REFRESHING FROCKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1937, Page 15

REFRESHING FROCKS.

HOW TO BANISH SPOTS. PRESERVATION OF. COLOURS. Probably the most perplexing question j5 how to" remove the various "unsightly stains from the light summer fabrics. First, as lady Macbeth said: ''If it must be (lone, let it be done.quickly." The sooner you attempt-to remove an offendin" spot the more satisfactory will be your efforts. Second, know what made the staih. before you do anything about it. Many a stain, properly treated, is cas y to remove. If attacked by the wron" methods, however, it stubbornly persists, and is often worse than in the beginningLook it over carefully to see if you can determine its cause." Was it made by grass, oil, _ice cream, paint, tar, or fruit juices? For example, test its nature with your fingernail. If it shews white it is probably sugar or cream. Then look on the" back of the fabric; for sugar stays on the surface, while cream goes tliroticli to tlif other side. Then carefully follow the directions for handling th.it special stain, both for removal and offer-treatment, before you proceed with the general cleansing and pressing. Some common snimner-fiine stains yield rapidly to the following directions: — Grass.—Wash in cold water if the etain is new. If it is old, spread with treacle- then wash it in cold water. If the fabric is coloured, sponge the spot with alcohol. :.

Grease.—Wash with plenty of yellow soap and lukewarm water. Try to absorb it with powdered magnesia or freneh chalk. Use a hot iron over blotting paper. Dissolve the stain with a grease solvent.

Fly-paper (of the sticky variety).— Wnsii with yellow soap if the spot is fresh. Sponge or soak in turpentine, which will dissolve the sticky substance. Then cleanse by washing.

Cream or lee-Cream.—Wash in lukewarm water and white soap. On white good use washing soda, one half cupful to one cupful of boiling water. then dissolve in half a tubfui of water,' and let the garments stand in this for 15 minutes. Then rinse and wasli ae usual. On coloured material, chocolate or fruit stains complicate the cream removal, so follow up the treatment given above "with their special treatment. ~, ■"'. '.■'■■

. It is important for you-to decide how best to proceed ' in. the cleansing and pressing of ea-cli garruent to make it appear most like' new. This depends entirely on the: material of the garment, of what it is made, if it is white or coloured. And-if it/is coloured, ie the thread dyed, or i* the pattern merely printed on the outside of one surface? All white and uncoloured fabrics arc easier to handle both for the spot removal and for.washing, and ironing, but it is not always possible to. know.the reaction of -dyes wlien affected by soap, sun and beat. Fixing the Colours,. If the garment 'or article U coloured or printed in': colours, like print, chintz, linen, gingham, and other similar popular materials,' tire 'colours should be carefully set with the.prdper. mordant before you attempt to wasli them. Place the garment in cold treated water the time required, rinse it in clear cold water, let it dry, and then proceed 'with the ordinary washing.

Various colours are best set by certain substances as follows: To set blues and greens use one half cupful of strong vinegar to every 4 tjuarts of cold water. To set pinks, blacks and browns, use two cupfuls of kitchen salt to every 4 quarts of cold water. To set lavenders use one tcaspoonful of sugar of lead to every 4 quarts of cold water. To set mixed colours, as in prints, it is eafest to use. salt as for pinks and blacks. All colours should 1)0 washed and rinsed in lukewarm water or warm water —never inlliotr. If the article is cotton, linen or any heavy mixed fabric, it can he washed in much hotter water than should be used for a silk. Silk materials, silk-and-cottoiin, or artificial silk fabrics with a high' gloss or glaze are affected by heat, both in the washing and in the ironing. \ .'

Pure silk is particularly affected by lieat because it is made of a delicate animal fibre, which quickly cracks, rots and disintegrates if treated* with extreme heat, acids or alkalis. White silks are turned yellow by the sun, and coloured silks are liable to fade badly. Therefore silk dresses should never be hung outdoors or near an intense light, hut should be dried inside in the shade. They should be pressed when only about half dry. . . ■ '

One of the greatest errors in washing Md- ironing, arid one which wastes a. fwt deal of timer, Vis to allow the garments to get bone dry, then laboriously sprinkle them, wait some hours until tney are again dump, and last pi-ess them smooth. Fully In per cent of laundry labour can be saved by watching the clothes and tackling thcWwhile they are still quite damp. ■It 'requires considerable time to press "an entire garment, "ml you should start'when it is so damp that no part of it will have dried before you have finished the whole.

Dangers of Sprinkling. Furthermore, sprinkling such fabrics "s pongee and other delicate, silks serves only to disfigure them with water spots, which are ugly stains. Linens and all heavy cottons can. be' ironed while very tomp and with a very hot iron. More delicate cottons and all silks must be slowly pressed with only -a' moderate "■on, or they will be quick to scorch, lade under the heat.'* and lose the attractive gloss. A similar standard method for'.the renovation of various kinds of materials J? given herewith. ; ■■ '.■ L 'ght Coloured Silk,'. Printed Silk, Wash Satin, Ribbon, 1. Remove, spots and stains by special treatments. '' : ' -■ Imnierso in good suds made from white soap only in lukewarm water, "sing a sousing motion to force the soapy water through the fabric. If you are cleaning a dress or a large garment, Me it by the shoulder seams in each hand and'lower it into the suds, letting the garment. settle in folds. Pat or squeeze it. o\it and repeat the process until the garment is thoroughly cleansed. 3. Rinse the garment in 'lukewarm waters until the l,i«t one is clear, always 'lipping in and out as above. 4, Gently squeeze out the water without twisting or crushing the material.

fl. Shape nncl hang on a strctclicr, or, after smoothing out tlie wrinkles as limcli as possible, roll in a soft towel. Dresses should be hung on hangers for a few moments, then reversed and hung up bv the skirt. C. When only half drv, iron on the wrong side witli o moderate iron. Ribbons may be wound smoothly around a soda bottle or jelly glass. Pull them as tight Jl3 possible, as the tension will Coloured Print, Chintz ana Sateen. These are treated in almost the same way. Special attention should be paid to the colour problem. Remember to set the colour, to hung the garment in the shade, and to use only a moderate iron on the reverse side of the goods. Coloured Georgette, Voile, Swiss, Organdie, Crepe de Chine. These are treated the same as the liglitcolourcd or printed silks, but should be handled even more delicately. Georgettes may be shaped and gently pulled with the'fingers when.ironed. Chillons should always be pressed with theiron following the is, the up and down of the material.