Washing Day.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 995, 27 March 1891, Page 4

Washing Day.

Washing day in tho family hits been described as the one day of the week when even the beat tempered husband gets cress and aots the part of a mild imbeoile. Frequently there is on excuse for the good man to get mad. I am speaking now of the typical homes in this Colony, where the mother and daughters are not too proud to assist once a week in the family wash. It is certainly far from pleasant for the husband to come home, say at 5.30, and find half the house full of steam, with that disagreeable odour of hot suds, yellow soap, and nauseous soda.

Washing day is always a disagreeable day eveu in the best regulated families. But frequently it is made more disagreeable than there is any need for. Early rising and Bteady application should rid the day of its discomfort to a great extent. A very critical friend of mine remarked the other day that she considered that the art of washing clothes should be taught equally as well as the art of cooking. She complained that while there is a superabundance of valuable books on 'cookery, she never met with one cn washing, -and yet washing is an art whioh every woman is not thoroughly acquainted with. As this is so perhaps a little advico to the unexperienced may not come amiss.

Sort over the soiled clothing, putting the finer articles, such as table linen, pillowcases, hankerchiefs, collars, &0., in a pile by themselves and wash first in plenty of clean hot suds. Rain water is much to be preferred when it is possible to have it. The next point is to secure really good pure soap. Cheap common soap with its excess of alkali soon makes the best of olothes rotten. After the finer linen next wash the coarser articles, such as towels, sheets, shirts, and lastly the caliooea and giDghams, which should never be washed or rinsed in the same water in whioh the white clothes have been washed or rinsed, particularly dark coloured ones, as the tint from the coloured ones will stick to them and look badly. Some people boil their white clothes, but that is not necessary, except where the garments are much soiled or stained.

After rubbing the clothes pour boiling water over them, rubbing them again lightly if soiled so as to need it ; then rinse thoroughly in plenty of clear water. Now prepare your blueing water, not too strong, especially for the finer articles. Always wring clothes as dry as possible, otherwise they will not look clear and will take much longer to dry. Flannels should be washed in hot suds. Do not rub soap on them ; rinse in water nearly as hot in which a little soap has been dissolved, and dry quickly. Hang the clothes on the line in order,, all of a kind together. Have your line put up securely. Keep good tempered and washiug day is not bo very dreadful after all. Dora.