427. To Scour Boards

427.    To Scour Boards. Lime, 1 part; sand, 3 parts; soft soap, two parts. Lay a little on the boards with a scrubbing-brush, and rub thoroughly. Rinse with clean water and rub dry. This will keep the boards of a good color, and will also keep away vermin.

428. To Clean Stone Stairs and Halls

428.    To Clean Stone Stairs and Halls. Boil 1 pound of pipe-clay with a quart water, and a quart small beer, and put in a bit of stone-blue. Wash with this mixture, and, when dry, rub the stone with flannel and a brush.

429. To Clean Glass Globes

429.    To Clean Glass Globes. If the globes are much stained on the outside by smoke, soak them in tolerably hot water with a little washing soda dissolved in it; then put a tea-spoonful of powdered ammonia into a an of lukewarm water, and with a tolerably hard brush wash the globes till the smoke stain disappears; rinse in clean cold water, and let them drain till dry; they will be quite as white and clear as new globes.

430. To Clean Decanters

430.    To Clean Decanters. There is often much difficulty experienced in cleaning decanters, especially after port wine has stood in them for some time. The best way is to wash them out with a little pearlash and warm water, adding a spoonful or two of fresh slaked lime if necessary. To facilitate the action of the fluid against the sides of the glass, a few small cinders may be used.

Or, soak the decanters for some hours in warm soda and water; if there is much cutting on the outside, a brush will be necessary to remove the dirt and stains from the crevices. Cut a potato into small dice, put a good handful of these into the decanter with some warm water, shake the decanter briskly until the stains disappear; rinse in clean cold water, and let them drain until dry. Vinegar and sauce cruets can be cleaned in the same way.

431. To Clean Glass Bottles

431. To Clean Glass Bottles. Chop up a large potato very fine and put it in the bottle with some warm water, and shake it rapidly until it is clean. Some use shot and soda, but potato is even more effectual.

432. To Clean Medicine Phials

432.      To Clean Medicine Phials. Cleanse bottles that have had medicines in them, by putting ashes in each, immersing them in cold water, and then heating the water gradually till it boils. After boiling an hour, let them remain in the water till it is cold. Wash them in soap-suds, and rinse them till clean in clear water.

433. To Wash Castor Bottles

433.    To Wash Castor Bottles. Put them 1/3 full of rice and fill up with warm water; shake them well; this will cleanse them thoroughly.

434. To Clean Greasy Earthenware

434.    To Clean Greasy Earthenware. Stone pots and jars in which lard or fat has been kept, and yellow ware pie plates, may be cleaned by putting them in a kettle with ashes or sal soda, covering them with cold water, and allowing them to boil slowly an hour at least. "When boiled enough, take them off the fire and leave them in the water until it cools.