Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 54

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.

423. Temperature with China and Gla.s.s.

It ought to be taken for granted that all china or gla.s.s ware is well tempered: yet a little careful attention may not be misplaced, even on that point; for though ornamental china or gla.s.sware 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.

424. Annealing Gla.s.s.

An ingenious and simple mode of annealing gla.s.s has been some time in use by chemists. It consists in immersing the vessel in cold water, gradually heated to the boiling point, and suffered to remain till cold, when it will be fit for use. Should the gla.s.s be exposed to a higher temperature than that of boiling water, it will be necessary to immerse it in oil.

425. To take Marking-Ink out of Linen.

Use a solution of cyanide of pota.s.sium applied with a camel-hair brush. After the marking ink disappears, the linen should be well washed in cold water.

426. To take Stains of Wine out of Linen.

Hold the articles in milk while it is boiling on the fire, and the stains will soon disappear.

427. 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 the stain is removed.

428. Mildewed Linen

may be restored by soaping the spots while wet, covering them with fine chalk sc.r.a.ped to powder, and rubbing it well in.

429. 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 no insects will come near them.

[LOOSE HABITS LEAD TO TIGHT BANDAGES.]

430. Moths.

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.

431. To remove Stains from Floors.

For removing spots of grease from boards, take fuller's earth and pearlash, of each a quarter of a pound, and boil in a quart of soft water. While hot lay the mixture on the greased parts, allowing it to remain on them from 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 the application of strong vinegar, or salts of lemon.

432. 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 and put up in a small phial for use when required.

433. To take Grease out of Velvet or Cloth.

Pour some turpentine 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.

434. Medicine Stains

may be removed from silver spoons by rubbing them with a rag dipped in sulphuric acid, and was.h.i.+ng it off with soapsuds.

435. 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.

436. 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 to paper and prints without fear of damage. These acids, which take out writing ink, and do not touch the printing, can be used for restoring books where the margins have been written upon, without injuring the text.

437. 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. After the writing has disappeared, the paper should be pa.s.sed through water, and dried.

438. 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 article, where a much cheaper one would serve the purpose better. I ordered half a dozen pounds of both sorts, but took 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. Sydney Smith_.

[BOTTLES OF BRANDY ARE FOLLOWED BY BOTTLES OF PHYSIC.]

439. Domestic Rules.

Mrs Hamilton, in her "Cottagers of Glenburnie," gives three simple rules for the regulation of domestic affairs, which deserve to be remembered, and which would, if carried into practice, be the means of saving time, labour, and patience, and of making every house a "well-ordered" one. They are as follows:

i. Do everything in its proper time.

ii. Keep everything to its proper use.

iii. Put everything in its proper place.