TO CLEAN UPHOLSTERY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20493, 11 August 1936, Page 10

TO CLEAN UPHOLSTERY

A safe method to clean velvet-pile furniture upholstery is to heat some perfectly-clean bran in the oven, and with a clean, soft cloth rub the soiled part carefully, replacing the bran as it gets dirty. Rubbing with the fingers, using plenty of the bran, will remove most of the grease (states the “Cape Times”). If very badly soiled, the process will have to be repeated. It is an advantage, too, to let a good thickness of hot bran remain on the stains for a while, then gently brush off with a soft, clean brush. Everything used in the renovating of furniture must be spotlessly clean. Pipe-clay, such as soldiers use, scraped to a powder, and left on stained or dirty upholstered furniture for a short time, then lightly brushed off, will often remove the dirt. Fuller’s earth, too, or powdered magnesia as used for felt hats, will often do the same thing, but bran is the safest way. Turpentine will remove stains on ordinary velvet materials. If you spill grease on wood, cover it at once with coarse salt and it will not soak in. If you have a fall of soot sprinkle salt over it and sweep all up together. You will get no black stains then.