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Ironing Day: Silks

TO DO UP SILKS, RIBBONS, AND WOOLENS To Iron Silks. - Lift silks from the rinsing water, shake and snap them to remove as much water as possible without squeezing or wringing, and smooth them out on pieces of old cotton cloth or towels. Roll them up in these and iron as soon as possible without drying. Smooth pieces out while wet on the ironing board, lay over them a piece of thin white muslin, and iron on the wrong side with a moderate iron to prevent smutting.

Now remove the cloth, iron perfectly dry on the wrong side, and smooth slightly, if desired, on the face with a warm, not hot, iron. The whole process of washing and ironing should be done as quickly as possible after the silk is wet, as the colors may be affected by lying in that condition.

To Iron Colored Silks. Like other colored goods silk should not be allowed to dry, but should be ironed while still damp with a warm, not hot, iron. Place between two cloths and iron on the wrong side.

To Do Up Ribbons. - Wash same as other colored silks, and if stiffness is required, rinse in weak soapsuds containing a small amount of gum arabic. Now roll the ribbon about a glass bottle, or wind about a small rollingpin, smoothing carefully, and dry in the shade.

Or smooth them out, face down, upon a piece of varnished wood. When dry they will require no ironing.

To Remove Wrinkles from Silk.- Wrinkled or creased ribbons and silks may be restored by laying them on a smooth surface and sponging them IRONING DAY evenly with a sponge moistened in a weak solution of gum arabic. Smooth out while wet on a polished flat surface of wood, or roll about a rollingpin and dry in the shade. Iron between two pieces of cloth, pressing on the wrong side with a warm, not hot, iron.

To Store Away Silks.-Do not wrap silks in white paper. The chloride of lime used to bleach the paper will attack the colors of the silk. To Iron Flannel and Woolen Goods. -Iron flannels and woolens the same day they are washed, if possible, and before they become quite dry. Take from the line when still damp, roll up in a dry cloth, and press on the wrong side with an iron not too hot. If they become dry they should be dampened slightly by rolling up in a damp cloth to await their turn.

To Iron Blankets. - Iron blankets before they are quite dry, and air thoroughly before storing away.