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Classic
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page 385
THE LAUNDRY.
When removed from the person, clothing, if damp, should be dried to prevent
mildew, and articles which are to be starched should be mended before placing in
the clothes-basket. Monday is the washing day with all good housekeepers. The
old-fashioned programme for a washing is as follows: Use good soft water if it
can be had. If not, soften a barrel-full of well-water by pouring into it water
in which half a peck or more of hard wood ashes have been boiled, together with
the ashes themselves. When enough has been added to produce the desired effect,
the water takes on a curdled appearance, and soon settles perfectly clear. If
milky, more ashes and lye must be added as before, care being taken not to add
more than is necessary to clear the water, or it will effect the hands
unpleasantly. On the other hand, if too little is put in the clothes will turn
yellow. Gather up all clothes which are ready on Saturday night, and the rest as
they are taken off; separate the fine from the coarse, and the less soiled from
the dirtier. Scald all table linen and articles which have coffee, fruit or
other stains which would be "set" by hot suds, by pouring over them hot water
from the tea-kettle and allowing them to stand until cool. Have the water in the
tub as warm as the hand will bear, but not too hot. (Dirty clothes should never
be put into very hot clear water, as it "sets" the dirt. Hot soap-suds, however,
has the opposite effect, the water expanding the fiber of the fabric, while the
alkali of the soap softens and removes the dirt.) Wash them, taking the cleanest
and finest first, through two suds, then place in a boiler of cold water, with
soap enough to make a good suds. (A handful of borax added to the water helps to
whiten the clothes and is used by many, especially by the Germans, who are
famous for their snowy linen.) Let them boil not more than five or ten minutes,
as too long boiling "yellows" the clothes. Remove to a tub, pour over them cold
water slightly blued, and turn all garments, pillow-slips, stockings, etc.,
wrong-side out. If there are more to boil, take out part of the boiling suds,
add cold water, and fill not too full with clothes. Repeat until all are boiled.
The removal of part of the suds, and filling up with cold water, prevents the
suds from "yellowing" the clothes. Wash vigorously in this water, wringing very
dry by hand, or better with the wringer, as the clear appearance of the clothes
depends largely on thorough wringing. Rinse in another tub of soft water,
washing with the hands, not simply lifting them out of the water and then
wringing, as is practiced by some, because all suds must be rinsed out to make
them clear and white. Wring out again from water pretty well blued, dipping only
one
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