tablespoonfuls of powdered borax into a paper bag and shake the feathers
in this till clean, then remove and shake. This also cleans laces, etc.
Feathers are also cleaned by dipping in gasoline, rubbing the feathers
toward the tip, then shaking dry. This does not take out the curl. Never
use gasoline indoors.
TO CLEAN WHITE FEATHERS
Make a paste of flour and gasoline. Put the feather in it and rub
carefully the entire length, toward the tip. Repeat till clean. Rinse in
clear gasoline and shake dry.
TO CLEAN RIBBONS
“Wash ribbons” washed in warm soapy water, squeezed as dry as possible,
smoothed, placed on an ironing board and held down with a warm flat iron
in one hand while the other hand pulls the ribbon quickly under the iron
till it is dry, will be like new.
This is good for cleaning ribbons. Dip in lukewarm water, spread on a
table and scrub with a brush rubbed in Ivory soap. Rinse in clean warm
water and press between folds of thin cloth.
TO WASH DELICATE RIBBONS
Immerse in salt and water, and dissolve shavings of Ivory soap in
boiling water till like jelly when cooled slightly. To a little of this
jelly, add warm water to form a good suds, add a pinch of borax, put the
ribbon in and squeeze back and forth through the hands till clean. Then
rinse in warm, then in cold water, roll smoothly in a towel and in about
two hours, press between paper.
Gasoline is fine for cleaning ribbons. Do not use gasoline indoors.
Ribbons and silk may be scrubbed with Ivory soap and gasoline, rinsing
in clean gasoline.
TO STIFFEN RIBBONS
Put a teaspoonful of sugar in a cupful of water and rinse ribbons, and
when pressed between paper, they are like new.
TO CLEAN WHITE WINGS
Make a paste of naphtha and French chalk, letting it dry on the wings
and remain for a day, then brush.
Ordinary white wings may be scrubbed with a small scrubbing brush and
Ivory soap suds. Scrub in the direction the wings grow, rinse well and
while drying, brush frequently.
TO CURL OSTRICH FEATHERS
Sprinkle salt over hot coals, and shake the feathers over them.
Or place the plume in a warm oven for a few minutes.
TO COLOR FLOWERS
Squeeze a little oil paint of the desired color into a cup. Pour in a
little gasoline, and mix it with a stiff brush (about one-half inch in
width) with the paint. Add gasoline a little at a time till the right
shade is reached. Try a leaf in it, dipping in, then shaking dry. Drying
makes the color several shades lighter. Ribbons, laces, gloves, etc.,
may be tinted in this manner.
TO PREVENT SILK FROM CRACKING
Press with a hot iron.
TO CLEAN BLACK SILK
Brush black taffeta with a piece of velveteen, pin it smoothly to the
ironing board and sponge with one tablespoonful of ammonia in two quarts
of strong black coffee. Sponge both sides and rub dry with a clean soft
cloth. An old soft stocking makes a good sponging cloth. Equal parts of
ox gall and boiling water are also good for sponging black silk.
Another sponging liquid is one teaspoonful of ammonia in a cupful of
strong tea.
TO REMOVE BEESWAX FROM SILK
Put the spotted places between clean white blotting paper, and press
with a quite warm iron, changing the blotters as the wax is absorbed.
Grease spots are often removed in the same manner.
TO WASH PONGEE SILK
Wash in lukewarm Ivory soap suds, rinse in warm water, hang on the line
and let drip dry, and press on the wrong side without dampening. Pongee
sometimes shrinks when wet.
TO FRESHEN VELVET
Spread a cloth wrung from cold water on top of a not too hot range, or
over an inverted flat iron, spread the velvet over it and brush lightly
with a whisk broom. Velvet can be made to look like new.
TO CLEAN WHITE SATIN
To dry clean white satin, use dried bread crumbs finely sifted, mixed
with an equal quantity of pulverized blue. Spread over the satin, let
remain an hour or two, and brush off with a piece of soft clean linen.
If gold or silver trimmings are on the satin, use a piece of clean white
velveteen for brushing.
TO WASH WHITE SATIN
Use Ivory soap suds in lukewarm water, rinse in lukewarm water, and
press on the wrong side.
Silks, satins and velvets may often be cleaned by using gasoline and
corn meal, cleaning a small space at a time and rubbing with a soft
clean cloth. By adding little salt, the gasoline will never leave a mark
around edges.
TO CLEAN SILK GOWNS
Grate a large raw potato to each quart of soft water necessary to wash
the dress. Cover the potatoes well with cold water, let stand two days
without moving, pour off the clear water carefully into the tub or large
pail in which the dress is to be washed, and dip the pieces up and down
till clean. Do not wring, but hang out to drip nearly dry, when the
pieces should be laid flat and wiped on both sides, and pressed between
soft cloths or paper.
TO WASH LACES
Fine laces, handkerchiefs, doilies or trimmings, may be made like new by
soaking them in lukewarm Ivory soap suds for a couple of hours, changing
the water and repeating till clean. Squeeze them very gently, rinse in
several warm waters and while quite wet (do not squeeze), pat them
carefully in shape on a flat smooth surface to dry. Place them right
side up and they will look exactly like new, and it is very easy to
spread each tiny figure into shape when it is quite wet. A large piece
of marble or glass, the bottom of a large platter, or the bottom of a
flat porcelain bath tub is good to dry them on. Thin laces may be dried
on the window pane, but heavier lace will not stay on the glass. Lace
yokes are beautifully done in this manner.
TO DRY CLEAN LACES
Rub block magnesia or corn starch carefully into the lace, roll or fold
and lay away for several days, when the powder may be shaken out. If not
perfectly clean, repeat. Flat pieces of lace may be laid over a piece of
white paper that is covered with block magnesia, the lace itself also
well covered, another sheet of white paper laid on the lace and a heavy
flat weight, like a large book, placed on top and left to press the lace
for several days. Shake, or brush carefully with a soft brush.
TO CLEAN LACE YOKES
Sprinkle boric acid on a lace yoke, lay away for a couple of days, shake
well, and the yoke will be clean without removing it from the waist.
TO CLEAN LACE WAISTS
Put a delicate lace waist into a two quart glass jar filled with
gasoline with the top tightly screwed on, and let stand over night. Next
morning pour out a little of the gasoline, shake the jar thoroughly,
remove the waist, and shake carefully dry. If the gasoline is much
soiled, rinse in clean gasoline. And do not use gasoline indoors.
TO DRY CLEAN LACE WAISTS
Put a lace waist in a pillow case, cover thickly with corn meal and
flour mixed, leave for several days, take out of doors and shake well
but carefully in the bag. Then remove and shake free from the flour and
corn meal.
TO WASH LACE WAISTS
Shake the dust from a washable lace waist, immerse it in clean warm
water, with a tablespoonful of ammonia stirred in, then lay it in a wash
bowl, cover it with strong Ivory soap suds and set in the sun for three
hours. Do not rub, but dip up and down, rinse well in several warm
waters, starch if desired, and press on the wrong side, on a padded
ironing board.
TO COLOR LACES
Proceed in same manner as To Color Flowers.
TO CLEAN VEILS
Put the veil into a glass fruit jar, filled with wood alcohol, screw the
top tightly on, and leave for about ten minutes. Then pour out a little
of the alcohol, replace the top and shake the jar thoroughly. Squeeze
the veil carefully, and shake partly dry (out of doors), then pin over a
sheet on a bed or table, to dry in shape. Do not use alcohol near fire.
TO WASH VEILS
Dip the veil into a warm suds of Ivory soap, squeeze it carefully till
clean, rinse in several warm waters, and pin on a sheet on a bed or
table till partly dry, then press under a cloth with a warm iron.
TO FRESHEN BLACK VEILS
Stir a dessertspoonful of ammonia into a quart fruit jar nearly filled
with alcohol, put a black veil in, cover tightly, and shake thoroughly.
Remove from the jar, squeeze carefully, shake till nearly dry, pin on a
sheet on a bed or table, and leave till perfectly dry.
TO FRESHEN BLACK LACE
Spread the lace on a flat surface, brush carefully with a soft brush,
and shake out the dust. Mix in a saucepan one dessertspoonful of dry
tea, one pint of boiling water and one teaspoonful of gum arabic. Simmer
slowly, stirring till the gum is dissolved. Strain into a dish and soak
the lace in it for thirty minutes. If the lace is silk, add a
teaspoonful of alcohol to the solution. After soaking, squeeze the lace
carefully, then put it in folds of cloth and squeeze. Then smooth it in
shape, roll carefully in a dry cloth, let remain an hour and press over
paper on a padded ironing board, with a paper on top of the lace which
must be pressed on the wrong side.
TO STIFFEN LACE
Put a pinch of sugar in the last rinsing water.
TO CLEAN A BLACK WOOL GOWN
Sponge with ammonia and warm water, a tablespoonful of ammonia to a
quart of water. Rub powdered French chalk into the spots, leave for half
a day, cover the chalk with clean white blotting paper and set a warm
iron on it. Then sponge again with ammonia and water, and press
carefully under a cloth, on the wrong side where possible.
TO WASH A BLACK WOOL GOWN
Boil one ounce of soap bark solution in one quart of water. When
thoroughly steeped, strain, and add to two gallons of hot water. Put the
dress in this and dip up and down till clean. Rinse in warm water,
squeeze carefully, shake out doors and let drip partially dry. Shake
again, hang up again and when nearly dry, press carefully on the wrong
side.
TO CLEAN COVERT CLOTH
Mix six ounces of water, one ounce of sulphuric ether and one ounce of
ammonia. Sponge covert cloth with the mixture, then sponge with warm
water, cover with a damp cloth and press dry, pressing on the wrong side
where possible.
TO CLEAN SPOTS FROM CASHMERE
Make a paste of Fuller’s earth and cold water, and put on the spots and
leave for several hours, then brush.
TO CLEAN MACINTOSH COATS
Dissolve a handful of the best gray lime in half a pail of water, and
apply to the coat, with a sponge. Repeat, after three hours.
TO REMOVE GLOSS FROM CLOTHING
Rub carefully with fine emery cloth. After using emery cloth on very
smooth surfaces, rub carefully the way of the nap with a warm silk
handkerchief.
Sponging with hot vinegar is good for removing shine from woolen
garments.
Black wool may be sponged with borax and water, then with clear water,
to remove gloss.
TO DRY CLEAN WHITE CLOTH
Rub pipe clay into the soiled places, leave for a few hours, or a day or
two, then brush off the pipe clay with a small scrubbing brush kept for
the purpose.
TO CLEAN WHITE FUR CLOTH
Brush the cloth the way of the nap, shake, dip a clean sponge in alcohol
and wash thoroughly in the direction the nap goes. Have mixed one part
powdered borax and three parts powdered starch, and sprinkle on while
the cloth is wet, all it will hold. Leave in a clean place for three
days, then brush out all the starch.
TO WASH WHITE SWEATERS AND SHAWLS
Use a tablespoonful of Pearline to each pailful of warm water. Cover the
garment with this, press down with the hands to squeeze out the dirty
water. Let soak thirty minutes, pour off the water and repeat till
clean. Rinse in several clean warm waters, but do not lift from the tub
or bucket the garment is washed in. Take out of doors, pour off all the
water possible. Squeeze the garment into a bunch in the two hands and
dump quickly on a dry sheet on the grass in the hot sun. Spread the
garment in shape and let dry. It will be perfect. If the sun is not hot
enough to dry it on the grass, the garment may be spread on a sheet
stretched on quilting or curtain frames across boxes or chairs.
REMOVING STAINS
TO REMOVE BLOOD STAINS FROM COTTON
To remove blood stains from cotton, wet the spots with cold water,
sprinkle with salt and rub lightly.
Or soak the material in salt and water, afterwards washing in soap and
water.
A spot on a starched garment may be removed by applying a thick paste of
corn starch and cold water.
TO REMOVE BLOOD STAINS FROM SILK
Use strong cold borax water.
TO REMOVE CHOCOLATE AND COCOA STAINS
Wash first in cold, then pour boiling water through the stains.
TO REMOVE COFFEE STAINS
Spread the stained part over a basin, rub in powdered borax and pour
boiling water through, and let soak.
TO REMOVE FRUIT STAINS
Spread the stained part over a basin, and pour boiling water through,
let soak for thirty minutes and launder as usual. Let dry in the sun.
Another method is to moisten the spots with camphor before wetting with
water, then launder as usual.
TO REMOVE GRASS STAINS
Rub the stain with molasses, laundering as usual, afterward. Another way
is to saturate the spot with kerosene, and launder. Alcohol will remove
grass stains in materials that will not launder.
TO REMOVE CANDLE GREASE
Use gasoline on a soft cloth.
TO REMOVE AXLE GREASE
To remove axle grease on washable garments, cover thickly with butter,
let stand a few minutes, wash in gasoline, and then in soap and water.
Grease may be removed from overalls by putting them in cold water, with
plenty of soap, and as soon as the water boils, add about three
tablespoonfuls of kerosene and boil a few minutes. Do not pour kerosene
from a kerosene can near a fire, but pour it from a can into a dipper
away from fire, and then pour from the dipper quickly into the boiler.
Chloroform will remove grease from the most delicate fabrics, but it is
apt to leave a mark and for that reason, ether is more universally used.
French chalk put around the edge of a spot before cleaning with gasoline
on cloth, will prevent a mark from showing.
TO REMOVE INDELIBLE INK OR PENCIL MARKS
Dampen the spot with water, and rub with the head of a common match.
TO REMOVE INK STAINS
Cover the ink stain on any fabric with Hydrogen Peroxide, lay in the sun
and air, and repeat till the stain disappears.
Ink may be removed from wash goods by melting a piece of tallow, putting
the spot in the hot tallow and washing as usual. On colored garments
that will not wash, drop melted tallow and scrape off with a knife. If
the stain does not all come out, put a clean piece of blotting paper
over it, and press with a hot iron.
TO REMOVE INK FROM WOODEN FLOORS
Use lemon juice and salt, without soap.
TO REMOVE RED INK
Use ammonia and water.
TO REMOVE IODINE STAINS
Cover the stain on cloth as soon as possible with a paste of corn starch
and water. Change for fresh paste and repeat till stain disappears.
If the stain is on wood, apply the paste, let stand a few minutes, and
rub with a soft cloth.
TO REMOVE IRON RUST FROM WASH GOODS
Wet the spot with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt, and hold over boiling
water so the steam can go through. If very badly rusted, add three
tablespoonfuls of cream of tartar to three gallons of water, and boil
the stained garments in it for about one hour.
Another way is to boil pie plant in enough water to soak the dress,
remove the pie plant and soak the dress in the water for some time, then
wash as usual.
TO REMOVE LEMON JUICE STAINS
Mix one tablespoonful of ammonia in four tablespoonfuls of water, and
sponge lightly.
TO REMOVE MACHINE OIL
Apply kerosene to the spots, and launder as usual.
Cover an oil spot on silk with block magnesia shaved in fine powder.
Leave on for a time, shake off, and repeat if necessary.
TO REMOVE MILDEW
Cover the mildew on wash goods with molasses, then launder as usual.
Or soak the stains in buttermilk several hours, then wash.
TO REMOVE MILK STAINS
Wash first in cold, then hot water.
Apply absorbent cotton at once when milk is spilled on woolens.
Alcohol will remove milk on colored garments.
TO REMOVE MUD STAINS FROM CLOTH
Use water in which a sliced raw potato has soaked.
TO REMOVE PAINT
Rub turpentine thoroughly into the material. If the paint is very dry,
mix a little ammonia with the turpentine. Keep all cleaning fluids away
from fire.
Ether is also good for removing paint.
TO REMOVE PERSPIRATION STAINS
To remove perspiration stains from white waists, soak the stained part
in baking soda and cold water. Repeat, if necessary, after thirty
minutes.
For silk waists, sponge the spot carefully with a little cold water, and
cover with powdered prepared chalk. When thoroughly dry, brush carefully
with a soft brush.
To remove perspiration stains on white cotton from wearing black silk,
boil the garment in one-half gallon of water containing a handful of
peach leaves.
TO REMOVE SCORCH STAINS
Apply Peroxide of Hydrogen.
TO REMOVE TEA STAINS
Wash in cold, and then pour boiling water through the spot. Soak an
obstinate tea stain in glycerine.
TO REMOVE VARNISH STAINS
Saturate in gasoline, then wash in cold water with naphtha soap.
TO REMOVE VINEGAR STAINS
Mix one tablespoonful of ammonia in four tablespoonfuls of water and
sponge lightly.
TO REMOVE WINE STAINS
Moisten a red wine stain in cold water and keep covered with salt, and
the wet salt will absorb the stain.
Wash yellow wine stains in cold water, then in warm suds.
FURS
STORING FURS
Beat the furs well but carefully, out of doors and hang, if convenient,
on a line in the sun for an hour or more. Then lay in a box lined with
newspapers, putting paper between parts of the furs that must lap over
one another. Wrap the box in newspapers, putting a heavy express paper
over all, sticking all edges of this last paper with mucilage.
CLEANING BLACK LYNX
Clean it with a stiff brush dipped in a solution of ammonia and water.
TO CLEAN CHINCHILLA
Make a paste of prepared chalk and water, put on the fur with a wide
brush and let dry. Beat the fur lightly to remove the chalk.
If chinchilla fur gets wet, suspend it near heat, beating it lightly
every few minutes. Harder furs require stiff brushes to smooth them,
always stroking in the direction the fur lies.
If furs get wet, absorb all possible moisture by applying hot towels,
before hanging to dry.
TO CLEAN ERMINE
Smooth starch with water till like paste. Dip a piece of clean white
flannel in this paste, rub the furs well with it and leave near fire to
dry. Then brush it with a stiff brush, and shake thoroughly to remove
the flour.
TO CLEAN MINK
Brush thoroughly with dry corn meal.
TO CLEAN SEALSKIN
Spread sawdust over sealskin and spray benzine over the sawdust. When
nearly dry, brush off with a whisk broom, then brush so the hair stands
up, and let it air.
TO CLEAN WHITE FUR
Lay the fur flat on a table, take a clean white cloth and rub dampened
corn meal into the fur, always rubbing the way the fur lies. Rub
carefully till the fur is filled. Shake, and if not clean, repeat the
operation, using plenty of dry corn meal to dry it at the last.
White fur may be cleaned by rubbing in a paste of corn meal and
gasoline, repeating, if the fur is badly soiled. Shake well, and air.
Clean all things out of doors when using gasoline.
DISINFECTANTS, SCENTS, ETC.
Essence of cinnamon evaporating in a shallow dish is an agreeable
disinfectant.
A little charcoal mixed with water thrown in a sink will deodorize it.
A small piece of charcoal should be placed inside the refrigerator to
insure a sweet interior. It should also be placed in dark closets. Renew
every week or two.
Put a piece of camphor gum in a saucer and apply a hot poker.
Put a few pieces of dried orange peel on a hot stove, or in an old tin
can or shovel, and allow it to smoulder.
Broken pieces of pumice stone may be saturated with oil of lavender to
create a pleasant odor in a room. Or a few drops of the oil may be
dropped into a bowl of boiling water, letting it stand till cold.
Eau-de-cologne may be burned in an old iron spoon made red hot; or it
may be poured over block ammonia placed in an earthen jar.
A little oil of sandalwood dropped on a hot shovel will impart a
delightful fragrance to a room.
The odor of paint, and of tobacco smoke in a room may be dispelled by
setting a dish of cold water in the room.
A dish of ground roasted coffee is one of the best preservatives to
leave in cellar.
LIME WATER
Put a piece of unslacked lime the size of an egg in an earthen vessel,
pouring over it a quart of cold water. Allow it to stand a few hours,
then filter it through clean white blotting paper. Pour it into a clean
bottle, cork and keep in a cool dark place. A teaspoonful of lime water
in a cupful of milk or water, almost destroys any deleterious substance
there. It gives no unpleasant taste.
SCENTING LINENS
Underlinen is delightfully scented by placing broken orris root in the
bureau drawers and hanging in small muslin bags in the closets.
A few drops of any preferred scent put on broken pumice stone and
scattered through drawers and boxes, gives a delicious perfume.
Sachet powder mixed with powdered orris root in equal parts, preserves
the fragrance much longer than by using sachet powder alone.
Pack away bed linen with leaves of dried rosemary or sweet lavender.
COLOGNE
½ oz. bergamot
¼ oz. oil of lemon
½ oz. English lavender
½ drachm neroli
1 quart alcohol
FILLING A ROSE JAR No. 1
Gather rose leaves in June, pack in a covered stone jar with alternate
layers of salt, and keep in a dry cool place for a week after sufficient
leaves are packed. Then turn out on a paper spread on a table, and mix
very thoroughly. Add the following ingredients, mix well and put in the
jar for six weeks before filling the rose jars. Leave rose jars
uncovered for a short time only, as the perfume is easily exhausted.
½ oz. powdered violet
½ oz. powdered rose
½ oz. powdered heliotrope
1 oz. powdered orris root
4 drops oil of roses
10 drops oil of neroli
½ teaspoonful mace
½ teaspoonful cloves
¼ teaspoonful cinnamon
2 drachms pure alcohol
20 drops oil of eucalyptus
10 drops oil of bergamot
20 drops oil of lavender
FILLING ROSE JAR No. 2
Gather rose leaves in June and put a layer in a covered stone jar, then
add a layer of salt; spread thickly over this stick cinnamon and whole
cloves; pour over these a pint of alcohol, cover and allow to remain one
week, then mix and fill into rose jar.
PESTS OF VARIOUS KINDS
ANTS
¼ cupful water
1 teaspoonful sugar
1 teaspoonful tartar emetic
Mix and place where ants congregate.
Wash a large sponge, press dry, then sprinkle with fine sugar and place
where ants are thick. They will fill the sponge, which may be dropped in
boiling water, squeezed out, and placed ready for them again.
A small cloth saturated with oil of sassafras will cause ants to leave.
RED ANTS
Several ways of getting rid of red ants are good. Use whichever is
easiest for you in your locality.
The sponge remedy given for ants is good.
1 teaspoonful paregoric with one-fourth cupful water is effective when
sprinkled around.
Sugar well mixed with pulverized plaster of paris sprinkled about will
drive them away.
Sprigs of fresh parsley laid around food will cause ants to disappear.
RATS AND MICE
Put sprays of peppermint or peppermint essence where mice have been, and
they will not return.
Or stuff pieces of sponge in holes where they enter.
Sprinkle sulphur about house and barn where rats come in, and they will
be driven away.
To stuff the holes where they enter with soap sprinkled with cayenne
pepper, will keep them out.
FLIES
Mix one-half teaspoonful black pepper and one teaspoonful of sugar in
one teaspoonful cream and put on a plate, and flies will disappear.
Two teaspoonfuls formaldehyde in two cupfuls of water poured into
shallow dishes and set around tables where flies are troublesome, will
destroy them.
A little bit of sassafras on a small cloth laid in an old baking powder
or other can cover, will drive flies away.
Flies dislike mignonette, and they despise hop vines.
ROACHES
Cucumber peel scattered around the haunts of roaches and left over
night, gets rid of the bugs.
Mix a dough of corn meal and strong borax solution, shape into little
cakes and place on pantry shelves to feed roaches so they will refuse to
return.
A weak solution of turpentine might be poured down water pipes once a
week to keep water bugs away.
SPARROWS
A little molasses put on their roosting places causes them to leave.
MOTHS
Blotting paper saturated with turpentine placed where moths are apt to
work, will prevent their havoc.
Sassafras bark scattered among woolens and furs is a preventive of
moths.
Saturate an old sheet with formaldehyde and hang in the closet
containing moths, first stopping all possible cracks and keyhole, and
leaving there for a day.