66. Ammonia is used chiefly in laundry- work. It
may be used instead of sal-soda for general cleaning.
(For the use of alkalies with hard water, see § 45.)
Kerosene. — Kerosene is useful for cleaning polished
woods which would be injured by alkalies. Kerosene
and alkalies are both excellent disinfectants.
Cleaning Metals
67- Experiments. — A. Let a piece of iron lie wet in the air for
several hours. Pour a little water into an old worn tin dish ; allow
a few drops of water to fall on a steel knife-blade; and let dish
and knife lie for some time. What do you observe? Has the tin
rusted ? How can we keep steel from rusting ?
36 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF COOKERY
B. Lay one silver spoon next to a rubber band. Wrap another
in white flannel. Lay a bright brass button in a dry place. Wrap
another in damp cloth. Examine all these after a day or two.
Would you approve of keeping silver wrapped in white flannel ?
What effect has dampness on brass ?
68. Tarnish and rust.^ — Rust is a compound formed in
the presence of moisture, by the union of the oxygen of
the air with iron (§ 103). Tarnish is a discoloration of
polished metals caused by the action of oxygen, sulphur,
or some other element upon the metal. The sulphur
used in making rubber and in bleaching cloth, and the
sulphurous gases from burning coal or gas, form with
silver a grayish black compound insoluble in water.
69. C. Try to remove the tarnish from silver with whiting,
with alcohol ; from brass with rottenstone, with rottenstone and
water, with rottenstone and oil, with vinegar or lemon-juice. Com-
pare the effectiveness of the various materials.
70. Removal of tarnish. — Labor is saved by using an
acid or other substance that will act chemically on the
tarnish, dissolving it.^ A mineral powder completes
the work and adds polish. Oil, water, or acid, — lemon-
juice or vinegar, — mixed with the powder, forms a
paste easy to apply. The cleaning preparations in the
market are the substances described above, or combina-
tions of them, sometimes with the addition of coloring-
matter.
1 Tarnish and rust, although, strictly speaking, not dirt, are re-
moved by similar means, and are therefore conveniently treated of
here.
2 It is not always safe to use a chemical, although it may be easier.
For instance, any chemical that brightens zinc eats into it.
PREPARATORY LESSONS 37
71. Putz pomade is a mixture of whiting, oil, and acid.
Sapolio is a compound of fine clay, alkali, and fat. Most
silver-powders are simply whiting. Stove-blacking is made
of graphite mixed with molasses or other sticky substance.
Care of Floor and Woodwork
72. Care of kitchen floor. — The best kitchen floor is
of hard wood, oiled or varnished. If anything is spilled
upon it, wipe or brush it up at once. Cover grease-
spots on wood or stone with flour, starch, or powdered
chalk, which will absorb the grease. Cold water poured
upon grease as soon as it is spilled will harden it ; the
greater part may then be scraped off. Sweep the
kitchen floor thoroughly once a day. With care it will
not need washing or scrubbing oftener than once a week.
Page 20
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A modernized reading is not available for this page yet. You are seeing the original text.
66. Ammonia is used chiefly in laundry- work. It
may be used instead of sal-soda for general cleaning.
(For the use of alkalies with hard water, see § 45.)
Kerosene. — Kerosene is useful for cleaning polished
woods which would be injured by alkalies. Kerosene
and alkalies are both excellent disinfectants.
Cleaning Metals
67- Experiments. — A. Let a piece of iron lie wet in the air for
several hours. Pour a little water into an old worn tin dish ; allow
a few drops of water to fall on a steel knife-blade; and let dish
and knife lie for some time. What do you observe? Has the tin
rusted ? How can we keep steel from rusting ?
36 THEORY AND PRACTICE OF COOKERY
B. Lay one silver spoon next to a rubber band. Wrap another
in white flannel. Lay a bright brass button in a dry place. Wrap
another in damp cloth. Examine all these after a day or two.
Would you approve of keeping silver wrapped in white flannel ?
What effect has dampness on brass ?
68. Tarnish and rust.^ — Rust is a compound formed in
the presence of moisture, by the union of the oxygen of
the air with iron (§ 103). Tarnish is a discoloration of
polished metals caused by the action of oxygen, sulphur,
or some other element upon the metal. The sulphur
used in making rubber and in bleaching cloth, and the
sulphurous gases from burning coal or gas, form with
silver a grayish black compound insoluble in water.
69. C. Try to remove the tarnish from silver with whiting,
with alcohol ; from brass with rottenstone, with rottenstone and
water, with rottenstone and oil, with vinegar or lemon-juice. Com-
pare the effectiveness of the various materials.
70. Removal of tarnish. — Labor is saved by using an
acid or other substance that will act chemically on the
tarnish, dissolving it.^ A mineral powder completes
the work and adds polish. Oil, water, or acid, — lemon-
juice or vinegar, — mixed with the powder, forms a
paste easy to apply. The cleaning preparations in the
market are the substances described above, or combina-
tions of them, sometimes with the addition of coloring-
matter.
1 Tarnish and rust, although, strictly speaking, not dirt, are re-
moved by similar means, and are therefore conveniently treated of
here.
2 It is not always safe to use a chemical, although it may be easier.
For instance, any chemical that brightens zinc eats into it.
PREPARATORY LESSONS 37
71. Putz pomade is a mixture of whiting, oil, and acid.
Sapolio is a compound of fine clay, alkali, and fat. Most
silver-powders are simply whiting. Stove-blacking is made
of graphite mixed with molasses or other sticky substance.
Care of Floor and Woodwork
72. Care of kitchen floor. — The best kitchen floor is
of hard wood, oiled or varnished. If anything is spilled
upon it, wipe or brush it up at once. Cover grease-
spots on wood or stone with flour, starch, or powdered
chalk, which will absorb the grease. Cold water poured
upon grease as soon as it is spilled will harden it ; the
greater part may then be scraped off. Sweep the
kitchen floor thoroughly once a day. With care it will
not need washing or scrubbing oftener than once a week.