Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2017

Rh Oxalic acid and hot water will remove iron-mould, so also will common sorrel bruised in a mortar and rubbed on the spots. In both cases, the linen should be well washed after the remedy has been applied.

Rub the spot with a little powdered oxalic acid, or salts of lemon and warm water. Let it remain a few minutes, and well rinse in clear water, or wash the spots with a strong solution of cream of tartar and water. Repeat if necessary, and dry in the sun.

Dissolve 1 tablespoonful of isinglass in ½ a pint of water, and then add to it the yolks of 6 eggs, well beaten, and 2 ozs. of treacle, using sufficient lamp-black to give the required colour. If the colour needs restoring take a small quantity of good black ink, mix it with the white of an egg, and apply it to the boots with a soft sponge.

A bouquet of freshly-cut flowers may be preserved alive for a long time by placing them in a glass or vase with fresh water, in which a little charcoal has been steeped, or a small piece of camphor dissolved. The vase should be set upon a plate or dish, and covered with a bell glass, around the edges of which, when it comes in contact with the plate, a little water should be poured to exclude the air.

Plunge the steins into boiling water, and by the time the water is cold, the flowers will have revived. Thin cut the ends of the stems afresh, and place in fresh cold water.

An umbrella should not be folded up when it is wet. Let it stand with handle downwards so that the wet can run off the ends of the ribs instead of running towards the ferrule end and rusting that part of the umbrella.

The Patent Carpet Sweepers are so effective and cheap that they are now in use every where, but where the floor is to be swept with the ordinary broom proceed as follows: before sweeping rooms strew the floors with dried tea-leaves; these will attract the dust and save much harm to the furniture, which, as far as possible, should be covered up during