Put some soft soap into boiling water, and beat it till dissolved in
a strong lather. At a hand heat put in the article. If strong, it may
be rubbed as in washing; rinse it quickly in warm water, and add oil
of vitriol, sufficient to give another water a sourish taste, if for
bright yellows, crimsons, maroons, and scarlets; but for oranges,
fawns, browns, or their shades, use no acid. For bright scarlet use
a solution of tin. Gently squeeze, and then roll it in a coarse
sheet, and wring it. Hang it in a warm room to dry, and finish it by
calendering or mangling.
For pinks, rose colours, and thin shades, &c., instead of oil of
vitriol, or solution of tin, prefer lemon juice, or white tartar, or
vinegar.
For blues, purples, and their shades, add a small quantity of
American pearl-ash; it will restore the colours. Wash the articles
like a linen garment, but instead of wringing, gently squeeze and
sheet them, and when dry, finish them with fine gum water, or
dissolved isinglass, to which add some pearl-ash, rubbed on the wrong
side, then pin them out.
Blues of all shades are dyed with archil, and afterwards dipped
in a vat; twice cleaning with pearl-ash, restores the colour. For
olive greens, a small quantity of verdigris dissolved in water, or
a solution of copper, mixed with the water, will revive the colour
again.