SILK GARMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1938, Page 13 (Supplement)

SILK GARMENTS

PROLONGING THEIR LIFE If you want silk garments to last wash th«ri yourself and remember that silk must not be rubbed or twisted, and should be washed in tepid water, not hot. i As white silk is apt .to go yellow m time, soak the garment3 in cold water to which you have added a little blue and a dash of lemon juice. If they have been laundered many times, and are inclined to be limp, add a little sugar to the last rinsing water, ahd they u'll look like new. Shantung and tussore silks shculd be washed in tepid water, bht there mxist be no blue in the rinsing water, and they should not be ironed until quite dry. ... When washing coloured silks, with the exception of blue, add a tablespoonful of vinegar to each gallon of water. Salt should be used instead of vinegar for all shades of blue. Rinse first in tepid water and then in cold water. Black . /' silk is improved by steeping in deep i blue water for a short time after rinsing. { When washing crepe-de-chine, add a little borax to the water to preserve the gloss. Artiflcial silks must be washed with great care for the threads lose all their strength when moist. Don't be tempted t pull or stretch artiflcial silk garments when they are wet Silks that require stiffening should be immersed in gum water, which is easy to make. Dissolve two ounces of best white J gum arabic crystals in hqlf a pint of 3 water, strain through muslin and bottle. The quantity to be added to the water varies according to the size of the articles. The appearance of glossy silks is improved by adding. a dessertspoonfttl of methylated spirit to the stiffening water. Do not stiffen thick silk. Ironing hints: Tussore, foulard, jap and shanttmg silk- shotdd be ironed on the right side. It is a good plan to spread a piece of muslin between the material and the iron to prevent shiny patches on the garment Coloured silks, patterned silks, ninon, georgette and stockinette should be ironed on the wrong side. Do not use a hot iron on artiflcial or you will melt the threads and make shiny patches. Real silk washes and wears well, and can be re-dyed at home. If you are not sure that a garment will wash, , soak a small piece of the same material in warm -*er for half an hour. and then washit carefully. Silk stockings should be washed before they are wom, to give them a chance of a long life. Add a pinch of salt to the tepid lather and a little methylated . spirits to the final rinsing water. A few drops of vinegar should be added to the final rinsing water, when dealing with artiflcial silk stockings. -