WASHING SILK BLOUSES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9321, 22 August 1908, Page 3

WASHING SILK BLOUSES.

It is a generally acknowledged fact that the washing of silks and chiffons is an art in itself, and in no way resembles the washing of other fabrics. For white articles a warm lather should be prepared, not hot, or the silk will turn yellow. Have plenty of water in your bowl, as well as a good quantity ready for rinsing purposes. Silk should be got out of the way quickly, and not left lying about. New silk will naturally require two or three fresh lathers before it becomes clean, and you will find that stiff silks and glaces do not wash nearly so well as + he soft kinds. When placed in the lather the article must bo shaken g«ntly, pressed and squeezed, especially about the soiled parts, but never rubbed. Particular attention shou'd be paid to the neckbands and wristbands of blouses, and tbw rinemg should first bo in tepid water, then cold. Be sure to get the 6oap thoroughly out of the silk, or the effect will be ruined. White silk will bear the faintest tinge of blueing in the rinse ; but cream never. There aro many methods of giving a new appearance to washed silk, but perhaps the best is, after careful rinsing, to put tho silk, if one blouse only, into a pint and a half of water in which a tablespoonful of methylated spirits has been mixed. Soak the silk well, then squeeze it out — never wring silk — and having laid it between the folds of a clean cloth, put through tho wringer, or beat between the hands. Tt .should not be dried. Tron nt once. Coloured silks aro washed in like manner, and, should the colours be inclined to run, vinegar or salt can be put in the rinsing water. Perhaps vinegar is best for mauves, Hues and pinks. A few drops of ammonia will restore black or brown silks. When necessary to stiffen silks, put a tablespoonful of gum into a pint of rinsing water. A good way is to make your own for the purpose, and it can be done by placing one ounce of gum arabic in+o a glass jar, and pouring a pint of hot water on it : cover, and stand on the oven until the gum is r]i'<-Rolvf»d, then strain through a piece of muslin and put in a cool plnee. Children's silk-wear kpf-rvs clean much lono-er when slio-htly stiffened. Pilk should always be ironed wet, fiT"l. in on^e nny r>art sbo-nVJ Tip-re dried with tbe heat of tho kitchen before hems ironed, cover with a niece of wet cloth, and leove it to moisten. Never use an iron that is too hot. as scorch marks '•a.nTiot be sot out of silk ; on the o-H-r-r h»-"d. an over coo! iron leaves an ■no*lv mark, a**"-' ono /Ji-Wrvnl-*- +0 o-ot —_t,. Smooth the silk well out before besrinning to iron, then iron on the rifbt tirlfj until nearly dry. finishing on tho