Presented as published in 1898. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation below, not the original instructions.
Clear Starching
From The housewife's referee, 1898
Serves 1
This method is suitable for one dozen collars and six pairs of cuffs.
A modern interpretation · AI-generated from the original record
Ingredients
- half a packet of Californian Borax soap powder
- two ounces of starch
- fully half a pint of cold water
Method
Soak collars, cuffs, and shirts in lukewarm water overnight.
Rub dirty parts with soap, then rinse and place in a bag.
Dissolve Borax soap in hot water, boil clothes in the bag for 10-15 minutes, then rinse in cold water and blued water.
Dry and starch using the prepared mixture, allowing to sit overnight before ironing.
As published
This recipe was extracted from The housewife's referee (1898) by Harriet Anne de Salis, University of Leeds Library, page 37. The excerpt below is the record exactly as published.
Clear Starching. — ^Miss L. Smith, the instructress of Forsyth College Laundry Class, says that this branch of laundry work is the most difficult, and I think her directions will be best to follow ; therefore I will quote them in these pages. The first thing to be done is to collect collars, cuffs, and shirts, put them into luke-warm water and rub the collars, wristbands, and all dirty parts vath a little soap, and let them soak all night. The next morning the articles should be wrung out of the water in which m THE housewife's KEFEBEE they have soaked and placed in a basket. Pour away the dirty water, and fill the tub with hot water. The articles should then be put into the pan, and each one rubbed separately with soap. Loose cuffs should be doubled and both edges rubbed at once, to save time. Borax soap should be used if possible. After the clothes have been rubbed they should be put into a bag kept for the purpose and tied round with a piece of tape, a small opening being made so that they may keep under the water while boiling. Before they are put into the copper half a packet of Calif ornian Borax soap powder should be dissolved in the water. Whilst boiling, the things should be stirred occasionally with the copper stick. When the clothes have boiled for ten or fifteen minutes they should be taken out, placed in a basket and allowed to drain, then rinsed in cold water, and afterwards passed one by one through blued water. A square of blue should be placed in a flannel bag and tied firmly round the top, but not in a knot ; great care must be taken in rinsing the clothes in the blue water, so that it does not settle in patches, and they should be wrung out and laid on a dish. The articles must now be dried ; of course in the country they should be dried out of doors, but for those living in towns they should be put on a clean clothes horse before the fire. As soon as they are all dry they should be starched. While the hands are still clean from the wash, take two ounces of starch and borax, and pour over them without stirring fully half a pint of cold water
Cook this with the app: pantry check, scaling, and the assistant.