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Washing Summer Suits, etc

Summer suits are nearly all made of white or buff linen, pique, cambric or muslin. Whatever the material, common washerwomen spoil everything with soda, and nothing is more frequent than to see the delicate tints of linens and percales turned into dark blotches and muddy streaks by the ignorance.. and vandalism of a laundress. It is worth while for ladies to pay attention to this, and insist upon having their summer dresses washed according to the directions which they should be prepared to give their laundresses themselves. In the first place the water should be tepid, the soap should not be allowed to touch the fabric; it should ; it should be washed and rinsed quickly, turned upon the wrong side, and hung in the shade to dry, and when starched (in thin boiled but not boiling starch) should be folded in sheets or towels, and ironed upon the wrong side as soon as possible. But linen . But linen should be washed in water in which hay or a quart bag of bran has been boiled.

This last will be found to answer for starch as well, and is excellent for print dresses of all kinds; but a handful of salt is very useful to set the color of light cambrics and dotted lawns; and a little ox gall will not only set but brighten yellow and purple tints, and has a good effect upon green.-ADELE.