The first thing to consider in washing flannels so that they retain
their size, is that the articles be washed and rinsed in water of
the same temperature, that is, about as warm as the hands can bear,
and not allowed to cool between. The water should be a strong suds.
Bub through two soapy waters; wring them out, and put into plenty of
clear, clean, warm water to rinse. Then into another of the same
temperature, blued a little. Wring, shake them well and hang up. Do
not take out of this warm water and hang out in a freezing air, as
that certainly tends to shrink them. It is better to dry them in the
house, unless the sun shines. They should dry quickly. Colored
flannels should never be washed in the same water after white clothes,
or they will be covered, when dry, with lint; better be washed in a
water for themselves. In washing worsteds, such as merino dress goods,
pursue the same course, only do not wring them hard; shake, hang them
up and let drain. While a little damp, bring in and press smoothly on
the wrong side with as hot an iron as can be used without scorching
the goods.
Flannels that have become yellow from being badly washed, may be
nicely whitened by soaking them two or three hours in a lather made of
one-quarter of a pound of soft soap, two tablespoonfuls of powdered
borax and two tablespoonfuls of carbonate of ammonia, dissolved in
five or six gallons of water.