Mrs. Hale's Receipts for the Million: Containing Four Thousand Five Hundred and Forty-five Receipts, Facts, Directions, etc. in the Useful, Ornamental, and Domestic Arts
John Stuart Mill · en
1330. _To Wash Clothes, on a small scale._--For a wash for three
persons put three-quarters of an ounce of soda in soap and water over
the fire. Wash the clothes first in soap and water; rub soap on the
soiled or greasy places, and throw them in the mixture. Let them boil
an hour; rinse them in clear, cold water; rinse them again in water
with a little bluing in it. If the clothes are much soiled, put them
to soak over night.
1331. _Washing of Woollen Articles; an excellent way._--It is a
common complaint that woollen articles thicken, shrink, and become
discolored in washing. The complaint applies both to the lighter
articles of knitted wool, such as shawls, &c., and to thicker and
heavier materials--table baizes, carpets, and men's woollen garments.
The difficulty in either case may be obviated by strict attention to
the method about to be explained. To clear the way, it may be well
first to point out some things which _never_ ought to be done, but
which frequently, perhaps generally, are done:--
1. Woollen articles are never to be washed in hard water, nor in
water softened by soda, potash, or anything of that kind. Soap even
should never touch them.
2. They are never to be rubbed at all.
3. They are never to be put in lukewarm water for washing, nor in
cold water for rinsing.
4. They are never to remain lying still in the water a single minute.
5. They are never to be wrung.
6. When taken out of the water, they must not be laid down at all,
before the process of drying is commenced, nor at any time afterwards
until they are perfectly dry.
These things are to be avoided:--Now what is to be done?
1. Let the things to be washed be first well brushed and shaken, to
get rid of the dust.
2. Before the woollen things are wetted at all, take care to have
everything that will be required, ready and within reach.
3. If several things are to be done, let each be begun and finished
separately. This makes no difference in expense or trouble. A smaller
vessel and smaller quantity of lather will suffice, and the stuff in
which one article has been washed, would do no good, but harm, to
others; it is, in fact, good for nothing.
4. Use only fresh rain water, or very clear river water; rain is
preferable.