HELPS IN THE LAUNDRY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 5, 4 February 1893, Page 118

HELPS IN THE LAUNDRY.

BY ANNA SAWYER. Every woman who has answered the time honoured query, ‘ How shall we wash our flannels ’’ thinks her own to’be the best and only method ; but I would beg those whose lot it has been to ask, rather than reply, to try once again. Let her, for the time, forget that one sister insists upon boiling water, another lukewarm, a third possibly a judicious mixture of the two, and boldly depend upon cold, and receive her rewaid in the soft and snowy flannels which she craves. ABOUT THE WASHING OF FLANNELS. Immerse in cold water in which is a little borax. Leave the article soaking awhile ; repeat the process, rinsing each time in the cohl water. If very much soiled, a slight lather of soap may he made in the first water ; or soap may be rubbed upon spots. Do not wring more than is absolutely needful, but ‘ souse ’ instead. All mothers who know how difficult it is to keep the flannel skirts of infants, which are so often wet, soft, will never try any other way if they try this. The same process, using a small portion of soap-tree bark, will restore almost any woollen gown, white or coloured. There is reason in this. Manufactures of woollen* have the raw materials washed in cold, not hot or warm water, and know full well that only in this way can they get the full softness of the fleece. Much, however, of the success of the method in home use depends upon the ease with which they thus keep the same temperature. Doubtless, if the same degree could be maintained through washing and rinsing, there would be the same result. This is practically impossible, however, while the changes are fatal to the wool fabiic.