Ink spots on floors can be extracted by scouring with sand wet in oil of vitriol and water. When ink is removed, rinse with strong pearl-ash water. To Toughen Lamp-chimneys and Glass-ware: — Immerse the article in a pot filled with cold water, to which some common salt has been added. Boil the water well, then cool slowly. Glass treated in this way will resist any sudden change of temperature. To Remove Paint from Window-glass: — Rub it well with hot sharp vinegar. To Clean Stove-pipe: — A piece of zinc put on the live coals in the stove will clean out the stove-pipe. Packing Bottles: — India-rubber bands slipped over them will prevent breakage. To Clean Ivory Ornaments: — When ivory ornaments become yellow or dusky, wash them well in soap and water with a small brush, to clean the carvings, and then place them, while wet, in the sunshine. Wet them with soapy water for two or three days, several times a day, still keeping them in the sunshine, then wash them again, and they will be perfectly white. FACTS WORTH KNOWma. 547 Stained Brass: — Whiting wet with aqua ammonia, will cleanse brass from stains, and is excellent for polishing faucets and door-knobs of brass or silver. “Sapolio” is still better. Hartshorn applied to the stings of poisonous insects will allay the pain and stop the swelling ; or apply oil of sassafras, which is better. Bee-stings should be treated in this way. For Cleaning Glass Bottles: — Crush egg-shells into small bits, or a few carpet tacks, or a small quantity of gunshot, put into the bottle ; then fill one-half full of strong soapsuds; shake thoroughly, then rinse in clear water. Will look like new. Cutting off Glass Bottles for Cups and Jars: — A simple, practical way is to take a red-hot poker with a pointed end ; make a mark with a file to be- gin the cut ; then apply the hot iron and a crack will start, which will fol- low the iron wherever it is carried. This is, on the whole, simple, and better than the use of strings wet with turpentine, etc. Cistern Water may he Purified by charcoal put in a bag and hung in the water. Salt will Remove the Stain from Silver caused by eggs, when applied dry with a soft cloth. Opened Fruit, Fish or Vegetables: — Never allow opened fruit, fish or vegetables to stand in the tin can. Never stir anything in tin, or, if it is done, use a wooden spoon. In lifting pies or cakes from bright tin pans, use great caution that the knife does not scrape off flecks of bright metal. Never use water which has stood in a lead pipe over night. Not less than a wooden bucketful should be allowed to run. Never use water from a stone reservoir for cooking purposes. Never allow fresh meat to remain in paper; it absorbs the juices. Never keep vinegar or yeast in stone crocks or jugs ; their acid attacks the glazing, which is said to be poisonous. Glass for either is better. Squeaking Doors ought to have the hinges oiled by putting on a drop from the sewing machine oil-can. Plate Glass and Mirrors: — A soft cloth wet in alcohol, is excellent to wipe off plate glass and mirrors, and prevents their becoming frosty in winter- 548 FACTS WORTH KNOWING. A red-hot iron will soften old putty so that it can be easily re- moved. To Test Nutmegs: — Prick them with a pin; if good, the oil will in- stantly spread around the puncture.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Ink spots on floors can be extracted by scouring with sand wet in oil of vitriol and water. When ink is removed, rinse with strong pearl-ash water. To Toughen Lamp-chimneys and Glass-ware: — Immerse the article in a pot filled with cold water, to which some common salt has been added. Boil the water well, then cool slowly. Glass treated in this way will resist any sudden change of temperature. To Remove Paint from Window-glass: — Rub it well with hot sharp vinegar. To Clean Stove-pipe: — A piece of zinc put on the live coals in the stove will clean out the stove-pipe. Packing Bottles: — India-rubber bands slipped over them will prevent breakage. To Clean Ivory Ornaments: — When ivory ornaments become yellow or dusky, wash them well in soap and water with a small brush, to clean the carvings, and then place them, while wet, in the sunshine. Wet them with soapy water for two or three days, several times a day, still keeping them in the sunshine, then wash them again, and they will be perfectly white. Stained Brass: — Whiting wet with aqua ammonia, will cleanse brass from stains, and is excellent for polishing faucets and door-knobs of brass or silver. “Sapolio” is still better. Hartshorn applied to the stings of poisonous insects will allay the pain and stop the swelling ; or apply oil of sassafras, which is better. Bee-stings should be treated in this way. For Cleaning Glass Bottles: — Crush egg-shells into small bits, or a few carpet tacks, or a small quantity of gunshot, put into the bottle ; then fill one-half full of strong soapsuds; shake thoroughly, then rinse in clear water. Will look like new. Cutting off Glass Bottles for Cups and Jars: — A simple, practical way is to take a red-hot poker with a pointed end ; make a mark with a file to begin the cut ; then apply the hot iron and a crack will start, which will follow the iron wherever it is carried. This is, on the whole, simple, and better than the use of strings wet with turpentine, etc. Cistern Water may he Purified by charcoal put in a bag and hung in the water. Salt will Remove the Stain from Silver caused by eggs, when applied dry with a soft cloth. Opened Fruit, Fish or Vegetables: — Never allow opened fruit, fish or vegetables to stand in the tin can. Never stir anything in tin, or, if it is done, use a wooden spoon. In lifting pies or cakes from bright tin pans, use great caution that the knife does not scrape off flecks of bright metal. Never use water which has stood in a lead pipe over night. Not less than a wooden bucketful should be allowed to run. Never use water from a stone reservoir for cooking purposes. Never allow fresh meat to remain in paper; it absorbs the juices. Never keep vinegar or yeast in stone crocks or jugs ; their acid attacks the glazing, which is said to be poisonous. Glass for either is better. Squeaking Doors ought to have the hinges oiled by putting on a drop from the sewing machine oil-can. Plate Glass and Mirrors: — A soft cloth wet in alcohol, is excellent to wipe off plate glass and mirrors, and prevents their becoming frosty in winter- A red-hot iron will soften old putty so that it can be easily removed. To Test Nutmegs: — Prick them with a pin; if good, the oil will instantly spread around the puncture.

Original White House Cookbook