HOW TO CLEAN METAL WARF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3828, 10 May 1913, Page 4

HOW TO CLEAN METAL WARF.

Tho metals which play so large a part in household utensils and furnishing arc of sucli different characters that they require "different- methods of materials for cleansing purposes.

Brass may be treated in various ways. Finely powdered bathbrick or rottenstone made into a paste with oil of turpentine, or with paraffin, is good. Rub this on with a leather, and, after leaving for a few minutes, clean off with a soft cloth, and rub well. Or 1 rub with a flannel dipped in sweet oil, then with another dipped in finely powdered rottenstone; rub off with a rag, and polish with a leather. The skin of a lemon dipped in salt or fino sand is often excellent, and when the brass is dull, but not badly stained, washing well with soap in strong, hot soda and water, or Scrabb’s Cloudy Ammonia and water may suffice. . In any ease, finely powdered dry rottenstone is useful for polishing, though often a dry leather or an old silk handkerchief will polish well without any powder. Lacquered brass, of course, mustnot )>e touched with any strong cleanser. Was!), it well with soap and hot water, dry with soft cloth, and if possible set near the fire to dry thoroughly and quickly. Lacquered brass, j e.g., in bedsteads man be { , r o?ofvod f lnr ‘.v much longer time than is usual if rubbed daily with a soft, dry cloth. This is especially necessary in a damp atmosphere. Housewives will notice that the footrail of a. brass bedstead generally keeps in condition longer than tho head, because bed clothes and articles of dress are often thrown over it temporarily, thus frequently removing tho film of moisturo which assists in its spoiling if left undisturbed. Copper.—Try a lemon rind with a little pulp remaining in it dipped in salt, washing afterwards with soap and water. Or dip the lemon rind in fine whiting, finely. sifted ashes, or very fine silver sand and salt mixed, washing after with soap and water. Dry well, and polish with fine whiting and a leather. IB a lemon is not forthcoming, try a paste of sand, salt, and vinegar, or equal quantities of sand, salt, fine oatmeal, and flour mixed to a paste yith. vinegar; or paraffin and bathbrick, in this case rubbing off with a cloth, and polishing with dry bathbrick. Buttermilk with salt dissolved in it is recommended for polishing copper kettles, etc. Aluminium wares must never be cleaned with water containing soda or any form of freo alkali, or it wilL turn black. The makers of aluminium utensils state that the brownish surface film formed on tho inside after they have been used awhile is a natural and harmless substance, which serves as a surface protection, and should not be disturbed. Soap and water can bo used for cleaning, a

paste of whiting and "water occasionally for polishing aluminium vessels that can be kept bright. They should never be scraped with a~knife, or anytliink likely to spoihthe surface. Any adhering food substance can bo removed without this if well soaked with very hot water.. Tin.—Rub well with powdered whiting made into a paste with water, household ammonia, or sweet oil, and polish with a soft cloth. Tin covers that are required to bo kept very bright should finally bo dusted over with whiting shaken through a muslin bag, and polished with a leather. Such tinware should bo put by the fire to dry thoroughly after being washed and dried in the usual way, as rust soon spoils it if left damp. Steel.—To remove stains, rub well with bathbrick mixed with paraffin. If it is rusty,- rub tho spots well with sweet oil, and leave, or keep moistwith paraffin or turpentine for several clays, or in tho case of l knifo blades, steel knobs, or other small articles, keep them immersed in either of the three oils for several days; then rubwith finely powdered unslakec! lime (or this may he mixed with the sweetoil and put on as a paste, being washed off after about two days), tine sand, or coarse emery powder. Polish with powdered" bathbrick or charcoal. To keep steel bright, clean it with a mixture made by mixing emery powder to the consistence of cream with equal quantities of turpentinjo and sweet oil. Put on with one flannel, rub off at once with another, and polish with dry emery powder on a leather. To keep steel articles that- aro not in use from rusting, smear them over thickly with fresh lime mixed to a thick'cream with water, or with unsalted lard in which has been dissolved (by heating) foz camphor to -)lb and then enough blacklcad added to make it the color of iron. Steel rubbed with the lard mixture, left for twenty-four hours, then rubbed well with a cloth, will keep clean for a long time. Rubbing over with paraffin after any cleaning will help to prevent steel from rusting. Grates which are in bad condition should be painted over with liquid asphltum mixed with one-fourth tho quantity of turpentine, and left until dry. Or their appearaneo may be improved by rubbing well over with newspaper sprinkled with oil of any kind, repeating several times if necessary. It will tako tho blacklead better afterwards. Bars that are reddened should be painted over with sugar and water, a lump to a tabicspoonful, after which they will tako blacklead well again. Mix blacklead with a little sugar,'then with vinegar and it will give a more lasting polish. Zinc or Galvanised Iron.—Wash well with hot water and soda or soap, dry well, and to polish use a flannel dipped in paraffin, or if this is not sufficient, dipped also in whiting. Rinse in hot water, then in cold.

Britannia- Metal and Pewter. —Keep a paste ready in a jar for cleaning these, making it thus: Mix finely powdered roltenstcne, sifted through muslin or a hair-sieve, to a stiff paste with soft soap, and to 4ox or this work in loz of turpentine. Rub tho article over with sweet- oil, then with the paste, rubbing well. Wash in hot water with soap, dry well, and polish with a leather, using whiting if necessary. Pewter cleaned • regularly can be done with loss trouble by washing in hot water, rubbing well with fine sand or ashes, rinsing well, and polishing with a soft cloth or leather when dry.

Silver.—Wash after using in very hot soapy water containing a little Scrubb’s Cloudy Ammonia, having a soft cloth at the bottom of the bowl, so that the articles can lie in the howl for a few minutes without clanger of scratching. Dry well with an old soft cloth, and polish with a leather. Silver vases, etc., will keep bright fo* some time if put into hot water containing soap and borax, and kept in it for some hours; then rinsed .and treated as above.

A useful paste for keeping always at hand when washing silver, to use ’for any pieces that are sta’nc-*., *3 prepared thus: Disolvo :]lb yellow soap in half a pint of hot water, stir in •Jib of the finest whiting, and bring to the boil together. Put into a jar. Rub tho silver well with a littlo of this, put into very hot water, the nearer boiling the better, and dry while as hot as possible with a soft cloth.