The top of the press-jack is left perfectly plain and smooth; the bottom, however, is padded for convenience for pressing with ten-ply of wadding, cut the same shape of board or bottom of press-jack. Over this place a piece of white heavy drilling, drawn tight over the wadding to keep in place and tacked all around the edges with brass head tacks. Cut cotton off evenly around the edges beyond the tacks. This completes the press-jack and is ready for use.
The press-jack as tailors term it, is used for the pressing of clothes, and is also useful to lay clothes on while cleaning.
THE BRUSH.
A brush with a plain back and handle. (Never use a whisk broom to brush clothes as it injures the fibre of the cloth.)
The brush is used to brush garments thoroughly before cleaning and is used in connection with the pressing of garments, to slap with the back the part pressed, thereby keeping the steam in, and making the cloth sweat. The face to brush the nap of cloth, thereby refreshing the garment, making it look like new.
THE SPONGE CLOTH.
A sponge cloth is made of heavy unbleached cotton, one yard and a half long, boiled in soap and water for one hour, then rinse in clean water, thus removing the lint.
The sponge cloth should be dipped in warm water, and wrung out almost dry by hand, (or one may use a clothes wringer if preferred) thereby keeping it clean and free from grease and dirt that may stick to it from time to time.
The sponge cloth is used to lay over the "woolen press cloth" that has been placed over that part of the garment to be pressed, also it is the cloth which is to be dampened and when iron is applied causes steam to be forced into the garment thereby instilling new life into the cloth as it were.