JTINTS AXD HELPS. 501 



have in the house formauy things; id sure death to bed bugs if put in the 

 crevices which they inhabit; will remove paint where oil was used in mixing 

 it, and will not injure the finest fabrics. 



To Polisli. Bla4:k AV'alnut. — To give black walnut a fine polish, so aa 

 to resemble rich old wood, apply a coat of shellac varnish, and then rub it 

 with a smooth piece of pumice stone until dry. Another coat may be given, 

 and the rubbing repeated. After this, a coat of polish, made of linseed oil, 

 l>ee8wax, and turpentine may be well rubbed in with a dauber, made of a 

 piece of sponge tightly wrapped in a piece of fine flannel several times 

 folded, and moistened with the polish. If this work is not fine enough, it 

 may be smoothed witli the finc-st sandpaper, and the rubbing repeated. In 

 the course of time the walnut becomes very dark and rich in color, and ia 

 every way is superior to that which has been varnished. 



To Clean Britannia Metal. — (1) Rub the article with a piece of flan- 

 nel moistened with sweet oil; then apply a Uttle pounded rotten-stone or 

 polishing paste with the finger till the polish is produced, then wash the 

 article with soap and hot water, and when dry, rub with soft wash leather, 

 and a little fine whiting. 



(2) To clean britannia metal, use finely powdered whiting, two table- 

 spoonfuls of sweet oil and a little yellow soap. Mix with spirits of wine to a 

 cream. Hub on with a sponge, wipe off with a soft cloth and polish with % 

 cliamois skin. 



Care of Ciotlie*. — Spots of grease may be removed from colored silks 

 by putting on them raw starch made into a paste with water. Dnst is best 

 removed from silk by a soft flannel, from velvet with a brush made 

 specially for the pui-poae. If hats and bonnets when taken from tlie head 

 are brushed and put away in boxes and covered up, instead W l)eing laid 

 down anywhere, tlicy will last fresh a long time. Shawls and all articles 

 that may be folded should be folded when taken from the person in their 

 original creases and laid away. Cloaks should be hung up in place, gloves 

 pulled out lengthwise, wrapped in tissue paper and laid away, laces 

 smoothed out and folded, if requisite, so that they will come out of the box 

 new and fresh when needed again. A strip of old black broadcloth four or 

 five inches wide, rolled up tightly and sewed to keep the roll in place, is 

 better than a sponge or cloth for cleansing black or dark colored clothes. 

 Whatever lint comes from it in rubbing ia black and does not show. 



Cleaning Black: Sillt. — One of the things "not generally known," at 

 least in this country, is the Parisian method of cleaning black silk; the 

 moius operawU is very simple, and the result infinitely superior to that 

 achieved in any other manner. The silk must be thoroughly brushed and 

 wiped with a cloth, then laid flat on a board or table, and well sponged with 

 hot coflfee, thoroughly freed frogi sediment by being strained through 

 muslin. The silk is sponged on the side intended to show; it is allowed to 

 become partially dry, and then ironed on the wrong side. The coflFee 

 removes every particle of grease, and restores the brilUaucy of silk without 

 imparting to it either the shiny appearance or crackly and papery stiflhess 

 obtained by beer or, indeed, any other liquid. The silk really appears 

 thickened by the process, and this good effect is permanent. Our readers 

 who will experimentalize on an apron or cravat will never again try any 

 other method. 



