ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 37, 16 September 1893, Page 214

ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE.

EUR RUGS AND MATS (TO CLEAN).

.Shake and beat the rugs with a broad stick. Remove grease spots either with benzine or with a paste made of water and fuller’s earth. Next rub in vigorously some finely powdered whiting, the damper the better, but on no account let it be wet. Leave this on for several hours, then rub it well again and brush with a hard clothes brush in all directions to remove the whiting. The fur will then be clean ; if it has a ragged appearance brush the fur down thoroughly with a brush moistened with methylated spirits. For sheepskin rugs and mats, strong warm soap and water may be used ; but, when the skin has been wet, it must be dried carefully, pulled to make it dry evenly, and hung up by a different corner at short intervals or shake and beat them well on the back to get rid of all the dust and loose hair they contain. Spread the mats out stiaight on the floor or a table ; moisten some bran with hot water, making it just wet without forming a paste, and with a piece of new house flannel rub this bran well into the hair or wool, pressing hard at first, and then more lightly ; as soon as the bran is discoloured, shake it out and take a fresh supply, repeating the process as often as is necessary. Work it well into the roots of the wool. When all the moist bran is thoroughly beaten out, take a fresh piece of flannel and begin the drying operation with bran well heated in the oven, rhe fur or wool being quite dry, shake out the mats an 1 brush them.