TO CLEAN BLACK LACE.
To a cup of strong tea, add one-half teaspoonful of gum Arabic. Dip the lace into the liquid, and squeeze it dry, two or three times (do not wring). Roll in a cloth and when almost dry, straighten out all the scallops carefully by hand, being careful to have it of universal width, and place on a soft cloth or padded board and lay a piece of muslin over it, then iron until dry. This is suitable for ordinary lace. But real lace should be pinned or tacked to a board, being careful to draw out all loops of the edge, and not drag the lace out of shape.
All stains and spots should be removed as soon as possible. Ink stains may be taken out of clothing by dipping the spot in milk, and squeezing the blackened milk into a basin, dipping in clear milk again. Repeat this process until the ink stain has entirely disappeared; then wash the cloth in warm water, to remove the fat in the milk.
Some inks are very difficult to remove but with a little patience, one of the processes will remove any ink stain.
To remove grease spots from delicate fabrics, requires great care. When the color and fabric will not be injured, use the cleaning fluid. Otherwise use French chalk or magnesia powder. Place upon the spots, allow to remain for a short time. This will often absorb the grease. If one application is not sufficient, brush off and apply again until the spot disappears.
When water may be used on the cloth, the chalk may be made into a paste and spread on the spot and left until dry then brush off.
When color of a piece of goods has been accidentally or otherwise destroyed by acid. Apply ammonia to neutralize the same after which an application of chloroform will in almost every case restore the spot to its original color.