To Mend Glass

Dissolve 1/2 oz. of isinglass in a small wineglassful of spirits of wine, melting it by means of gentle heat. Paint the clean broken edges with this mixture, using a camel-hair brush. Dry in a cool place. White enamel carefully and sparingly applied to broken glass makes a very satisfactory joining.

Water Bottles

1. Put a small handful of tea leaves, about a teacupful of vinegar and another of water, and a lump of salt the size of a walnut into the bottle: leave it one or two hours, shaking occasionally.

2. Rinse well in cold water two or three times.

3. Dry the outside with a cloth free from fluff, polish with a chamois leather, and put in a bottle rack, or neck downwards in a jug, to drain. This method ensures great brilliancy.

DECANTERS, if not badly stained, should be treated in the same way; the salt and vinegar being especially effectual with port stains. The stopper must never be replaced until the decanter is quite dry.

Other Methods

Mix crushed eggshells with salt and warm water, or use chips of raw potato, or bits of brown paper well soaped and rolled up. These are to be well shaken, using warm water; then well rinsed in cold water. A little silver sand helps to brighten glass, but requires much rinsing to get rid of.

Small shot is useful for removing wine stains, but has a tendency to scratch the glass.

Tumblers

If tumblers have been used for milk they should have cold water poured into them to rinse off the grease, and prevent it sinking into the glass. Afterwards they should be washed in warm water and dry soap; rinsed well in cold water, and placed upside down on a tray to drain. Dry with a linen glass cloth, and polish with a leather : old serviettes make capital glass cloths. Two or three times a week add a little vinegar to the rinsing water, as this brightens the glass and prevents it from becoming stained; cold water is essential for the rinsing : if hot, the water causes the glass to appear clouded and smeared.

GLOBES should be washed at regular intervals after being well dusted. They are washed in the same way as tumblers, and allowed to drain until dry; this retains their brightness : wiping often causes a smeared appearance.

A pulp bowl, costing about 2/9, is the safest utensil for washing glass, as a slight concussion does not result in breakage.

MIRRORS should be kept well dusted; a daily rub with a pad of tissue paper secures good condition. To remove smears and render the glass brilliant, moisten a rag in methylated spirit, dip it in dry whiting, and rub the glass thoroughly; taking care that the whiting does not penetrate between the glass and the frame, as it is exceedingly difficult to remove. The mirror must be rubbed when dry with a duster and polished with a leather. Fly-marks may be removed by the application of a small flannel bag containing a square of laundry blue.

Silvered or mirror-glass was first made in England in the seventeenth century by the use of tinfoil and quicksilver, which were caused to adhere to the glass by heavy pressure. It is now made quite differently; nitrate of silver being poured on highly polished glass, protected when dry with varnish, and finally with a layer of paint.