Easy Ironing

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 27, 1916

‘WHEN ironing, one of the most annoying hindrances is that caused by rough, sticky irons; and they seem inclined to come to that condition with very little provocation.

When the irons are warm, but not fully heated for ironing, wash them thoroughly. Put a double handful of salt, the coarser the better, on a clean board, and rub each iron vigorously back and forth on the salt. This gives a fine polish, and the irons will work smoothly. Clean the edges of the rim also.

If starch should happen to stick and smear the iron, rub the iron over the salt again, and it will quickly become clean and smooth as before. Fine sand, or sandpaper, might answer the purpose; but salt is better, and it is always at hand.

A little paraffin added to boiling starch will help to keep it from sticking to the irons; a bit of white soap and butter dissolved in it will serve the same purpose. If cold starch is used, add to one quart of it a half-teaspoonful of powdered borax, and it will make no trouble while ironing.

When laundering small starched pieces, time and trouble may be saved by ironing each one on a towel. When it becomes necessary to turn the article about, shift the towel and the article together. In this way may be avoided the necessity for pulling the piece from the board to turn it, only to have it stick fast again; and the work will advance more rapidly, especially when there are many pieces of this sort to be ironed.—Selected.