TO CLEAN BLACK SILK.
Brush and wipe with flannel cloth, lay on a table with the side to be worn up; then sponge with hot coffee (strain coffee through muslin before using). When damp, lay cloth on and iron until thoroughly dry.
TO REMOVE GREASE FROM SILK.
Use a lump of magnesia (moistened), rub on the spot and allow to dry; then brush powder off. Repeat if necessary.
Silks and satins should be sponged with ammonia and water. It is not necessary to soak ribbon, unless they are very dirty. Only black material should be cleaned with strong ammonia as a difference in the dye stuffs may cause the material to turn red, wherever the ammonia touches it.
To clean a colored silk dress, mix together four ounces of soap, six ounces of honey, and a pint and a quarter of gin, rub in well with small brush, rinse each piece at once in cold water thoroughly, drain and iron while wet. This is especially good for black, also black and white silks.
Silks may be stiffened by adding two or three lumps of sugar, or half a teaspoonful of gum Arabic to the water. Place over a round pole and while damp place a piece of muslin over the silk and iron until dry.
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.