n lifts AXD HELPS. 485 



Se-rerai Waj-s to C'beaii and Polisli Bra^s or Copper. — 1, First re- 

 move all the stains, bv rnbbiug the brass with a flannel dipped in vinegar; 

 tlieu polish with a leather and dry rotten-stone. 



2. Rub the surface of the luetal with rotten-stone and sweet oil, then mb 

 oft" with a piece of cotton flannel, and iwlish with a piece of soft leather. A 

 solution of oxahc acid rubbed over brass soon removes the tarnish, render- 

 ing the metal bright The acid must be washed off with water, and the 

 brass rubbed with whiting and soft leather. A mixture of muriatic acid and 

 alum dissolved in water imparts a golden color to brass articles that are 

 steeped in it for a few seconds. 



3. Brass ornaments should be first washed with a strong lye made of 

 rock alum, in the proportion of ono ounce of alum to a pint of water. Wlien 

 dry, rub with leather and fine triixjlL This will give to brass the brilliancy 

 of gold. 



i. Copper utensils or brass articles may be as thoronghly cleaned and 

 look as bright by washing them with a solution of salt and vinegar as by 

 using oxahc acid, and the advantage of running no risk of poisoning either 

 children or careless persons. Use as much salt as the vinegar will dissolve, 

 and apply vrith a woolen rag, rubbing vigorously, then polish with pulver- 

 ized chalk, and the article will look like new, with little labor, as the acid of 

 the vinegar is very efficient in removing all stains fjrom either copper or 

 brass. 



5. The quickest and easiest way to brighten copper or brass, is to wet a 

 cloth in a strong solution of oxahc acid, and rub till it is clear, then dip a 

 dry flannel into tripoli or prepared chalk, and mb it well. 



6. A good paste for cleaning brass may be made by mixing one part ox- 

 alic acid and six parts rotten stone, with equal parts of train oil and spirits 

 of turpentine, making a thick paste of the whole. 



7. Clean brass with a solution made by dissohTUg one tablespoonful ox- 

 alic acid and two tablespoonfuls tripoli in a half pint of soft water. Apply 

 with a woolen rag, and after a few minutes wipe dry and polish. 



8. Wash with warm water to remove grease, tlien rub with a mixture of 

 rotten-stone, soft soap, and oil of tui-pentine, mixed to the consistence of 

 stiff putty. The stone should be powdered vei-yfine and sifted; and a quan- 

 tity of the mixture maybe made sufhcient to last for a long time. A Uttle of 

 the above mixture should be mixed with water, rubbed over the metal, then 

 rubbed briskly with a dry, clean rag or leather, and a beautiful polish will 

 be obtained. 



Protection Against Motlis._In May the clotbes-moth begins to fly 

 alK)ut onr rooms. It is a small, hght, buff-colored " miller," dainty and 

 beautiful on close inspection. Its highest mission seems to \:>c to teach ua 

 to set onr affections only upon incorruptible treasures which " moth and 

 rust cannot destroy." But it is necessary to keep a sharp lookout for the 

 safety of our furs and flannels, and we must wage war upon it. In the first 

 place we must carefully put away everything we can, upon which it will lay 

 its eggs. If we pack away onr furs and flannels early in May, before the 

 moth has begun to lay its eggs, and leave them in boxes and bags so tight 

 that the flying moth cannot squeeze in, no further precaution is necessary. 

 Clean paper bags are recommended for this purpose — those used for flour 

 and meal bags. They should be withotit holes or opening anywhere. These 

 bags, when filled and closed firmly, may be put away on closet shelves or in 

 loose boxes, without danger to their contents, so far as moths are concemei^ 



