Mix the flour and whiting thoroughly, and add enough water to bring it to the consistency of ordinary dough. Use by taking a small piece—about twice the size of a hen’s egg. Press against the wall and remove the dirt by making long strokes. After making a stroke knead the dirt into the dough, and continue doing so until it is useless. A quart of the preparation used in this manner will clean the walls of a good-sized room.
When it is desired to keep the ingredients of the composition a secret a coloring matter may be added to assist in mystifying. When the walls are discolored by grease or marks where people have rested their heads, mix pipeclay to the consistency of cream, lay it on the spot and allow it to remain until the following day, when it may be easily removed with a penknife or brush.
Polishing Preparations.
Polishing Powder.—For polishing silver and nickel-plated ware, brass, copper, etc.:
| Fossil silica2 | ounces. |
| Rouge (or fine crocus martis) 1/2 | ounce. |
| Prepared chalk 1/2 | pound. |
Rub the fossil silica to a fine powder and thoroughly mix with the chalk. This will not scratch the finest surface. Use by rubbing with a damp sponge or rag, and finish dry with chamois skin or dry rag.
Polishing Pastes.
| Fossil silica1 | ounce. |
| Petrolatum 1/2 | pound. |
| Cotton-seed oil (or sweet oil)1 | ounce. |
| Subcarbonate of iron3 | ounces. |
| Essential oil of almonds30 | minims. |
Reduce the fossil silica to a very fine powder and mix it with the iron; melt the petrolatum, add the cotton-seed oil, stir in the powders, and while cooling add the flavoring oil and stir until ready to set, then run into boxes similar to ordinary blacking boxes. Apply with a soft rag dipped in the paste, and finish with a clean cloth. Prepared chalk or whiting can be used instead of fossil silica. The paste does its work faster than the polishing powder, and if the articles are very much corroded it is preferable.