TO DRY-CLEAN WOMEN'S GARMENTS To Clean Woolen Dresses. — The most satisfactory method of cleaning waists or skirts of wool, silk, velvet, or anything except cotton goods, is to soak and wash them in gasoline. For this purpose two or three large earthen jars will be found very use ful. It pays to buy the best gasoline, five gallons at a time, and use it plentifully, as the expense is much less than would be the charge of a professional cleaner, or the cost of a new garment.
First, dust the garments and rub soap on soiled or greasy spots. Noth ing need be removed from them ex cept rubber dress shields.
Next, put large pieces, one at a time, in an earthen jar and cover with gasoline, Throw a wet cloth over the jar, and press the lid down tightly. Soak for an hour or more, then rub the article well, sousing it up and down, and transfer it to a second jar containing an equal amount of fresh gasoline. Rinse in this, squeeze out the gasoline, and hang up to dry. A third jar may be used if desired.
Articles washed in this way will re quire to be hung out and aired for two or three days, when the odor will entirely leave them. They should not be pressed until they are thoroughly dry and all the gasoline has evapo rated. The gasoline can be poured back into the cans through cheese cloth and used again, as the dirt set tles to the bottom. This operation must be carried on out of doors, as much of the gasoline will evaporate. If done in the house the odor would be very unpleasant, and, besides, the vapor is explosive and might cause accident. A small bristle brush dipped in the gasoline will be found useful for removing grease spots, scrubbing collars, and the like. If a small quan tity of gasoline be put in a tin can and then surrounded by a vessel of boiling water (but not on the stove), it will do the work quickly and more thoroughly.
Crape, Mourning, and Other Black Goods.—Black dress goods may be washed by observing the same caution as for other colored fabrics, whether cotton, linen, wool, or silk. To re move stains before laundering, apply a solution of 1 part of alcohol and 9 parts of water with a soft cloth, sponge, or soft bristle brush.
To remove paint, apply spirits of turpentine; for grease, apply benzine or gasoline; for mud stains, rub the spot with a piece of raw potato.
To Remove Gloss.—Sponge with a saturated solution of borax and water. Afterwards sponge with clear water.
Or boil half a handful of fig leaves in a quart of water down to a pint. Strain and apply the clear liquor.
Crape Lace. — Dissolve a square inch of sheet glue in a pint of boiling water, add a pint of skim milk, and dip the lace in this while boiling hot.
When cool enough to handle, remove, stretch, and clap the lace between the hands. Pin it to a linen cloth and stretch the cloth tent fashion to dry in the shade.
White Spots.—If white spots or light-colored stains appear on black garments, apply India ink, marking ink, or common ink with a camel's hair brush. Put a piece of blotting paper underneath the stain to absorb the surplus ink.
To Revive Faded Colors. — In 3 quarts of boiling water stir pound of green vitriol, I pound of logwood chips, and I pound of bruised galls. Boil gently for 3 hours and strain through cheese cloth.
Or mix oxgall, 4 ounces; logwood, / ounce; green vitriol, / ounce; iron filings, / ounce; sumac, k ounce, and vinegar, 1 quart.
Or make a simple solution of log wood, boiling 9 ounces of logwood in 1 gallon of water down to 1 quart.
To apply any of the above, dilute with sufficient hot water to cover the articles, and boil for half an hour. If the infusion of logwood is used alone, remove the articles, add an ounce of sulphate of iron, and boil for half an hour. Hang them up without wringing in a shady place until they cease to drip. Then rinse them in cold water, let them dry, and rub gently with a brush moistened with a little olive oil.
To Clean and Scour Woolen Goods. —Remove all dirt and dust by shak ing and brushing the articles. Re move grease spots with turpentine, benzine, or gasoline. Make a strong suds of hard white or curd soap with water, and to each gallon add a table spoonful of oxgall. Apply vigorous ly with a fairly stiff nailbrush. Rinse by sponging with warm water con taining salt, and dry by rubbing with a piece of clean flannel.
Or, for garments which will not lose their shape, rinse in clear cold water and hang up to dry.
Sponging with stale lager beer will give some stiffness and gloss to the surface.
Or go over the surface with a brush slightly moistened with olive oil.
To Dry-clean Woolen Cloth.—Re move all spots and stains, and cover the garment with clean, damp sand, with which may be mixed a quantity of French chalk. Rub over the sur face of the sand with the hands to work it into the texture of the fabric, and allow the garment to dry. Af terwards brush off the sand.
To Clean Scarlet Cloth.—Wash in bran water, and rinse in clear water containing a tablespoonful of solution of tin to each gallon.
Or add a small quantity of scarlet dye to the last rinsing water.
To Clean Light-colored Worsteds. —For delicate light-brown or buff colors apply pipe clay mixed with water to the consistency of milk. Cover the surface with this by means of a sponge or brush. Brush off when dry.