422. To Preserve Knives and Forks in Good Condition

422.    To Preserve Knives and Forks in Good Condition. Wipe the knives and forks as soon as possible after being used, as the longer they are left with grease and stains on them the harder they will be to clean; particularly if they have been used for acids, salads, tarts, etc.; have then a jug of hot water ready to put them into as soon as done with, and wipe them as before directed.

In order to keep knives and forks in good condition when they are not in use, rub the steel part with a flannel dipped in oil; wipe the oil off after a few hours, as there is often water in it; or dust the blades and prongs with quicklime, finely powdered and kept in a muslin bag.

423. To Clean Spice Mills

423.    To Clean Spice Mills. It is often desired to grind different spices, orange or lemon peel, in the same mill, without any one being affected by another spice. Grind a teaspoonful of rice through the mill and all impurities will be removed. A coffee millmaybe fitted to grind any spice in the same way, using rather more rice. The rice will of course be flavored by whatever may have been in the mill. It is useful to thicken soups, or gravies, or sauces, when the spice is no objection.

424. To Keep Oil-Cloths Looking Well

424.      To Keep Oil-Cloths Looking Well. Wash them once a month in skim milk and water, equal quantities of each. Rub them once in three months with boiled linseed oil. Put on very little, rub it well in with a rag, and polish with a piece of old silk. Oil-cloths will last years if kept in this way.

425. To Clean Oil-Cloth

425.    To Clean Oil-Cloth. An oil-cloth should never be scrubbed with a brush, but, after being first swept, should be cleaned by washing with a soft flannel and lukewarm or cold water. On no account use soap, or water that is hot, as either would have a bad effect on the paint. When the oil-cloth is dry, rub it well with a small portion of a mixture of bees' wax, softened with a minute quantity of turpentine, using for this purpose a soft furniture polishing brush. Oil-cloth cared for in this way will last twice the time than with ordinary treatment.

426. To Give to Boards a Beautiful Appearance

426.    To Give to Boards a Beautiful Appearance. After washing them very nicely with soda and warm water and a brush, wash them with a very large sponge and clean water. Both times observe to leave no spot untouched; and clean straight up and down, not crossing from board to board; then dry with clean cloths, rubbed hard up and down in the same way.

The floors should not be often wetted, but very thoroughly when done; and once a week dry-rubbed with hot sand and a heavy brush, the right way of the boards.

The sides of stairs or passages on which are carpets or floor-cloth, should be washed with sponge instead of linen or flannel, and the edges will not be soiled. Different sponges should be kept for the above two uses; and those and the brushes should be well washed when done with, and kept in dry places.