MISCELLANEOUS. 527 



"tlie solution, dry as thoroughly, in the open air is best. This wetting of the 

 garment is best done by drawing it on a press-board, if you have one, as 

 described below, also by spreading on a table or counter to be handy. After 

 lieing dried, press the garment well, using what is called a "sponge-cloth," of 

 stout unbleached muslin or drilling. If this is to be followed for a business, 

 buy 3 yds. and tear it in two, lengthwise, keeping one for light shades of cloth- 

 ing, the other for dark. AVhen ready to begin to press the garment take a basin 

 of soft water and put into it some aqua ammonia, at the rate of 1 table-spoon- 

 ful to 1 qt. of water, and, with the ammonia water, keep your sponge-cloth wet 

 while pressing. 



Remarks. — For those following the business, a press-board, which can be 

 got up by any good joiner, so that a pant's leg may be drawn upon it, and a 

 smaller one suitable in size to enter a coat-sleeve, will be found more than suffi- 

 ciently handy to pay their cost, as they will be found almost absolutely neces- 

 sary in applying dye to black clothing where the color has been spotted or fadedj 

 as explained under that head further on. The press-board referred to has two 

 parts, a base, or bottom piece, then the pressing-board proper is supported by 

 two standards about 5 or 6 inches from the bottom piece, with one end running 

 out free to allow the leg or sleeve to be drawn upon it 15 to 18 inches for con- 

 venience of pressing the single thickness of cloth, instead of double, if the leg 

 ■or sleeve is simply spread out on a table or counter. 



3. Alpaca Dresses— To Remove Wrinkles and Brighten their 

 IiUSter. — Dust them nicely with a brush and spread them upon an ironing- 

 lx)ard, or press-board, as referred to above, then, having wet the sponge-cloth 

 ^with the ammonia water, as directed for pressing clothing above, pass a moder- 

 ately warm iron over them quickly a few times, and the work is complete. 



4. Renovating Dye for Black Clothing, to be Applied Only 

 t>n the Outside— Cheap Ink, etc. — Logwood chips, 1 lb.; soft water, 

 1 gal.; bichromate of potash, 24 grs. ; prussiate of potash, 12 grs. Put the log- 

 wood into the water and let stand 12 hours, then boil % hour, strain while 

 •warm, and having dissolved the potashes in a little boiling water, add them to 

 the dye. Bottle, cork, and keep in a dark place. This is to be applied to spots 

 on black clothing, coat collars, etc., where the color has been injured or faded 

 out, the spots having been renovated and dried as given under the head of 

 renovation; then, first having sponged the spots with suds, or the whole gar- 

 ment, if it is to be applied to the whole, applying the dye with a brush, and dry 

 again before the pressing is done. This dye may be used also to color worn or 

 injured spots upon black kid gloves, black kid boots, etc., in place of ink, 

 spoken of under those heads; in fact, this makes a very good, cheap ink for 

 school children. 



Paint, Tar, Pitch, Ink, Grease Spots, etc., To Remove from 

 •Clothing. — Take a Httle of the renovating soap, above, without water, and 

 rah it into the soiled spots; let it remain a few minutes, then scrape off and 

 «feanse with the ammonia water, also given for pressing clothing, under the 

 bead of renovatioa If this does not fully accomplish it, use the renovating 



