RECIPES FOR RESTORING OLD CLOTHES, SETTING COLORS, REMOVING STAINS, ETC.
For Cleaning Clothes.
Castile soap, one ounce; aqua ammonia (34), a quarter-pound; sulphur ether, one ounce; glycerine, one ounce; spirits wine, one ounce. Shave the soap into thin pieces, dissolve it in two quarts rain (or any other soft water). Then add the other ingredients. Rub the soiled spots with a sponge or piece of flannel and expose to the air.—Mrs. B.
Soap To Remove Grease From Cloth.
Detersive soap, three pounds; alcohol, two pints; oxalic acid, half an ounce; essential oil to flavor. First bring the alcohol to a boil, then gradually add the soap (pared in thin shavings) and stir constantly. Then add the acid and oil, pour into moulds while hot, and let it cool. You may, of course, make it in smaller quantities, observing the same relative proportions.—Dr. E. A. C.
To Remove Spots from Cloth.
Aqua ammonia, two ounces; alcohol, two ounces; spirits camphor, one ounce; transparent soap, one ounce; rain-water, one quart.—Mr. E. C., Jr.
To Wash Black Cashmere.
Wash in hot suds, with a little borax in the water. Rinse in bluing water, and iron very damp.
To Restore the Pile of Velvet.
Heat a large flat-iron, place it in a pan, and lay on it a wet cloth. The steam will rise rapidly. Hold the right side of the velvet over it. If this does not restore the pile, wet it on the wrong side. Have a smooth flat-iron very hot. Set it on the edge of the table, upright. If it is a narrow piece of velvet, it may be easily ironed by passing the wet side against the iron. If a large piece, have some one to hold the bottom of the iron upwards while the wet side of the velvet is passed over it.—Mrs. S. T.
To Restore old Black Silk.
Pour one pint boiling water on two tablespoonfuls gum arabic. When a little cooled, add one teaspoonful spirits turpentine and the same of spirits ammonia. With a large sponge wipe the silk on both sides with this mixture. Then lay the silk on an ironing-table, place over it a thin piece of colored rice cambric, and iron it very hard with a hot iron. This makes old silk look like new.—Mrs. S. T.
To Freshen old Black Silk.
Boil one ounce crushed soap bark in one quart water till reduced to one pint. Strain it; sponge the material with the liquid, and while wet iron on the wrong side. Good for black woollens also.—Mrs. M. E. L. W.
To Renew Black Crape Veils.
Wring two large towels out of water. Then put the veil (folded across the middle, lengthways) on the lower towel; spread the other on top and roll the veil, when between, in a small tight roll. Let it stand an hour, or till it is damp through. Take it out and air it a little before it dries. Fold it then in smooth squares, put it in a large book, such as an atlas, put heavy weights on it, and let it stand an hour or two.—Mrs. M. C. C.
To Set Colors.
Wash in strong salt or alum water and rinse in water in which Irish potatoes have been sliced and boiled, to stiffen.
A strong tea of hay or fodder preserves the color of brown linen. One spoonful gall to a gallon of water will set the colors of almost any goods. A teaspoonful sugar of lead in a gallon cold water (some say a tablespoonful in a quart soft water) will set colors. Let the material soak in it an hour.
A teacup of lye in a pail of water will improve black calicoes.
To Restore Colors that have been taken out.
Rub the spots with hartshorn and place in the sun till dry.
To Keep Blue Calicoes Bright and Fresh.
The first time they are washed, put them in water with a cupful spirits of turpentine to each pail of water. This will set the color, and they will always look well.
Mildew.
Moisten the mildewed spot with clear water, then rub over it a thick coating of castile soap. Scrape chalk with the soap, mixing and rubbing with the end of the finger. Then wash it off. Sometimes one coating suffices, but generally several are required.
Labaraque Solution.
Will remove mildew, ink, or almost any fruit stain from cloth. The solution should be washed off soon after applying, as it may injure the cloth.—Dr. E. A. C.
To Prevent Fruit Stains from being Permanent.
Wet the stained spot with whiskey before sending it to wash, and there will be no sign of it when the article comes in.
For Removing Fruit or Ink Stains.
Two drachms chloride of lime, two drachms acetic acid, one and a half ounce water. Mix well.—Dr. E. A. C.
Iron Rust.
Salts of lemon applied to the place and exposed to the sun will remove all iron rust in linen, etc.