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14 not be used. Purple cloth may be washed in hot water and pure ley. Saxony or dark print dresses should be washed in two lathers, and in the second should be poured a little ox-gall, which will freshen reds, blacks, and greens; and a hand-ful of salt added to the last rinsing-water will prevent the colours running.

CLEAR STARCHING.

Clear starching is practised as follows:-Rinse the articles in three waters, dry them, and dip them in a thick starch,previously strained through muslin; squeeze them, shake them gently, and again hang them up to dry; and when dry, dip them twice or thrice in clear water, squeeze them, spread them on a linen cloth, roll them up in it, and let them lie an hour before ironing them. Some persons put sugar into the starch, to prevent it sticking while ironing, and others stir the starch with a candle to effect the same end; we object to these practices as injurious to the article starched, or as very nauseous. The best plan to prevent sticking is to make the starch well, and to have the irons quite clean and highly polished.

STAINS.

Stains of fruit or wine may be generally removed from linen or cotton cloth by placing the articles over the top of a pail, and pouring boiling water through them till the marks disappear.

INK MARKS OR IRON MOULDS.

Ink marks or iron moulds may be removed by placing a plate (a pewter one is the best) on the top of a basinful of boiling water; then spread the articles on the plate; wet the spot, and rub it with a small: quantity of the salts of lemon; as the article dries, the stain will disappear. If this fail, re- peat the operation. A small box of salts of lemon will be found very useful in a household.

PAINT OR GREASE SPOTS.

Paint or grease spots may be removed from woollen cloth by turpentine. Smith's scouring drops is a liquid sold in small bottles, which will also he found efficacious in removing oil or grease marks; it is more expensive than turpentine, but has a less offensive odour.

TO EXTRACT GREASE FROM SILK.

As soon after the discovery of the injury as possible, hold the part firmly, and with a clean soft white cloth, or an old