TO RESTORE THE FRESHNESS OF WORN CLOTHING.
THE mystery to many people how the scourers of old clothes can make them almost as good as new is explained in the American Analyst as follows:— “Take, for instance, a shiny old coat, vest, or pair of pants of broadcloth, cassimere, or diagonal. The scourer makes a strong, warm soapsuds, and plunges the garment into it, souses it up and down, rubs the dirty places, if necessary puts it through a second suds, then rinses it through several waters, and hangs it to dry on the line. When nearly dry, he takes it in, rolls it up for an hour or two, and then presses it. An old cotton cloth is laid on the outside of the coat, and the iron passed over that until the wrinkles are out; but the iron is removed before the steam ceases to rise from the goods, else they would be shiny. Wrinkles that are obstinate are removed by laying a wet cloth over them, and passing the iron over that. If any shiny places are seen, they are treated as the wrinkles are; the iron is lifted, while the full cloud of steam rises, and brings the nap up with it. Cloth should always have a suds made especially for it, as that which has been used for white cotton or woolen clothes will leave lint in the water, and it will cling to the cloth. In the same manner we have known the same coat and pantaloons to be renewed time and again, and have all the look and feel of new garments. Good broadcloth and its fellow cloths will bear many washings, and look better every time because of it.”—Scientific American.