s, and put on to heat. If
they heat slowly, invert a large dish pan over them.

CARE OF IRONS

When not in use, irons can be protected from dampness and resulting
rust by covering with mutton fat or paraffine, rubbed on while slightly
warm. It is easily removed when the irons are wanted for use. Rust
spots can be removed by applying olive oil, leaving for a few days, and
then rubbing over with unslaked lime. Scrub with soap and water,
rinse, dry, rub with beeswax, and wipe off with a clean cloth. The
soap and water treatment, followed by a vigorous rubbing on brick-dust,
should be given frequently, irrespective of rust. Irons must neither
be allowed to become red-hot nor to stand on the range between usings,
or roughness will result. When not in use, stand on end on a shelf.
Rubbing first with beeswax and then with a clean cloth will prevent the
irons from sticking to the starched things.

HOW TO IRON

Before beginning to iron have everything in readiness--beeswax, a heavy
paper on which to test the iron, a dish of water, and a soft cloth or a
small sponge for dampening surfaces which have become too dry to iron
well, or which have been poorly ironed and need doing over. Stand the
ironing table in the best light which can be found, with the ironing
stand at the right and the clothes at the left, and work as rapidly as
consistent with good results. There is no royal road to ironing, but
with perseverance and care the home laundress can become quite expert,
even though she cannot hope to compete with the work turned out by
those who do nothing but iron six days in the week. Give the iron a
good, steady pressure, lifting from the board as little as possible,
and then--iron! Take the bed linen first, giving a little extra press
to the hems of the sheets. Many housewives have a theory that unironed
sheets are the more hygienic; that ironing destroys the life and
freshness imparted by the sun and air. Such being the case, the sheets
can be evenly and carefully folded and put through the wringer, which
will give them a certain smoothness. Towels may be treated in the same
way, while flannels, knit wear, and stockings may, if one chooses, be
folded and put away unironed. Table linen must be smoothed over on the
wrong side till partially dry, and then ironed rapidly, with good hot
irons and strong pressure on the right side, lengthwise and parallel
with the selvage, until dry. This brings out the patt