405. To Remove the Varnish from Oil Paintings, etc.

405.    To Remove the Varnish from Oil Paintings, etc.. Varnish and dirt can be removed by washing over with a weak solution of carbonate of ammonia, wiping it off with a sponge wetted with water as soon as it has fulfilled its object; if allowed to remain too long it will injure the oil colors. Another way is to spread a thick coat of wet fuller's earth over the surface of the varnish, leaving it on long enough to soften it; it may then be removed by washing.

406. To Clean Pictures

406.    To Clean Pictures. Havingtaken the picture out of the frame, take a clean towel, and, making it quite wet, lay it on the face of the picture, sprinkling it from time to time with clean soft water; let it remain wet for 2 or 3 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 you find all the dirt is soaked out of it; then wash with a soft sponge, and let it get quite dry; rub it with some clear nut or linseed oil, and it will look as well as when freshly done.

407. To Clean Oil Paintings

407.    To Clean Oil Paintings. Put into 2 quarts of strong lye, 1/2 pound of Genoa soap, rasped very fine, with 1 pint spirits of wine; let them simmer on the fire for half an hour, then strain them through a cloth. Apply the preparation with a brush to the picture, wipe it off with a sponge, and apply it a second time, which will remove all dirt. Then with a little nut-oil warmed, rub the picture and let it dry. This will make it look as bright as when it came out of the artist's hands. If the canvas is injured by damp, mildew or foul air, the first thing to be done is to stretch and line it with new canvas.

408. To Clean Japanned Waiters and Urns

408.    To Clean Japanned Waiters and Urns. Rub on with a sponge a little white soap and some lukewarm water, and wash the waiter or urn quite clean. Never use hot water, as it will cause the japan to scale off. Having wiped it dry, sprinkle a little flour over it; let it rest a while, and then rub it with a soft dry cloth, and finish with a silk handkerchief. If there are white heat marks on the waiters, they will be difficult to remove ; but you may try rubbing them with a flannel dipped in sweet oil, and afterwards in spirits of wine. "Waiters and other articles of papier mache should be washed with a sponge and cold water, without soap, dredged with flour while damp, and after a while wiped off, and then polished with a silk handkerchief.

409. Method of Cleaning Paper Hangings

409.  Method of Cleaning Paper Hangings. Cut into 8 portions a loaf of bread 2 days old; it must neither be newer nor staler. "With one of these pieces, after having blown off all the dust from the paper to be cleaned, by the means of a good pair of bellows, begin at the top of the room, holding the crust in the hand, and wiping lightly downward with the crumb, about half a yard at each stroke, till the upper part of the paper is completely cleaned all round. Then go round again, with the like sweeping stroke downwards, always commencing each successive course a little higher than the upper stroke had extended, till the bottom be finished. This operation, if carefully performed, will frequently make very old paper look almost equal to new. Great caution must be used not by any means to rub the paper hard, nor to attempt cleaning it the cross or horizontal way. The dirty part of the bread, too, must be continually cut away, and the pieces renewed as soon as may become necessaiy.