This section is from the book "Our Homes And Their Adornments", by Almon C. Varney. Also available from Amazon: Our Homes and Their Adornments.
Soak them in hot water in which bran has been boiled, with a little salts of tartar and alum, rubbing gently between the hands, when the heat will admit of it; when the water is cold, renew the application till any discoloration is removed; rinse in warm water. Lay them on white paper in a dark place to cool.
Mix up a quantity of the strongest soap-lees with quick-lime, to the consistency of milk, and lay it on the stone for twenty-four hours. Clean it, and it will appear as new. This may be improved by rubbing afterward with fine putty powder on olive-oil.
Wash with a sponge or a soft leather and water, and dry with a silk handkerchief. "When the picture is very dirty, take it out of its frame, procure a clean towel, and making it quite wet, lay it on the face of the picture, sprinkling it from time to time with clear, soft water. Let it remain wet for two or three days. Take the cloth off and renew it with a fresh one. After wiping the picture with a clean wet sponge, repeat the process till all the dirt is soaked out; then wash it well with a soft sponge, let it become quite dry, and rub it with some clear nut or linseed oil. Spirits of wine and turpentine may be used to dissolve the hard old varnish, but they will attack the paint as well as the varnish if the further action of the spirits is not stopped at the proper time by using water freely.
Take an ounce each of cream of tartar, muriate of soda, and alum, and boil in a gallon or more of water. After the plate is taken out and rubbed dry, it puts on a beautiful silvery whiteness. Powdered magnesia may be used dry for articles slightly tarnished, but if very dirty it must be used first wet and then dry.
Take 1 oz. of oxalic acid, 6 oz. rotten-stone, 1/2 oz. gum arabic, all in powder, 1 oz. sweet oil, and sufficient water to make a paste. Apply a small portion, and rub dry with a flannel or leather.
Mix together 8 oz. prepared chalk, 2 oz. turpentine, 1 oz. alcohol, 4 dr. spirits of camphor, and 2 dr. liquor of ammonia. Apply this mixture to the article with a sponge, and allow to dry before polishing.
Prepared chalk 8 oz., turpentine 2 oz., alcohol 1 oz., spirits of camphor 4 dr., liquor of ammonia 2 dr. Apply with a sponge, and allow to dry before polishing. Or use a solution of cyanide of potassium, 12 oz. cyanide to 1 qt. water; immerse the silver, brush it with a stiff brush until clean, wash and dry.
The stains of grease and paint may be removed from fur hats by means of turpentine; and if the turpentine leaves a mark, finish with a little spirits of wine.
Common jewelry may be effectually cleaned by washing with soap and warm water, rinsing in cold water, dipping in spirits of any kind, and drying in warm boxwood sawdust. Good jewelry only needs washing with soap and water, and polishing with rouge and a chamois leather.
 
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