisions with little teeth-like projections, which
become knotted together when the garment is rubbed ;
hot water and strong alkalies also make them curl up
and tangle together.
Why does wool shrink less if cotton or some other
material is mixed with it? Because there are less of
these little teeth to get tangled up.
60 Efficiency in Home Making
Should alkalies be used in washing woolens? No; for
they have a hardening effect on them. Just enough to
soften the water may be used.
What special care must be used in washing woolen
goods? The different waters used should be of the same
temperature, never hotter than the hand can bear com-
fortably, and they should not be allowed to soak, but
be washed and dried quickly.
Should soap be rubbed on the wool? No; be sure to
dissolve it, and use in liquid form ; white soap only should
be used.
What is best to do before putting woolens in the water?
To shake or brush them first because the little tooth-like
projections catch so much dust, and on the inside the
particles of skin that are constantly being thrown off
become lodged in them.
Should woolens be rubbed? No; they should be
squeezed, and soused up and down and they should not
be wrung by hand but through a wringer.
Should woolens be allowed to freeze in drying? No;
the little teeth will become knotted and hard.
What is a good way to dry them? After putting
through the wringer, roll up tightly in a dry towel or
sheet, squeezing them until all the moisture is absorbed.
WASHING COLORED CLOTHES.
Should colored clothes be soaked? No.
What kind of soap should be used? Only a white soap
free from alkali, and it should never be rubbed on, but
dissolved in the water.
How should they be hung out? Wrong side out, and
in the shade, for the direct sunshine on them will fade
them about twenty times as quickly.
Efficiency in Home Making 6i
STARCHED CLOTHES.
Will clothes stay clean longer if starched? They will.
How should cooked starch be made? Moisten the
starch thoroughly in a little water and then the right
amount of boiling water can be poured over it, stirring
it rapidly, then cook until it is clear. ✪ Cooked Starch
Page 32 · 1 recipe record on this page
Presented as published in 1915. 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
What will help in washing greasy clothing or dish towels? A tablespoonful of coal oil to about a gallon of water, will cut the grease ; they must be thoroughly boiled afterwards with plenty of soap, and very thoroughly rinsed, and hung in the open air.
Why should stains be removed before clothes are put in hot soap suds or soda water ? Because hot water, soda and soap set many stains.
Why does linen shrink more than cotton? Because it has little notches or joints along its walls, but these little teeth are not so long as on wool fiber.
Do alkalies, like washing soda, borax and ammonia, have much effect on cotton? Not very much, but they should be rinsed out thoroughly, especially washing soda, for when the cloth dries the absence of water makes the remaining amount of soda full strength, and it will act for some time on the cloth.
Why will clothes dry quicker in a draft? Air will only absorb a certain amount of moisture, and that next the clothes becomes saturated and cannot take up any more moisture ; but dry air blowing against them continues to absorb the moisture.
WASHING WOOLENS.
Why do woolen garments shrink more in washing than any other kind? The wool fibers are marked by crosswise divisions with little teeth-like projections, which become knotted together when the garment is rubbed ; hot water and strong alkalies also make them curl up and tangle together.
Why does wool shrink less if cotton or some other material is mixed with it? Because there are less of these little teeth to get tangled up.
60 Efficiency in Home Making
Should alkalies be used in washing woolens? No; for they have a hardening effect on them. Just enough to soften the water may be used.
What special care must be used in washing woolen goods? The different waters used should be of the same temperature, never hotter than the hand can bear comfortably, and they should not be allowed to soak, but be washed and dried quickly.
Should soap be rubbed on the wool? No; be sure to dissolve it, and use in liquid form ; white soap only should be used.
What is best to do before putting woolens in the water? To shake or brush them first because the little tooth-like projections catch so much dust, and on the inside the particles of skin that are constantly being thrown off become lodged in them.
Should woolens be rubbed? No; they should be squeezed, and soused up and down and they should not be wrung by hand but through a wringer.
Should woolens be allowed to freeze in drying? No; the little teeth will become knotted and hard.
What is a good way to dry them? After putting through the wringer, roll up tightly in a dry towel or sheet, squeezing them until all the moisture is absorbed.
WASHING COLORED CLOTHES.
Should colored clothes be soaked? No.
What kind of soap should be used? Only a white soap free from alkali, and it should never be rubbed on, but dissolved in the water.
How should they be hung out? Wrong side out, and in the shade, for the direct sunshine on them will fade them about twenty times as quickly.
Efficiency in Home Making 6i
STARCHED CLOTHES.
Will clothes stay clean longer if starched? They will.
How should cooked starch be made? Moisten the starch thoroughly in a little water and then the right amount of boiling water can be poured over it, stirring it rapidly, then cook until it is clear.
Records on this page
Cooked Starch