The Care of China and Glass.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 1, 8 July 1905, Page 60

The Care of China and Glass.

The china and glass cupboards must not be overlooked during the spring cleaning, and the china and glass which is nut always in use must also be thoroughly overhauled. When this is being done it will probably be noticed that there is a little stain at the liottom of the tea-cups which is difficult to remove. - his stain is caused by the cups being imperfectly dried before they were put away, and they should be washed in warm water, to which a little ammonia has been added, which will help to remove the stain more easily. Don't use soap or soap-powder, as these are likely to eat away the delicate ornamentation on the china, and also give it a dull appearance. If a stain is left at the bottom of a deciliter the best way to cleanse it is to put a tablespoonful of muriatic acid in the deciliter, and rinse it slowly round, and then pour the acid away and rinse thoroughly with warm soapsuds and several clear waters. The acid is a deadly poison, so must Im* used with great care. When putting glass dishes away lay a paper mat or doyley in between each dish if they are packed on top of each other, and the little scratches and chips that appear on them will be prevented if this precaution is taken. Boiling water should not be used for washing glassware, as this is the cause of many a broken tumbler and cracked dish. The maid, or whoever is set the task of washing the glassware, should be instructed as to the proper way in which it should be cleaned. If a glass that has held cold water is plunged immediately into a basin of hot water it

will crack. Iwcause of the sudden expansion caused by the heat of the water. The same accident will happen if. after bidding hot liquid, it is at once put into cold water. Delicate china and glass should first of all be washed in lukewarm water, and then, if the result is not satisfactory, hot water may he employed, for it is not the heat that does the damage, hut the suddenness of its application. Even thick cut-glass will crack if heat is suddenly applied, and the best way to wash it is in warm soap-suds, and then cover with sawdust. When the sawdust is dry brush it off with a soft brush, going carefully into all the little crevices, and finish polishing it with a soft cloth. It will be bright and sparkling after this treatment. Cold water is often more satisfactory than warm water for washing glass, if it is left to drain, and then polished when dry. The glass will look much brighter if done in this manner. When pouring hot liquid into a tumbler place a silver spoon in first. This wi’l draw the heat away from the glass, and prevent it cracking. Chipped edges to glass dishes, and cups minus handles, are often the cuise ol clumsiness, but the maid should be trained to handle the china an 1 glass carefully, so that accidents of this kind are avoided, and if instructions as to the washing of them are carried out properly there will be less likelihood of so much damage being done. Satisfactory results are seldom obtained with china or glass that has been broken and mended. as it always requires such cireful handling, and will seldom hold anyth’ng hot afterwards Tiie housekeeper naturally takes pride in her bright glass and dainty chinaware, which is quite justifiable, and it is a pity it should be spoilt by scratches an I cracks when, with a little care, it can be kept intact even when in constant use.