DAINTY TABLE LINEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

DAINTY TABLE LINEN.

This does not necessarily mean expensive; tablecloths, etc., although as good a pride as possible might be given for best articles. The word " dainty" is applied to i careful washing and ironing, and if these two things are adhered to a coarse tablecloth will make the breakfast table far more attractive than if a fine damask one,' Soiled and creased, is used.

In good weather, such as we may now hope to see, the washing of table linen is by no means an arduous task. lam a firm believer in soaking linen of all kinds before it is washed, but in the case of fine tablecloths, teacloths, etc., which are scarcely soiled, this, precaution is not necessary. They . need only, to be left for about ten minutes in water before being washed—just to soften them thoroughly. Then wring them out and put them into a tub of hot water with a little clensel, stirred to a lather, in it. Rub as lightly as possible, and use a little good soap as well as the clensel. Put them into tho boiler, letting the water be neither. cold nor hot rubbing each article with soap, and boil up slowly. Continue tho boiling for about fifteen minutes. If you have a good green, spread the wet linen on it, after being taken out of the boiler. It must not be steaming hot, as this will kill the grass. Leave out in the sun until dry; then rinse well, first in tepid water, and then in cold blue water; wring and hang out until almost dry, and then roll it in a cloth which you have starched. Iron about two hours later. .

Tablecloths often fray at the corners be cause of the custom of putting' clothespins just at those parts. Enough of the lineji should bo thrown over tho line to keep the strain from the corners—about six inches is the rule. Four pins should be used— at each end and two at equal distances in the middle. In the case of fine small traycloths, d'oyleys, etc., it is a good plan to pin a long strip of clean cotton over the lino beforo pinning those things on to it. Ono cannot be quite sure of the spotless condition of the rope. Do riot hang anything near a, post, a tree, or wire fence. Embroidered teacloths are not starched, but are ironed, while damp, right side thrown down upon a thickly folded cloth. This throws up tho pattern.