90 90 LET THE TICKING CLOCK GUIDE THE BOILING CROCK. oxalic acid and water, rubbing the part by means of a cork, till the colour is restored; observing afterwards to wash the wood well with water, and to dry and polish as usual. 378. To take Ink-Stains out of Mahogany.-Put a few drops of spirits of nitre in a teaspoonful of water, touch the spot with a feather dipped in the mixture, and on the ink disappearing, rub it over immediately with a rag wetted in cold water, or there will be a white mark, which will not be easily effaced. 379. To remove Ink-Stains from Silver.-The tops and other portions of silver inkstands frequently become deeply discoloured with ink, which is difficult to remove by ordinary means. It may, however, be completely eradicated by making a little chloride of lime into a paste with water, and rubbing it upon the stains. Chloride of lime has been misnamed "The general bleacher," but it is a foul enemy to all metallic surfaces. 380. To take Ink-Stains out of a Coloured Table-Cover.Dissolve a teaspoonful of oxalic acid in a teacup of hot water; rub the stained part well with the solution. 381. To take Ink out of Boards. Strong muriatic acid, or spirits of salts, applied with a piece of cloth; afterwards well washed with water. 382. Oil Grease may be removed from a hearth by covering it immediately with thick hot ashes, or with burning coals. 383. Marble may be Cleaned by mixing up a quantity of the strongest soap-lees with quicklime, to the consistence of milk, and laying it on the marble for twenty-four hours; clean it afterwards with soap and water. 384. Silver and Plated Ware should be washed with a sponge and warm soapsuds every day after using, and wiped dry with a clean soft towel. 385. Bronzed Chandeliers, Lamps, &c., should be merely dusted with a feather-brush, or with a soft cloth, as washing them will take off the bronzing. 386. To clean Brass Ornaments.- Wash the brasswork with roche alum boiled to a strong ley, in the proportion of an ounce to a pint. When dry, it must be rubbed with fine tripoli. 387. For Cleaning Brasses belonging to mahogany furniture, either powdered whiting or scraped rottenstone, mixed with sweet oil and rubbed on with a buckskin, is good. 388. Brasses, Britannia Metal, Tins, Coppers, &c., are cleaned with a mixture of rotten-stone, soft soap, and oil of turpentine, mixed to the consistency of stiff putty. The stone should be powdered very fine and sifted; and a quantity of the mixture may be made sufficient to last for a long while. The articles should first be washed with hot water, to remove grease; then a little of the above mixture, mixed with water, should be rubbed over the metal; then rub off briskly with dry, clean rag or leather, and a beautiful polish will be obtained. 389. To preserve Steel Goods from Rust.-After bright grates have been thoroughly cleaned, they should be dusted over with unslacked lime, and thus left until wanted. The coils of piano wires, thus sprinkled, will keep from rust for many years. Tableknives which are not in constant use ought to be put in a case in which sifted quicklime is placed, about eight inches deep. They should be plunged to the top of the blades, but the lime should not touch the handles. 390. Iron and Steel Goods from Rust.-Dissolve half an ounce of camphor in one pound of hog's lard; take off the scum: mix as much black lead as will give the mixture an iron colour. Iron and steel goods, rubbed over with this mixture, and left with it on twenty-four hours, and then dried with a linen cloth, will keep clean for months. Valuable articles of cutlery should be wrapped in ZINC FOIL, or be kept in boxes lined with zinc. This is at once an easy and most effective method. DINNER TO A MINUTE, AND ALL READY TO BEGIN IT. 91 391. Iron Wipers. Old soft also be observed that some species towels, or pieces of old sheets or tablecloths, make excellent iron wipers. 392. To Clean LookingGlasses. First wash the glass all over with lukewarm soapsuds and a sponge. When dry, rub it bright with a buckskin and a little prepared chalk finely powdered. require more care and attention than others, as every person must have observed that china-ware in common use frequently loses some of its colours. 396. THE RED, especially of vermillion, is the first to go, because that colour, together with some others, is laid on by the Chinese after burning. 397. THE MODERN CHINESE PORCELAIN is not, indeed, so susceptible of this rubbing or wearing off, as vegetable reds are now used by them instead of the mineral colour. 398. MUCH OF THE RED now used in China is actually produced by the anotto extracted from the cuttings of scarlet cloth, which have long formed an article of exportation to Canton. attention may not be misplaced, even on that point; for though ornamental china or glass-ware is not exposed to the action of hot water in common domestic use, yet it may be injudiciously immersed therein for the purpose of cleaning; and as articles intended solely for ornament are not so highly annealed as others, it will be proper never to apply water beyond a tepid temperature. 393. To Clean Mirrors, &c.If they should be hung so high that they cannot be conveniently reached, have a pair of steps to stand upon; but mind that they stand steady. Then take a piece of soft sponge, well washed, and cleaned from everything gritty, just dip it into water and squeeze it out again, and then dip it into some spirit of wine. Rub it over the glass; dust it over with some powder blue or whiting 399. IT OUGHT to be taken for sifted through muslin; rub it lightly granted that all china or glass-ware and quickly off again with a cloth; is well tempered: yet a little careful then take a clean cloth, and rub it well again, and finish by rubbing it with a silk handkerchief. If the glass be very large, clean one-half at a time, as otherwise the spirit of wine will dry before it can be rubbed off. If the frames are aot varnished, the greatest care is necessary to keep them quite dry, so as not to touch them with the sponge, as this will discolour or take off the gilding. To clean the frames, take a little raw cotton in the state of wool, and rub 400. AN INGENIOUS and simple mode the frames with it; this will take off all of annealing glass has been some time the dust and dirt without injuring the in use by chemists. It consists in gilding. If the frames are well var- immersing the vessel in cold water, nished, rub them with spirit of wine, gradually heated to the boiling point, which will take out all spots, and give and suffered to remain till cold, when them a fine polish. Varnished doors it will be fit for use. Should the glass may be done in the same manner. be exposed to a higher temperature Never use any cloth to frames or draw-than that of boiling water, it will be ings, or unvarnished oil paintings, when necessary to immerse it in oil. cleaning and dusting them. 401. To take Marking-Ink 394. China and Glass-Ware. out of Linen.-Use a saturated solu-The best material for cleansing tion of cyanuret of potassium applied either porcelain or glass-ware, is with a camel-hair brush. After the fuller's earth: but it must be beaten marking ink disappears, the linen should into a fine powder, and carefully be well washed in cold water. cleared from all rough or hard particles, 402. To take Stains of Wine which might endanger the polish of the out of Linen. Hold the articles in milk while it is boiling on the fire, and the stains will soon disappear. brilliant surface. 92 A BLUNT KNIFE SHOWS A DULL WIFE. 403. Fruit Stains in Linen.To remove them, rub the part on each side with yellow soap, then tie up a piece of pearlash in the cloth, &c., and soak well in hot water, or boil: afterwards expose the stained part to the sun and air until removed. 404. Mildewed Linen may be restored by soaping the spots while wet, covering them with fine chalk scraped to powder, and rubbing it well in. 405. To keep Moths, Beetles, &c., from Clothes.-Put a piece of camphor in a linen bag, or some aromatic herbs, in the drawers, among linen or woollen clothes, and neither moth nor worm will come near them. 406. Clothes Closets that have become infested with moths should be well rubbed with a strong decoction of tobacco, and repeatedly sprinkled with spirits of camphor. 407. Iron Stains may be removed from marble by wetting the spots with oil of vitriol, or with lemon-juice, or with oxalic acid diluted in spirit of wine, and, after a quarter of an hour, rubbing them dry with a soft linen cloth. 408. To remove Stains from Floors. For removing spots of grease from boards, take equal parts of fuller's earth and pearlash, a quarter of a pound of each, and boil in a quart of soft water; and, while hot, lay it on the greased parts, allowing it to remain on them for ten or twelve hours; after which it may be scoured off with sand and water. A floor much spotted with grease should be completely washed over with this mixture the day before it is scoured. Fuller's earth and ox-gall, boiled together, form a very powerful cleansing mixture for floors or carpets. Stains of ink are removed by strong vinegar; or salts of lemon will remove them. 409. Scouring Drops for removing Grease.-There are several preparations of this name; one of the best is made as follows:-Camphine, or spirit of turpentine, three ounces; essence of lemon, one ounce; mix. Cost: camphine, Sd. per pint; essence of lemon, 8d. per ounce. Scouring drops are usually put up in small half-ounce phials for sale; these may be obtained at from 9d. to ls. per dozen. 410. To take Grease out of Velvet or Cloth. Procure some turpentine and pour it over the part that is greasy; rub it till quite dry with a piece of clean flannel; if the grease be not quite removed, repeat the application, and when done, brush the part well, and hang up the garment in the open air to take away the smell. 411. Medicine Stains may be removed from silver spoons by rubbing them with a rag dipped in sulphuric acid, and washing it off with soapsuds. 412. To Extract Grease Spots from Books or Paper. - Gently warm the greased or spotted part of the book or paper, and then press upon it pieces of blotting-paper, one after another, so as to absorb as much of the grease as possible. Have ready some fine clear essential oil of turpentine heated almost to a boiling state, warm the greased leaf a little, and then, with a soft clean brush, apply the heated turpentine to both sides of the spotted part. By repeating this application, the grease will be extracted. Lastly, with another brush dipped in rectified spirit of wine, go over the place, and the grease will no longer appear, neither will the paper be discoloured. 413. Stains and Marks from Books.-A solution of oxalic acid, citric acid, or tartaric acid, is attended with the least risk, and may be applied upon the paper and prints without fear of damage. These acids, taking out writing ink, and not touching the printing, can be used for restoring books where the margins have been written upon, without injuring the text. 414. To take Writing Ink out of Paper.-Solution of muriate of tin, two drachms; water, four drachms. To be applied with a camel-hair brush. A BAD BROOM LEAVES A DIRTY ROOM. After the writing has disappeared, the paper should be passed through water, and dried. 93 420. Do NOT let coffee and tea stand in tin. wooden-ware 421. SCALD your often, and keep your tin-ware dry. 422. PRESERVE the backs of old letters to write upon. 423. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN who are learning to write, buy coarse white paper by the quantity, and keep it locked up, ready to be made into writing-books. This does not cost half so much as it does to buy them at the stationer's. 415. A Hint on Household Management.-Have you ever observed what a dislike servants have to anything cheap? They hate saving their master's money. I tried this experiment with great success the other day. Finding we consumed a vast deal of soap, I sat down in my thinking chair, and took the soap question into consideration, and I found reason to suspect we were using a very expensive 424. SEE THAT NOTHING IS THROWN article, where a much cheaper one would AWAY which might have served to serve the purpose better. I ordered half nourish your own family or a poorer a dozen pounds of both sorts, but took one. the precaution of changing the papers on which the prices were marked before giving them into the hands of Betty. "Well, Betty, which soap do you find washes best ?" "Oh, please sir, the dearest, in the blue paper; it makes a lather as well again as the other." "Well, Betty, you shall always have it then;" and thus the unsuspecting Betty saved me some pounds a year, and washed the clothes better.-Rev. Sidney Smith. 425. AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, have pieces of bread eaten up before they become hard; spread those that are not eaten, and let them dry, to be pounded for puddings, or soaked for brewis. 426. BREWIS is made of crusts and dry pieces of bread, soaked a good while in hot milk, mashed up, and eaten with salt. Above all, do not let crusts accumulate in such quantities that they cannot be used. With proper care, there is no need of losing a particle of bread. 427. ALL THE MENDING in the house should be done once a week if possible. 428. NEVER PUT OUT SEWING. If it be not possible to do it in your own family, hire some one into the house, and work with them. 429. A WARMING-PAN full of coals, or a shovel of coals, held over varnished furniture, will take out white spots. Care should be taken not to hold the clothes near enough to scorch: and the place should be rubbed with a flannel while warm. 430. SAL-VOLATILE or hartshorn will restore colours taken out by acid. It may be dropped upon any garment without doing harm. 431. NEW IRON should be very gradually heated at first. After it has become inured to the heat, it is not so likely to crack. 432. CLEAN A BRASS KETTLE, before using it for cooking, with salt and 94 A HUSBAND'S WRATH SPOILS THE BEST BROTH. vinegar. The oftener carpets are 443. THE SHANKS OF MUTTON make shaken the longer they wear; the dirt that collects under them grinds out the threads. 433. LINEN RAGS should be carefully saved, for they are extremely useful in sickness. If they have become dirty and worn by cleaning silver, &c., wash them and scrape them into lint. 434. IF YOU ARE TROUBLED TO GET SOFT WATER FOR WASHING, fill a tub or barrel half full of wood ashes, and fill it up with water, so that you may have ley whenever you want it. A gallon of strong ley, put into a great kettle of hard water, will make it as soft as rain water. Some people use pearlash, or potash; but this costs something, and is very apt to injure the texture of the cloth. 435. DO NOT LET KNIVES be dropped into hot dish-water. It is a good plan to have a large tin pot to wash them in, just high enough to wash the blades without wetting the handles. 436. IT IS BETTER to accomplish perfectly a very small amount of work, than to half do ten times as much. 437. CHARCOAL POWDER will be found a very good thing to give knives a first-rate polish. 438. A BONNET AND TRIMMINGS may be worn a much longer time, if the dust be brushed well off after walking. 439. MUCH KNOWLEDGE may be obtained by the good housewife observing how things are managed in well-regulated families. 440. APPLES intended for dumplings should not have the core taken out of them, as the pips impart a delicious flavour to the dumpling. 441. A RICE PUDDING is most excellent without either eggs or sugar, if baked gently: it keeps better without a good stock for nearly any kind of gravy, and they are very cheap-a dozen may be had for a penny, enough to make a quart of delicious soup. 444. THICK CURTAINS, closely drawn around the bed, are very injurious, because they not only confine the effluvia thrown off from our bodies whilst in bed, but interrupt the current of pure air. 445. REGULARITY in the payment of accounts is essential to housekeeping. All tradesmen's bills should be paid weekly, for then any errors can be detected whilst the transactions are fresh in the memory. 446. ALLOWING CHILDREN TO TALK incessantly is a mistake. We do not mean to say that they should be restricted from talking in proper seasons, but they should be taught to know when it is proper for them to cease. 447. Blacking for Leather Seats, &c.-Beat well the yolks of two eggs and the white of one; mix a tablespoonful of gin and a teaspoonful of sugar, thicken it with ivory black, add it to the eggs, and use as common blacking; the seats or cushions being left a day or two to harden. This is good for dress boots and shoes. 448. Black Reviver for Black Cloth.-Bruised galls, one pound; logwood, two pounds; green vitriol, half a pound; water, five quarts. Boil for two hours, and strain. Used to restore the colour of black cloth. Cost: galls, 1s. 4d. per pound; logwood, 2d. per pound; green vitriol, Id. per pound. 449. A Green Paint for Garden Stands, &c., may be obtained by mixing a quantity of mineral green and white lead, ground in turpentine, with a small portion of turpentine varnish, for the first coat; for the second, put as much varnish in the colour as will produce a good gloss. 450. Hints for Home Comfort. i. Eat slowly and you will not over eat. |