CARING FOR LACE CURTAINS.
By M. A. T.
SOILED lace curtains do not need to go into the washtub if the dirt on them is only the accumulation of every-day dust, and they can be cleaned and freshened by putting them thru a gasoline bath. When the curtains are removed from the poles, they should be taken out-of-doors and shaken until no more dust will shake off, then they are put in a bucket or small tub, and enough gasoline poured over them to saturate them thoroly, and the only safe place to use gasoline for cleaning is out-of-doors. Let the curtains remain in the gasoline for two hours, then squeeze and press the fluid out and hang them over the line, and they will need no ironing if they are stretched and pulled into perfect shape. Some lace and muslin curtains that are in constant use are kept fresh and dainty-looking without hard rubbing by putting them to soak over night in a light pearline suds to which a small cup of kerosene oil has been added, and then washing them thru a stronger suds. Then they are carefully rinsed, first in warm and then in cold water. If the threads are broken in cleaning the curtains, the best way to mend the torn place is to dip a piece of lace net in thin starch, and press it with a warm iron over the broken spot which should be partly closed by being drawn together with very fine thread. Curtains should be taken down and laundered as soon as they show soil, for there is nothing that gives such an air of cleanliness to a room as clean, fresh curtains and shining windows. M. A. T.