If carpets are taken
up during the summer it is wiser not to beat them before putting them
away, provided, of course, that there are no moths in them. Moths can
also be kept out of carpets by having the floor washed in strong suds, in
which borax has been dissolved at the rate of a tablespoonful to a pail
of water, and after dusting black pepper on the edges tack the carpet
down again. By this means moths are kept away, and as corners and
folds are their favorite hiding places they are searched out and destroyed.
THE CARE OF CLOTHING. 205
Ingrain and other carpets after being taken up can be brightened in
color by sprinkling a pound or two of salt over their surface and sweep-
ing carefully. It is usual to occasionally wipe off the carpet with borax
water, using a wet flannel and taking care not to wet the carpet but only
dampen it.
If the moths are in the furniture, thoroughly beat them with sticks,
and if the goods are such as it is possible to do this, saturate with kero-
sene. If furniture, take a sharp stick and get them out of every creviqe ;
beat it well, and if this is done each week they will not do much damage.
Newspapers under a carpet will also keep out the moths. The lint
which accumulates at the head of flounces and under the folds of plait-
ing form admirable moth nests ; therefore winter dresses should be
carefully dusted before putting away. Garments which are to be made
over should be ripped apart ; they keep fresher, are easier to pack, may
be more readily cleaned, and, last, but not least, are all ready for work
in the fall.
THE CARE OF CLOTHING.
A clothes brush, a wisp broom, a bottle of ammonia, a sponge, a
hand brush, a cake of erasive soap, a vial of alcohol, should form a
part of every toilet. After all dust has been removed from clothing,
spots may be taken out of black cloth with the hand brush dipped in a
mixture of equal parts of ammonia, alcohol and water. This will
brighten as well as cleanse. Benzine is useful in removing grease spots.
Spots of grease may be removed from colored silks by putting on them
raw starch made into a paste with water. Dust is best removed from
silk by a soft flannel from velvet with a brush made specially for the
purpose. If hats and bonnets when taken from the head are brushed,
put away in boxes and covered up, instead of being laid down any-
where, they will last a long time. Shawls and all articles that may be
folded should be folded when taken from the person in their original
creases and laid away. Cloaks should be hung up in place, gloves
pulled out lengthwise, wrapped in tissue paper, and laid away ; laces
smoothed out nicely and folded, if requisite, so that they will come out
of the box new and fresh when needed again. A strip of old black
broadcloth four or five inches wide, rolled up tightly and sewed to keep
the roll in place, is better than a sponge or a cloth for cleansing black
and dark-colored clothes. Whatever lint come from it in rubbing is
black and does not show. When black cloths are washed, as they may
often be previous to making over, fresh clean water should be used, and
they should be pressed on the wrong side before being quite dry. If
washed in water previously used for white clothing they will be covered
with lint.
Page 182
Presented as published in 1886. 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
If carpets are taken up during the summer it is wiser not to beat them before putting them away, provided, of course, that there are no moths in them. Moths can also be kept out of carpets by having the floor washed in strong suds, in which borax has been dissolved at the rate of a tablespoonful to a pail of water, and after dusting black pepper on the edges tack the carpet down again. By this means moths are kept away, and as corners and folds are their favorite hiding places they are searched out and destroyed.
[illustration: THE CARE OF CLOTHING.]
Ingrain and other carpets after being taken up can be brightened in color by sprinkling a pound or two of salt over their surface and sweeping carefully. It is usual to occasionally wipe off the carpet with borax water, using a wet flannel and taking care not to wet the carpet but only dampen it.
If the moths are in the furniture, thoroughly beat them with sticks, and if the goods are such as it is possible to do this, saturate with kerosene. If furniture, take a sharp stick and get them out of every crevice ; beat it well, and if this is done each week they will not do much damage. Newspapers under a carpet will also keep out the moths. The lint which accumulates at the head of flounces and under the folds of plaiting form admirable moth nests ; therefore winter dresses should be carefully dusted before putting away. Garments which are to be made over should be ripped apart ; they keep fresher, are easier to pack, may be more readily cleaned, and, last, but not least, are all ready for work in the fall.
THE CARE OF CLOTHING.
A clothes brush, a wisp broom, a bottle of ammonia, a sponge, a hand brush, a cake of erasive soap, a vial of alcohol, should form a part of every toilet. After all dust has been removed from clothing, spots may be taken out of black cloth with the hand brush dipped in a mixture of equal parts of ammonia, alcohol and water. This will brighten as well as cleanse. Benzine is useful in removing grease spots. Spots of grease may be removed from colored silks by putting on them raw starch made into a paste with water. Dust is best removed from silk by a soft flannel from velvet with a brush made specially for the purpose. If hats and bonnets when taken from the head are brushed, put away in boxes and covered up, instead of being laid down anywhere, they will last a long time. Shawls and all articles that may be folded should be folded when taken from the person in their original creases and laid away. Cloaks should be hung up in place, gloves pulled out lengthwise, wrapped in tissue paper, and laid away ; laces smoothed out nicely and folded, if requisite, so that they will come out of the box new and fresh when needed again. A strip of old black broadcloth four or five inches wide, rolled up tightly and sewed to keep the roll in place, is better than a sponge or a cloth for cleansing black and dark-colored clothes. Whatever lint come from it in rubbing is black and does not show. When black cloths are washed, as they may often be previous to making over, fresh clean water should be used, and they should be pressed on the wrong side before being quite dry. If washed in water previously used for white clothing they will be covered with lint.