IRONING HINTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20504, 24 August 1936, Page 10

IRONING HINTS

“Many can wash, but few can iron,” is a phrase well known in laundry circles. Yet how true it is. If one’s ironing leaves something to be desired, then it is sure to reflect in the appearance of almost every garment, no matter how carefully it may have been washed. It is the finish that counts. First, bear in mind that if it is desired to iron at once anything that has been rough-dried, it is absolutely necessary to damp well all over the article, then roll it up tightly in a dry cloth. Now, while the irons are heating, put into a warm oven, and the article will be dampened evenly when taken out. Leave in the oven about two minutes —no longer. To do ironing as it should be done, your irons must be suited to the article. Yet how many housewives make any distinction here, and’then wonder why their ironing looks amateurish? Starched articles require a very hot iron to bake the starch; while for woollens and flannel a cool iron gives the best results. With «ilks, a moderately hot iron is best, but it must be borne in mind that the damper a thing is, the less the effect of the iron’s heat, since much of it is dissipated in evaporating the water. Then, in ironing for effect, don’t forget that to preserve the surface of knitted or crocheted silk, it must never be ironed on the right side. Turn it wrong side uppermost, and use an iron only moderately hot. Even when the articles are decorated with embroidery, the wrong side rule still holds good. Also, if the embroidery is white, it should be dampened before ironing. On the other hand, these should be practically dry before they ax*e touched with an iron, otherwise the heat given off is liable to change the colours of the threads and so spoil the whole effect—perhaps for all time. Another rule worth remembering is this: Crepe de Chine, georgette and all similar materials, whether of silk or cotton foundation, should be ironed while they are damp. Turn to the right side and use a good hot iron. Cretonnes and chintz, on the other hand, are best ironed on the wrong side and, by damp ironing, can be “got up” to a high state of perfection, notwithstanding they may have been laundered many times before. Japanese silk should not be ironed while it is still wet, under the mistaken idea that it will improve the gloss. It most certainly improves the material for the first half-dozen launderings, but after that the material takes on a peculiar dull and yellow appearance that is more or less permanent. Before ironing jabots dissolve a pinch of granulated sugar in a basin of water and wring the articles out in it. Roll them in a cloth and let them he for half an hour. When ironed, they will look just like new. When ironing pleats on washing dresses and the like, I use the loose board of a wringer, which is both light and easy to slip between the folds. If you try this dodge you will never have trouble in getting nice straight pleats on your frocks instead of the amateurish look a home-washed garment often possesses. It gives them quite a laundered finish in about half the time usually necessary by the old method.