IRONING To Iron Shirts. — Starch the shirt bosoms, collars, and cuffs in cooked starch containing also wax or lard or other similar substance. The addition of gum arabic will increase the stiff ness. First use the common iron in the usual way, making the surface smooth, but without polishing. Iron first the back and sleeves, next the collar and bosom, last the front. This dull or domestic finish, as it is called, is preferred by many persons to a high polish, but if the latter is de sired use a smooth hard-wood board covered rather thickly with cloth on one side, but not on the other. First use the padded side of the board, ironing the bosom smooth, then turn the board, lay the bosom upon the hard wood, take the polishing iron, and polish by rubbing vigorously cross wise. A good polishing iron should weigh between 6 and 7 pounds and have a rounded edge at the heel. The iron is not laid down fiat, but only the edge of the heel is used to give the polish. Keep the iron very hot and dampen the bosom slightly before using it by brushing with a damp cloth or sponge. If the bosom rises in wavelike blisters, dampen it slightly and go over it again. It requires a little care to use a polishing iron, but with experience any laundress can give as good a polish as can be produced in a steam laundry. A greater finish can be obtained by laying over the bosom a cloth dipped in starch just before the polishing iron is applied.
To Iron Colored Goods. — Colored goods should be ironed, when possible, before they are quite dry. They should not, as a rule, be sprinkled nor allowed to lie over night. The iron should be allowed to cool slightly, as delicate colors, especially pinks and greens, will frequently fade as soon as they are touched by a hot iron. The pink may turn to purple and the green to blue.
If, however, colored goods cannot be ironed the day they are washed, they should not be allowed to lie over night in a wet condition, but should first be thoroughly dried and then slightly dampened just before iron ing by rolling them in a damp cloth and allowing them to stand for fif teen or twenty minutes.
Press colored goods on the wrong side, especially the collars and cuffs. Iron on the right side no more than is absolutely necessary to take out the wrinkles.
To Iron Black Sateen and Farmer's Satin.—Use no starch. Iron on the wrong side.
To Iron Fancy Work.—Press rib bons, lace, and embroidery on the wrong side, and iron delicate articles through a piece of linen. For colored silks and ribbons, allow the iron to cool slightly as with any other col ored goods.
To Iron Linen.—The appearance of linen will be improved if it is ironed the same day it is washed and with out hanging out to dry. Rinse thor oughly, wring dry, and roll the linen articles in a dry sheet. Let them lie
for a time and iron dry with a hot iron. This saves the wear on fine linen of whipping on a clothesline, and gives an additional stiffness and luster, es pecially to cheap linens and well-worn articles.
To Do Up Handkerchiefs.—To save ironing, spread the handkerchief wet from rinsing water on a clean pane of glass or mirror. When dry, fold and lay away. Guests at summer hotels and persons who are boarding will find this plan very convenient. It is especially desirable for fine linen and delicate lace handkerchiefs, to save the wear and tear of the laun dry.
Ironing Hints.— Table linen and handkerchiefs frequently show wear where the customary folds have been ironed in. To save wear press the arti cle all over until perfectly dry, without folding. Then fold and press the folds lightly with a hot iron. The appear ance will be the same as if the folds had been ironed separately, but the articles will wear longer.
Large tablecloths that are awkward to manage without folding may be rolled upon curtain poles as fast as they are ironed. When the entire cloth has been ironed it may be unrolled and folded with a light pressure.
The clothes wringer will smooth sheets, towels, pillowcases, and the like sufficiently without ironing, and upon occasion these articles may be folded and put away rough dry. Give handkerchiefs one fold less than is customary, leaving them oblong in stead of square. The economy of time is small, but the handkerchiefs lie more conveniently in the drawer.
To Iron Embroidery.—Embroidered articles, as doilies, shirt waists, and the like, Hamburg trimmings, and other goods of similar texture may be ironed over a Turkish towel. This method raises the pattern clearly and beautifully. It may also be used for napkins, handkerchiefs, and table cloths. The towel yields slightly, less ening the labor of ironing, and the process adds to the appearance of the article.
To Take Down Clothes.—Use care in wringing clothes and hanging them on the line. Lift tablecloths and sim ilar large pieces by the middle from the last rinsing water, so as to straight en out the selvage edge, and wring by hand. Hang these carefully on the line so that they will dry straight and not draw on the bias. In hanging clothes, straighten the collars, raise the bands, and open the sleeves. Fold carefully when taken from the line, or, if too cold to fold outdoors, do so as soon as they are brought into the house and before the wrinkles caused by packing them in the basket have become set. In warm weather spread sheets, towels, and the like upon the tall grass. They will need very little pressing, and will be bleached by the sun.