ADVICE ABOUT BLANKETS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 July 1935, Page 2

ADVICE ABOUT BLANKETS

BUYING AND LAUNDERING. It is at this time of the year that most housewives, eager to take advantage of f he cut prices offering n the "white sales" set about adding ’0 their sto-’k of blankets in readiness for the cold weather months ahead, states tho “Melbourne Age." But It is not always a wise policy to be too intent on securing a bargain when blankets must bo bought; if they are to be expected to give good service for several years many more points than the proportionate cuts shown on the price ticket must be carefully considered. First of 'Hi there is the matter of weight to bo taken into account. How often do you hear a particular brand or quality of blanket praised because it is “such a good, heavy one?” But, that is all wrong. Because a blanket is heavy does not mean it is good quality—often quite the reverse. Probably it will mean that cotton has been allied with wool in the manufacture of the blanket to give it extra—and utterly useless—weight. For it is tho blankets of moderate density that are tho warmest and most satisfactory from the health point of view; though it seems a curious anomaly, they are far cosier than blankets whieh are closely woven and dense. 1 And too much weight causes sleep-1 lessness.

So the first rule on blanket buying is to steer clear of heavy cloths. The second is to stick to wool. Wool and cotton mixtures seem cheaper on the face of it. but they are often a false economy, for they have not tiie same warmth—and therefore more pairs will be needed —and they do not give the same service.

A TEST OF QUALITY. J The border offers an excellent means of testing the quality of a blanket. Gay coloured borders are iflen taken to register quality, but that is another fallacy. They do not Tho test is the evenness of tho stitching am! tiie smoothness and firmness ot the hems. Always examine the borders closely, especially tho corners and the extreme edges, if tho stitching is even and the corners neat and strong, you can almost cor.ainly count on tiie blankets being good buying. i Another point to beware of is ex-|

treme fluffiness. Those very fluffy blankets often to bo seen at surprisingly low prices are best left alone. For thej' are artificially raised in the mills to give them this attractive appearance to tiie unsuspecting. Actually, the fluffiness is an indication of a coarse ground. Then, too, see that tho blankets are free from black —or semi-black' —hairs before you buy them. And avoid very coarse, irregular weaves. In districts ..badly infested with tiles it is often necessary to wash the new blankets before putting them on the beds. For some reason —probably tiie trace of greasiness remaining in the new wool —blowflies will attack brand new blankets tiiough thej* will not touch them once they have been washed. The best way to wash these new blankets is to soak them first of all in cold salted water. A good, soaking in this way is a cure for greasiness. Afterwards tho blanket should be given a proper washing, in tepid water this time. Make a lather of good mild soap, shredding it and melting with hot water to which a little ammonia has been added. Arid some borax to the washing water; this is an excellent cleansing agent, and will help to keep tho blankets a good colour. Rinso thoroughly—this is most important, for the wool will cling tenaciofisly to tho soap, and if it is left in tho blankets will become stiff and hard, and an ucly soiled yellow. After the final rinsing, wring out as well as possible, fold the blanket in halt, and peg the two edges about four Inches over a taut clothes line to ensure its drying in shape. It should be hung where it will catch Ji, breeze if possible and should be shaken and turned from time to time while it is drying. Afterwards it can bo beuten with a clean carpet beater to bring up tiie soft, fluffy pile again.