Page 7 from Modern Woman Magazine (Volume 17, Number 1, 1948)
How to wash PROBLEM FABRICS
WHILE NOT EVEN the most amateurish cook would attempt to bake biscuits without first consulting a recipe, many women face Monday after Monday without the slightest idea of the “recipe” for a successful washing. The rules of washing are just as important and inexorable as the rules of cooking and must be followed carefully if you are to obtain perfect results. It is impossible to give any one washing rule that would be equally applicable to all fabrics, but a few general rules do apply to all types of fine wash-ables.
All fine fabrics should be washed in mild, lukewarm suds, with a gentle, quick motion. Never allow a garment to soak more than three minutes, and if it should happen to be printed or highly colored, the quicker you wash it the better. Be sure to rinse thoroughly, squeezing the water out gently. Beware of ringing or twisting any fine fabric. Hang the garment up in such a manner as to preserve the style lines. Here are a few helpful tips to guide you in laundering specific fabrics requiring special care.
HIGHLY COLORED PRINTS— Prints of this type may “bleed” or show a flush of color in the wash water. All bright prints should be washed quickly, and pressed when almost dry.
JERSEY FABRICS AND JERSEY-TYPE WEAVES— The secret of laundering this type of fabric is to press when almost dry, first heavily lengthwise, then heavily crosswise, with firm, even strokes. This restores the fabric and garment to original size.
CHINTZES AND GLAZED FABRICS—These wash perfectly, but never crumple, wring, or twist any glazed fabric. Wash by the dip-and-drip method of dipping up and down in suds, and rinsing the same way. Pat out moisture between two turkish towels and iron on the right side when almost dry.
RAYON CREPES — Generally speaking, no plain colored rayon or acetate crepe presents any unusual washing problems, and can be washed if the style. lines of the garment permit. However, because of their crepey construction, crepes must be eased back to original size and shape with a warm, not hot, iron.
TAFFETAS, ORGANDIES AND NYLONS—Should be washed by the dip-and-drip method, using cool water throughout. Hang dripping wet and press taf-fetas when almost dry, on wrong side only. Organdies should be pressed at once, and nylons pressed not at all. When in doubt, always determine the exact nature of the fabric, or test a small piece of material for washing behavior before attempting to launder it.
IMAGE – LEFT, when washing rayons, as all fine fabrics, squeeze the suds through the fabric gently. Always use a gentle soap and plenty of rich, lukewarm suds, and rinse thoroughly.
IMAGE – BELOW, to avoid color-bleeding, place bright colored prints in a towel and gently pat out excess moisture. All prints should be washed quickly.
