"ELEGANT ECONOMIES."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17258, 6 September 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

"ELEGANT ECONOMIES."

A most practical form is to do light washing and ironing, such as of blouses, laces, or handkerchiefs, yourself. This takes very little time, and if properly done the result is well worth the labour. To wash a crepe de chine blouse make a lather of soap and hot water. If the blouse is very dirty add a little borax in the proportion of one tablespoonful cf borax to one gallon cf water. The borax must be dissolved in a little boiling water and added to the rest. The water must not be too hot for crepe de chine, 'squeeze and knead the blouse. Rinse in two or three warm waters. Add vinegar to the last rinsing water in the proportion of one tablespoonful to a gallon of water. If the blouse is pure white, add a little blue also. Put the blouse into a towel and squeeze dry. Roll up, and wrap in a dry towel until ready for ironing. To Iron : Lay the blouse on the ironing board or table, smooth well, and cover with a muslin. Iron with a fairly hot iron over the muslin until partly dry. Then finish without the muslin. " Hang up to air.

To wash handkerchiefs soak them overnight in a gallon of cold water. If very dirty dissolve one tablespoonful of borax in a little boiling water, and when malted add it to the cold water. Next day rub the handkerchiefs and squeeze out the cold water. Make a lather of soap and hot water and put in the handkerchiefs. Rub well, or use a vacuum washer. Spots and stains will require. a little soap rubbed on them, and must bn rubbed. Squeeze out the dirty water. Put some cold water, one or two smf»;l pieces of soap, and a little soc'a into a clean saucepan large enough to held the handkerchiefs and allow of their boiling. When the soda has dissolved put in the handkerchiefs, bring to the boil, and boil for from 15 to 20 minutes. Lift out with a stick into a tub ; pour on cold water and rinse well. They should be rinsed in two or three waters; add a little blue to the last rinsing water; squeeze dry, fold, put through a wringer if you have one, and hang them up to dry. Before they are too dry they should be folded and wrapped in a clean cloth until you are rea<£y to iron them. Iron with a hot iron on the wrong side: fold over, and iron. Fold again lengthways; then fold in three. If ironing each fold the right side is ironed also.