Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/117

 Very small patches can be put on so neatly that they cannot be seen. Six pennyworth of chloroform will last a long time if kept well stoppered. It is a very good plan to varnish the soles of shoes and boots in the country, as it renders them quite impervious to damp, and also makes them last longer.

Men's boots can be made waterproof by applying with a rag the following mixture:—Beef fat, 4oz; resin (or grass-tree gum), 1 oz.; beeswax, 1 oz. Melt together slowly, and when quite cold add about 6oz., or as much as the whole, of neatsfoot oil. Make the boots hot before applying, and then rub in well with the hand, and do the soles as well as the uppers.

To Make a Mackintosh.—Make the coat of any material preferred, strong unbleached calico being the best. Holland has a better finish, but does not do so well. Having finished off the coat lay it piece by piece on a board, and rub with a lump of beeswax (perfectly pure). Go over every inch of the garment, and then iron with a hot iron, and brush with a hard brush while still warm.

This is very effective if properly done. It may want two or three rubbings with wax and brushings afterwards to complete it.

To Clean White Straw Hats-No matter how dirty the hat or bonnet looks, it can be made clean by the following process:—First, wash thoroughly in warm water and soap, scrubbing with a nail or tooth brush, and dry in the sun. Then dilute a good teaspoonful of oxalic acid in nearly a cup of boiling water. When the straw is quite dry take a tooth brush and brush all over with the acid and water. You will notice the straw changing colour and becoming white as you work round. Let it dry in the sun, and you will find it as good as new. If a glaze is liked an application of white of egg will produce it.

To Clean a Sponge.—Dissolve two or three ounces of carbonate of soda or potash in two and a half pints of water. Soak the sponge in it for twenty-four hours, then wash it in pure water. Make a mixture of one glassful of muriatic acid to three pints of water; let the sponge lie in it for some hours, finally rinse in cold water, and dry thoroughly. A sponge should always be dried in the sun after using.

'''To Clean a Sponge. No. 2.'''—Very often sponges are found by those living by the sea on the seashore. Generally they are useless, but now and then one may come across a really good one, and then it is well to know how to cleanse it. First get all the sand and grit out by beating and shaking and by washing in warm water in which has been added a spoonful or two of solution of potassium permaganatepermanganate [sic]; wash well several times and then hang in the wind to dry. Then make a solution of ½lb. sodium hyposulphite to a gallon of water, and about 1oz. of oxalic acid; let the sponge soak in this for ten or fifteen minutes, then remove and wash thoroughly. It is as well to rinse in several waters after the oxalic acid.

Sponges can also be bleached by being dipped in a weak solution of sulphuric acid and quickly washed afterwards.

To Cure and Bleach Sponges.—Make a weak solution of hydrochloric acid, and soak the sponge in it to get rid of all the lime. Then dry and beat the sand out and wash again in warm water. To bleach it wash in water having a little sulphuric acid, or, which is better, a little chlorine. Wash several times in this, and then dry in the wind.

To Polish Sea Shells.—Make a solution of muriatic acid, the strength must depend upon the shells to be cleaned, if delicate let the solution be weak, but in any case it is as well to test it upon a common or valueless shell before using on good ones. With a strong camel's hair brush pass the solution over the shell quickly and at once plunge into cold water to prevent injury. Repeat this till the shell or shells are all clean, then dry