Embroidered and lace-trimmed pieces should be taken from the line while only half dry and immediately ironed, to secure the best result. To raise the embroidery, iron on the wrong side over several layers of flannel covered with a sheet of old linen.
Never iron lace with the point of the iron, if you would have it look like new. Pull and pat it into place, picking out the loops with a hairpin, or with a pointless darning-needle or bodkin. Dampen it with a wet cloth and press with the reverse iron, using its "heel" only.
When ironing circular centerpieces and table-cloths, see that the iron moves with the straight grain of the cloth. If this method is followed, the circular edge will take its true line. Guard against ironing on the bias or on a curve, lest the linen stretch hopelessly out of shape. Never fold a piece of this character after ironing it.
If the management does not provide the housekeeper with rules, she is safe in formulating the following:
1. Maids must report for duty at 7:00 a.m.
2. Maids must lock all doors when leaving rooms.
3. No maid is allowed to transfer chairs or furniture from one room to another by order of the guests, unless they have an order from the office.
4. Maids must report at once any articles which are misplaced or taken from the rooms.
6. Maids must not leave any article of soiled linen lying in the halls.
7. Maids must not leave their brooms, feather dusters, dust-cloths, or sweepers, in the halls at any time during the day.
8. Any article found in the rooms must be brought to the linen-room, with the number of the room and date when found.
9. All keys found left in rooms and doors must be sent to the office.
10. When a tray of dishes is left in a room, the maid must ring for a bell-boy and have him notify the headwaiter or report it to the housekeeper who will telephone the headwaiter.
11. All ink, paper, and pens left in the rooms must be put in the wire ink and stationery-receiver.
12. The watch-girls must report at 6 p.m. and remain until 10 p.m. or later, if required.
13. All torn blankets and spreads must be brought to the linen-room for repairs.
14. Maids must not receive men friends in their rooms.
15. The housekeeper will relieve the linen-woman while she goes to her meals.