447. To Sweep Carpets

447.    To Sweep Carpets. Before applying the broom, scatter over the carpet the refuse tea-leaves from the tea-pot. These should be set apart and saved in a pot kept for the purpose, squeezing the water out thoroughly in the hand. First rub the leaves into the carpet with the broom, and then sweep as usual. This will prevent dust and brighten the colors. Indian meal is recommended for this purpose by many experienced housekeepers.

448. To Clean Colored Silks, Moreens, Chintzes, and Printed Cottons

448.   To Clean Colored Silks, Moreens, Chintzes, and Printed Cottons. Colored or black silks, moreens, printed cottons, and chintzes, may be cleaned, without injury to their colors, by potato liquor. Grate raw potatoes to a fine pulp; add water in the proportion of 1 pint to 1 pound of potatoes; pass the liquid through a coarse sieve into a vessel, and allow it to remain till the fine white starch subsides to the bottom. Pour off the clear liquor, which is to be used for cleaning. Spread the article to be cleaned upon a table, which should be covered with a linen cloth; dip a sponge in the liquor, and apply it until the dirt is removed. Then rinse the article in clean cold water several times.

449. To Clean Old Tapestry on the Wall

449.    To Clean Old Tapestry on the Wall. Old tapestry is cleaned on the wall, beginning at the top. Melt a bar of good common soap in a gallon of water, and put 1 quart of it in a gallon of cold water. A clothes brush of fine broom straw or long bristles is best to dust with; a soft brush, piece of wash-leather, some flannels, and dry sheets are also needed. Brush all dust from the tapestry first, cleaning the corners well. Dip a flannel in the suds, squeeze it slightly, rub the tapestry to a lather, and brush well with a soft brush. Wring the flannel out of the soap, and rub the tapestry dry with it and wash-leather; lastly wiping the whole as dry as possible with a sheet, as it must not be rinsed. Melt 4 ounces of tartaric acid in a pint of boiling water, and add to it 2 gallons of clean water. Squeeze a clean sponge in this acid, and rub it well into the place just cleaned and dried; then finish with the dry sheet at once before going to the next yard of surface. Renew the suds and rinsing water frequently, as well as the towels, flannels, etc., for everything must be used clean. A good fire should be kept in the room when tapestry is cleaned. "When dry, rub a lump of pipe-clay well into it, and brush it out with a good clothes brush. This takes the soap out and brightens the colors. Worsted work may be cleaned in this way.

450. To Clean Silk and Cotton, or Silk and Worsted Damask, Terry, or Brocatelle Curtains

450.     To Clean Silk and Cotton, or Silk and Worsted Damask, Terry, or Brocatelle Curtains. Silk and cotton, or silk and worsted damask, terry, or brocatelle curtains, are cleaned over a board by scrubbing with 1/2 a gallon camphene and a brush, first dipping the curtain into the camphene, then cleaning on the wrong side, and lastly on the right. Dip it again into the camphene just used, and rinse in the same amount of fresh camphene. Let it drain a minute, then wipe it off with a linen or cotton sheet till all the moisture possible is absorbed, and brush it with a dry brush of soft hair. Hang them in the air a few hours to take away the smell of camphene. 1 gallon is enough for each curtain width. Next roll the curtains in half-dry sheets to damp them; take them out; brush and rub them; then iron, with a damp cloth laid over them, and they will look like new.