HOW TO CLEAN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1611, 14 January 1903, Page 25

HOW TO CLEAN

Furniture.—Do not clean very highly polished furniture with anything but good furniture cieam, such as Konuk. Use very little, and rub it on lightly, polishing with a soft cloth. Marks which have come from damp may often be removed by using a very little salad oil; and on some' wood it is safe to apply paraffin in very small quantities. Use beeswax for oak furniture and commoner kinds of bedroom furniture, using very little and l>olishing well. Deal furniture can be scrubbed and washed with soap and water. Painted furniture must be washed with plain yellow soap and water (no soda), and dried well. Use a small or tooth brush to clean the carved or ornamental parts, but take care not to rub off the paint. Dust the bedsteads regularly once a week, turning back the mattress to do so. Brush any upholstered chairs and sofas one© a week, and cover them up ©very day when the floor is swept. Loose covers should be pulled out of their creases and tucked back into shape. Green stained furniture dust only, but if marked use a damp leather. Seme green furniture is more polished than others, rnd. can be cleaned with furniture cream. Gilt Framed Mirrors.--—Dust with a soft cloth and brush. Some frames are all -the better for a damp leather, but others again cannot stand this. The glass 3naj r be polished with a leather, and an excellent effect is obtained if 'rubbed well with a pad of newspaper, this being much drier than a cloth. Some frames are all the better for being lightly brushed over with beer.

Marble Mantelpieces, Tables, etc.—Make a paste with whiting and water, and rub it all over the marble, leaving it for seme hours and until it is quite dry. Then remove it with a soft cloth and polish witn another. **

Lamps.—Clean and trim every day as follows:—Remove the globe and chimney, unscrew the burner, fl.il the bowl wit,, oil. turn up the wicks, letting them come just above the wick koiner„ Rub each with a rag and cut off any enm> or corners which project. Leave the wicks in a position for lighting. Dust the burner, lifting up the perforated paid: -.nd guard to pick out all bits. Wipe the bowl of the lamp. Dust the chimney fcy putting a duster over the lamp brush, and working it up and down. Replace. Dust the globe, and the lamp is i-eady for n*v Ghimneys should never be brushed in water; if they need more than the brum and duster, wash in methylated spirits. The same applies to small gas globes. Lamp globes may be washed in warm soap and water, but take care to dry them well before using, or they will crack. If possible put them for a shoi't time on the plate rack or before the fire. Monkey Brand or “Ooinpo” will remove grease stains if soap and water is not sufficient. Glass Globes and Electric Light Shanes, Glass or China.—Dust well each day, <*nd when necessary wash in hot water and dry thoroughly. Steef Forks.—Wrap a small piece of chamois leather over your first fingers, and dip in Nelson’s knife polish, rub the fork with this; if stained, it may be necessary to damp it slightly. Rub between the prongs and polish with leather.

China.—Wash well in. soap and hot water, dry with :a. soft teacloth. The t-a cups or teapots which are stained with, tea may be rubbed with common salt, which will .entirely remove the mark. Do not rub coloured china hard or put soda in the water. Both are apt ho make it lighter, and in some cases remove the colour entirely.