Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2020

1814 brush. If very dirty, wash the paint lightly with a sponge or soft flannel dipped in weak soda-and-water, or in pearlash and water. The sponge or flannel must be used nearly dry, and the portion of paint gone over must immediately be rinsed with a flannel and clean water; both soda and pearlash, if suffered to remain on, will injure the paint. The operation of washing should therefore be done as quickly as possible, and two persons should be employed: one to follow and dry the paint with soft rags, as soon as the other has scoured off the dirt and washed away the soda. No scrubbing-brush should ever be used on paint.

Place some sulphuric acid in a basin of water and let it stand in the room where the paint is. Change the water daily.

Place a jar of permanganate of potash in the vicinity of the obnoxious smell.

Mix flour and water to the consistency of cream, and boil. A few cloves added in the boiling will prevent the paste going sour.

Mix equal proportions of linseed-oil, turpentine, vinegar and spirits of wine. When used, shake the mixture well, and rub on the furniture with a piece of linen rag, and polish with a clean duster. Vinegar and oil, rubbed in with flannel, and the furniture rubbed with a clean duster, produce a very good polish.

Boil 1 pint of soft water, let it get cold; shred 1 oz. of white wax and 1 oz. of Naples soap into it, stand it in the oven until all is melted; add 1 pint of turpentine slowly, stirring as it is dropped in; stir it until cold; bottle and cork closely; it is fit to use the next day.

Mix 3 oz. of common beeswax, 1 oz. of white wax, 1 oz. of curd soap, and 1 pint of turpentine together, adding 1 pint of boiled water when cold; shake the mixture frequently in the bottle, and do not use for 48 hours after it is made. It should be applied with a piece of flannel, the furniture polished with a duster, and then with an old silk rubber.

Cut ¼ of a lb. of yellow wax into small pieces and melt it in a pipkin, with 1 oz. of black rosin pounded very fine. Stir in gradually, while these two ingredients are quite warm, 2 ozs. of oil of turpentine. Keep