Saturday Scrub-Up: Caring for Clothes

Continuing with the theme of dress, today's post focuses on laundering tips (note that these are not actual tips for use, but for amusement. I don't suggest trying them :) ).

When Starching and Wringing Clothes: Instead of burning your hands wringing clothes out of hart starch, put them in one of the tubs, pour the starch over them and run them through the wringer.  When the clothes are dry on the line turn the fine spray of the hose quickly and gently over the ones you want dampened for ironing, roll them up as you take them down and they are all ready for you. 

To Make Gloves Go On Easily: So that doeskin gloves may be put on easily after washing, place a clothespin in each finger and thumb when you hang the gloves to dry.

To Prevent Color From Running: To set the color of a sweater or middy blouses with red collar and cuffs wash carefully and rinse in clear water.  Rinse the garment in a pail of water containing a cupful of white vinegar, hang up carefully and do not fold.  Dampen with a sponge when ironing.  Leaves the color only where it belongs.

Sew Missing Buttons On While Ironing: Keep a needle, thread, and some buttons at the end of your board when you iron. It is so much quicker to sew a missing button on right away than to let heaps of mending stack up. 

Washing Fringed Articles: In washing anything with fringe on, always shake fringe out well before hanging up to dry and you'll find you need not comb it out. 

Bleaching Clothes With Eggshells: Save your eggshells and, when washing your clothes, put eggshells in a white cloth bag and drop into your boiler. This will make and excellent bleach for your clothes.

From: Household Hints Published By The Chicago Daily News, 1930