It is very important, in washing flannels to prevent shrinkage. The articles should be washed and rinsed in water of the same temperature, and not allowed to cool between. Do not rub soap on the goods. Use a strong suds, about as hot as the hands can bear; rub through two soapy waters; wring out and rinse in plenty of warm, clean water; then in another water of same temperature, blued a little. Wring, shake well, and hang up, but not in a freezing air; better dry them in the house, unless a warm sun is shining. Flannels should dry quickly.

Colored flannels should not be washed in the water after white clothes, or when dry they will be found covered with lint; they had better be washed in a separate water. Blue flannel requires bran water without soap. When rinsing, throw a handful of salt in the water to preserve the color. Flannels that have become yellow from bad washing, may be whitened by soaking them in a lather made of a quarter pound of soft soap, two tablespoonfuls of powdered borax, and the same quantity of carbonate of ammonia, dissolved in five or six gallons of water.