417. To Clean Looking Glasses

417.      To Clean Looking Glasses. Take part of a newspaper, fold it small, dip it in a basin of clean cold water, and when it is thoroughly wet squeeze it out as a sponge, and then rub it hard over the face of the glass, taking care that it is not so wet as to rundown in streams. After the glass has been well rubbed with the wet paper, let it rest a few minutes and then go over it with a fresh dry newspaper, till it looks clear and bright, which it will do almost immediately. The inside of windows may be cleaned in this way, and they will look beautifully clear.

418. To Clean Straw Matting

418.    To Clean Straw Matting. Wash it with weak salt and water and dry it well, or boil a small bag of bran in 2 gallons of water, and wash the matting with the water, drying it well.

419. To Clean Cane-Bottom Chairs

419.    To Clean Cane-Bottom Chairs. Turn up the chair bottom, and with hot water and a sponge wash the canework well, so that it may become completely soaked. Should it be very dirty you must add soap. Let it dry in the open air if possible, or in a place where there is a thorough draught, and it will become as tight and firm as when new, provided it has not been broken.

420. To Clean Sheepskin Rugs or Mats

420.    To Clean Sheepskin Rugs or Mats. Make a very strong lather, by boiling soap in a little water; mix this with a sufficient quantity of water (rather more than lukewarm) to wash the mat or rug in, and rub boiled soap on those portions of it which require additional cleansing. When the mat has been well washed in this water, prepare another lather in the same way, in which a second washing must take place, followed by a third, which ought to be sufficient to cleanse it thoroughly. Rinse it well in cold water until all the soap is removed, and then put it in water in which a little blue has been mixed, sufficient to keep the wool of a good white, and prevent its inclining to yellow. After this it should be thoroughly wrung, shaken, and hung out in the open air with the skin part towards the sun, but not while it is scorching, otherwise the skin will become hard. It must also be shaken often while drying, for if not, it will be quite stiff and crackly. It should be frequently turned, being hung up first by one end and then by the other, until it has dried entirely.

421. To Clean Knives and Forks

421.    To Clean Knives and Forks. Procure a smooth board, free from knots, or one covered with leather. If the latter, melt a sufficient quantity of mutton-suet, and put it hot upon the leather with a piece of flannel; then take two pieces of soft Bath brick, and rub them one against the other over the leather till it is covered with the powder, which rub in until no grease comes through when a knife is passed over the leather, which may easily be known by the knife keeping its polish. If only a plain board, rub the Bath brick 2 or 3 times over it; if too much be put on at once it will make the blades of the knives look rough and scratched. Let the board be of a proper height, and set so that the person may be a little on the stoop while cleaning the knives. Take a knife in each hand, holding them back to back; stand opposite the middle of the board; lay the knives flat upon it, and do not bear too hard upon them; by this method it will be easier to clean two knives at a time than one, and they will be less liable to be broken, for good knives will snap when pressed on too heavily. Many will say that they cannot clean two knives at once, or that they can get through them faster one by one: but if they will only try it a few times in the way recommended, they will find it not only much more expeditious, but easier. A little practice is all that is necessary.

The best way to clean steel forks is to fill a small barrel with fine gravel, brick dust, or sand, mixed with a little hay or moss; make it moderately damp, press it well down, and let it always be kept damp. By running the prongs of the steel forks a few times into this, all the stains on them will be removed. Then have a small stick, shaped like a knife, with leather round it, to polish between the prongs, having first carefully brushed the dust from them as soon as they are taken out of the tub. A knife-board is often spoiled in cleaning forks upon it, and likewise the backs of the knives; to prevent this, have a piece of old hat or leather put on the board where the forks and backs of the knives are cleaned.