Or save the wax papers that come in cracker boxes or the inside linings of laundry soap, and rub the irons on these.
Or have at hand a cloth saturated with kerosene, and rub the iron over this. These methods all tend to make the ironing easier by lessening the friction and also keep the iron clean and give polish to the fabrics.
Cautions. — Never use irons for cracking nuts or hammering nails. Never allow them to become red hot. They do not retain the heat equally throughout afterwards and will al ways be rough. Do not keep them on the stove when not in use without pro tecting them from the heat by as bestos.
To Heat Irons. — Irons will heat more quickly and with less fuel and will keep hot longer if an iron or tin pan is turned over them while heating. A sheet-iron pan, like a bread pan, is best for this purpose, but a deep dripping pan, frying pan, or solid tin pan may be used. This will be found especially important in summer, when a hot fire is unbear able. When gas is used, if a pan is turned over the flatirons and a tea kettle placed on top, hot water also may be had with the use of a single burner.
To Test the Heat of Irons.—The iron is hotter when a drop of water will run along the surface than when it is immediately evaporated. A very hot iron will form a cushion of steam which will keep the drop from the surface. Hence if a drop of water sticks and immediately evaporates, the iron is not sufficiently hot for some purposes.
Holders for Irons.—A thin sheet of asbestos between two folds of cloth makes the best holder for flatirons. A square piece of leather, cut from the top of an old boot and put be tween two thicknesses of cloth, is con venient and comfortable. These hold
ers may be bound with braid.
To Hang Up an Ironing Board.— Put screw eyes on the end of the iron ing board so that it can be hung from nails on the wall or the inside of pantry doors.
Covers for Ironing Boards.—Make two or three covers for the ironing board to fit tightly when drawn on, like a pillowcase. When one is soiled another may be substituted. The quickness and convenience with which these may be changed will soon pay for the labor of making them. A somewhat looser calico bag to slip over the board when not in use will keep it clean. Old sheets and dis carded wrappers will furnish materials for these covers.
To Arrange the Ironing Board.— Fix two heavy screw eyes in the broad end of an ironing board and attach to these a piece of strong picture wire the same as if you intended to hang the ironing board like a picture upon the wall. Screw into the top of the baseboard, high enough from the floor to be out of the way of mops and brooms, two strong screw hooks. Now draw a stand or narrow table oppo site these screw hooks in such a way that the broad end of the ironing board may rest upon it while the nar row end projects into the room. In this position the ironing board should about balance, but of course the pres sure of the iron on the unsupported end would cause it to tip. Now catch the wire guys attached to the broad end of the ironing board over the two screw hooks in the baseboard. These will prevent the narrow end of the board from tipping, and leave it un obstructed, so that skirts, shirts, and other similar articles may be slipped over it conveniently.