right of each ironer should be found a clean paper folded
several times, also a piece of old cloth or cheese cloth, both
to try and clean the iron on, also a bit of beeswax tied in a
cloth, and an iron stand. When the iron is hot the wax
may be rubbed lightly over it and then the iron rubbed on
the paper to make it smooth. With these aids the iron
should always be clean and cool enough not to scorch before
it touches sheet or garment. First iron trimming, ruffles,
and the parts that will muss least, then take the plainer parts
of the piece. Fold garments and all pieces first lengthwise
into a long strip, then crosswise, and hang them to air on a
clothes horse, and let them remain until perfectly dry. If
garments are not ironed dry and aired they will easily muss.
If put away damp they may mildew, and if worn or put
upon a bed may cause sickness. Embroidery must be ironed
wrong side up over several thicknesses of flannel to bring
out the design. To test irons for heat, touch them with a
moist finger : if they hiss, they are hot ; if the sound is a
short one, they are probably too hot. The laundress deter-
mines the heat by holding the face of the iron about four
inches from her cheek for a few seconds : if too hot for com-
fort, it is too hot to use.
VI. Care of Laundry and Utensils. — All utensils
must be washed and wiped and left clean and dry after
washing. The floor must be wiped up and everything left
in order. Fibre tubs must be washed and wiped, wooden
tubs in addition to this must be left with water standing in
them to prevent their warping and leaking. The wringer
must be wiped off, and the screws that hold the rollers
together loosened. Occasionally the rubber rollers may be
rubbed over with a few drops of kerosene on a cloth, to clean
them. Kerosene eats rubber, so use it sparingly. Irons
must be kept in a dry place, and always put away clean.
Scrape the starch off with an old knife. A little fine salt
THE LAUNDRY 297
or scouring brick ou a paper will scour them when they
need it. ' Eub the iron over the paper. When irons are put
away for some time, rub them over with mutton tallow or
vaseline, and wrap them separately in paper. All tinware
must be thoroughly dried after washing, to prevent rusting.
Experiments with Bluing. — Fill a test-tube half full of
Prussian or aniline blue in solution, using it dilute, add a
quarter of a teaspoonful of strong solution of sal soda, and
heat to boiling point. The Prussian blue should change to
the yellow brown salt of iron, rust. The aniline should
lose its intense blue ; and ultramarine blue, if treated in
the same way, will resolve itself into a white flocculent
precipitate.
OUTLINE : COURSE I
Eight Fundamental Lessons
Each of these lessons presupposes a two-hour period. If
only one hour can be devoted to this work, take the theory
for one lesson, and the practice for another.
Children may bring their own clothes for practice work.
LESSON
I. Introduction.
Talk on necessity of cleanliness.
Talk on water, soap, and alkalies, with experiments.
Washing bed linen.
II. Talk on bluings.
Taking out stains ; demonstration.
Washing table linen.
Ironing bed linen.
III. Talk on starch.
Make starch ; demonstration.
Washing body linen.
Irojjing table linen.
298 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
LESSON
IV. Making starch ; class work.
Page 144
Presented as published in 1900. 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
right of each ironer should be found a clean paper folded several times, also a piece of old cloth or cheese cloth, both to try and clean the iron on, also a bit of beeswax tied in a cloth, and an iron stand. When the iron is hot the wax may be rubbed lightly over it and then the iron rubbed on the paper to make it smooth. With these aids the iron should always be clean and cool enough not to scorch before it touches sheet or garment. First iron trimming, ruffles, and the parts that will muss least, then take the plainer parts of the piece. Fold garments and all pieces first lengthwise into a long strip, then crosswise, and hang them to air on a clothes horse, and let them remain until perfectly dry. If garments are not ironed dry and aired they will easily muss. If put away damp they may mildew, and if worn or put upon a bed may cause sickness. Embroidery must be ironed wrong side up over several thicknesses of flannel to bring out the design. To test irons for heat, touch them with a moist finger : if they hiss, they are hot ; if the sound is a short one, they are probably too hot. The laundress determines the heat by holding the face of the iron about four inches from her cheek for a few seconds : if too hot for comfort, it is too hot to use.
VI. Care of Laundry and Utensils. — All utensils must be washed and wiped and left clean and dry after washing. The floor must be wiped up and everything left in order. Fibre tubs must be washed and wiped, wooden tubs in addition to this must be left with water standing in them to prevent their warping and leaking. The wringer must be wiped off, and the screws that hold the rollers together loosened. Occasionally the rubber rollers may be rubbed over with a few drops of kerosene on a cloth, to clean them. Kerosene eats rubber, so use it sparingly. Irons must be kept in a dry place, and always put away clean. Scrape the starch off with an old knife. A little fine salt
or scouring brick ou a paper will scour them when they need it. ' Rub the iron over the paper. When irons are put away for some time, rub them over with mutton tallow or vaseline, and wrap them separately in paper. All tinware must be thoroughly dried after washing, to prevent rusting. Experiments with Bluing. — Fill a test-tube half full of Prussian or aniline blue in solution, using it dilute, add a quarter of a teaspoonful of strong solution of sal soda, and heat to boiling point. The Prussian blue should change to the yellow brown salt of iron, rust. The aniline should lose its intense blue ; and ultramarine blue, if treated in the same way, will resolve itself into a white flocculent precipitate.
OUTLINE : COURSE I Eight Fundamental Lessons
Each of these lessons presupposes a two-hour period. If only one hour can be devoted to this work, take the theory for one lesson, and the practice for another.
Children may bring their own clothes for practice work.
LESSON
I. Introduction.
Talk on necessity of cleanliness. Talk on water, soap, and alkalies, with experiments. Washing bed linen. II. Talk on bluings.
Taking out stains ; demonstration. Washing table linen. Ironing bed linen. III. Talk on starch.
Make starch ; demonstration. Washing body linen. Irojjing table linen.
LESSON
IV. Making starch ; class work.