For Ordinary Muslin Collars and cuffs, tuckers, dress handker- chiefs, gentlemen's white neckties, and other things which are not much soiled, proceed as follows : Put them in soak over night ; in the morn- ing wash them well with hot soap and water, rinse in cold water, slightly blued, dry them and dip once more in cold water, wringing them well. This makes them clear yet stiff. Fold them evenly, put them in a towel and iron them. Babies' dresses, etc., which are more soiled, can be treated much in the same way, with the addition of a little borax in the water to loosen the dirt, and they must be boiled afterwards. Lace and Muslin Caps and other articles which are much worn sometimes become very dirty. In this case they should be put in a basin with shredded soap, and well covered with water and allowed to stand from twenty to thirty minutes in a moderate oven. A plate should be laid over the basin to keep in the steam. After this, they will require a great deal of rinsing to get rid of the dirt, and sometimes it may be WASHING FINE THINGS. 235 necessary to put them in a pan full of cold water, and leave it on the fire till the water simmers. Musli7i Curtains should be first soaked in cold water. In washing it is better to squeeze them with the hand rather than to rub them ; they should be rinsed in blue water, starched and dried. Many people pin them out carefully on a sheet stretched on the floor, and do not iron them ; or they may be stretched out on a frame. For Making Thin Muslin Clear, it will be found an excellent plan to beat up to a froth the lather in which it is to be washed, merely squeezing and pressing it with the hand, and not rubbing it ; then, when quite dry, having passed it through the starch, mixed with gum arabic water, dry it once more ; dip it into clear water, and clap it well with the hands to clear it until it is dry. If this be carefully done, the mus- lin will look equal to new, the gum arabic giving it a bright, clear appearance. To Prepare Gum Water for mixing with starch, pour one pint of boiling water on two ounces of gum arabic, cover it, and let it stand twelve hours; pour it from the dregs and bottle for use. This will be found useful for sprinkling washing dresses which have to be ironed only in course of wearing, and not washed. When muslin dresses are trimmed with plaitings, a piece of flannel is laid between the skirt and the flounce, so that they do not stick together in ironing. Shawls and Large Pieces must be pinned out straight and square on a sheet. This must be carefully done, and each strand of the fringe should be passed through the hand, straightened and pulled out care- fully. If they are required slightly stiffened, dip them in one pint and a half of warm water in which one tablespoonful of gum arabic has been dissolved ; but they should not be made too stiff. Scarfs and other small articles in Shetland wool may be dried by holding before the fire, pulling and shaking them out all the time.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

For Ordinary Muslin Collars and cuffs, tuckers, dress handkerchiefs, gentlemen's white neckties, and other things which are not much soiled, proceed as follows : Put them in soak over night ; in the morning wash them well with hot soap and water, rinse in cold water, slightly blued, dry them and dip once more in cold water, wringing them well. This makes them clear yet stiff. Fold them evenly, put them in a towel and iron them. Babies' dresses, etc., which are more soiled, can be treated much in the same way, with the addition of a little borax in the water to loosen the dirt, and they must be boiled afterwards. Lace and Muslin Caps and other articles which are much worn sometimes become very dirty. In this case they should be put in a basin with shredded soap, and well covered with water and allowed to stand from twenty to thirty minutes in a moderate oven. A plate should be laid over the basin to keep in the steam. After this, they will require a great deal of rinsing to get rid of the dirt, and sometimes it may be WASHING FINE THINGS. 235 necessary to put them in a pan full of cold water, and leave it on the fire till the water simmers. Muslin Curtains should be first soaked in cold water. In washing it is better to squeeze them with the hand rather than to rub them ; they should be rinsed in blue water, starched and dried. Many people pin them out carefully on a sheet stretched on the floor, and do not iron them ; or they may be stretched out on a frame. For Making Thin Muslin Clear, it will be found an excellent plan to beat up to a froth the lather in which it is to be washed, merely squeezing and pressing it with the hand, and not rubbing it ; then, when quite dry, having passed it through the starch, mixed with gum arabic water, dry it once more ; dip it into clear water, and clap it well with the hands to clear it until it is dry. If this be carefully done, the muslin will look equal to new, the gum arabic giving it a bright, clear appearance. To Prepare Gum Water for mixing with starch, pour one pint of boiling water on two ounces of gum arabic, cover it, and let it stand twelve hours; pour it from the dregs and bottle for use. This will be found useful for sprinkling washing dresses which have to be ironed only in course of wearing, and not washed. When muslin dresses are trimmed with plaitings, a piece of flannel is laid between the skirt and the flounce, so that they do not stick together in ironing. Shawls and Large Pieces must be pinned out straight and square on a sheet. This must be carefully done, and each strand of the fringe should be passed through the hand, straightened and pulled out carefully. If they are required slightly stiffened, dip them in one pint and a half of warm water in which one tablespoonful of gum arabic has been dissolved ; but they should not be made too stiff. Scarfs and other small articles in Shetland wool may be dried by holding before the fire, pulling and shaking them out all the time.

The household (of the Detroit free press)