The century cook book

the use of chloride of soda. Commence by cold-soaping the article, then touch the spot with a hair pencil or feather dipped in the chloride, dipping it immediately into cold-N. water, to prevent the texture of the article being injured. Ink spots are removed, when fresh applied to the spot, by a few drops of hot water being poured on immediately afterward. By the same process, iron mold in linen or calico may be removed, dipping immediately in cold water to prevent injury to the fabric. Wax dropped on a shawl, tablecover, or cloth dress, is easily discharged by applying spirits of wine. Syrups or preserved fruits, by washing in lukewarm water with a dry cloth, and pressing the spot between two folds of clean linen. Essence of lemon will remove grease, but will make a spot itself in a few days. To Wash Silk. The idea of washing silk dresses, and other articles of wearing apparel or furniture made of silk, will be novel to most of our readers. For a dress to be washed, the seams of a skirt do not require to be ripped apart, though it must be removed from the band at the waist, and the lining taken from the bottom. Trimmings or drapings, where there are deep folds, the bottom of which is very difficult to reach, should be undone so as to remain fiat. A black silk dress, without being previously washed, may be refreshed by being soaked during twenty-four hours in soft, clear water ; clearness in the water being indispensable. If dirty, the black dress may be previously washed. When very old and rusty, a pint of gin or whisky should be mixed with each gallon of water. This addition is an improvement under any circumstances, whether the silk be previously washed or not. After soaking, the dress should be hung up to drain dry without being wrung. The mode of washing silk is this: The article should be laid upon a clean, smooth table. A flannel should be well soaped, just made wet with lukewarm water, and the surface of the silk The Care of the Clothes 253 rubbed one way with it, care being taken that this rubbing is quite even. When the dirt has disappeared, the soap must be washed off with a sponge and plenty of cold water, of which the sponge must be made to imbibe as much as possible. As soon as one side is finished, the other must be washed precisely in the same manner. Let it be understood that not more of either surface must be done at a time than can be spread perfectly flat upon the table, and the hand can conveniently reach; likewise the soap must be quite sponged off one portion before the soaped flannel is applied to another portion. Silks, when washed, should always be dried in the shade, on a linen horse, and alone. If black or dark blue, they will be improved if, when dry, they are placed on a table and well sponged with gin or whisky, and again dried. Either of these spirits alone will remove, without washing, the dirt and grease from a black necktie or handkerchief of the same color, which will be so renovated by the application as to appear almost new. To Clean Ribbons. Ingredients. — j^ pint of gin, y^ lb. of honey, >^ lb. soft soap, 1-8 pint of water.