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House Cleaning: Gilt

CLEANING PICTURE FRAMES To Protect Gilt Picture Frames.- Brush gilt frames with water in which onions have been boiled-three or four to a pint. Also wash the glass with it. Onion water will not injure the frames, and will prevent flies from lighting upon the picture.

Or, after dusting, go over the frames lightly with a soft flannel cloth moistened in kerosene.

Or give them a coat of clear parchment size. This will prevent the dirt from darkening the gilt.

The size may be sponged with cold water or oil of turpentine, and left to dry without wiping.

HOUSE CLEANING Or give the frames when new a coat of white varnish. This may be washed with clear cold water.

Or wash soiled gilt frames with a gill of vinegar dissolved in a pint of cold water and applied with a soft brush.

Or stir into a quart of water enough powdered sulphur to give it a slightly yellow tinge, and in this water boil four or five sliced onions.

Strain and apply with a soft brush to soiled gilt frames.

Or to 3 ounces of white of egg add 1 ounce of chloride of potassium or soda and beat up together. Dust the frame with a soft brush, and brush over them with the above mixture.

Or apply well-beaten white of egg with a camel's-hair brush and wipe off with a soft flannel cloth. But rub with the cloth very little and very lightly.

Or wash with alcohol or spirits of turpentine, using a soft sponge, and let dry without wiping.

All picture frames should be treated with one of the above preparations several times during the spring and summer.

Or cover the frames with oiled tarlatan, which may be obtained ready oiled for this purpose.

Or brush boiled linseed oil over ordinary tarlatan. This is excellent for keeping dust from books, bric-a-brac, and various other objects. a Apply alcohol to fly spots and other stains with a camel's-hair brush to soften them, and wipe off the frame with a soft chamois or flannel cloth. Do not use linen for this purpose, as it deadens the brightness of the gilding.

To Renovate Gilt Frames.-Apply gilt paint with a camel's-hair brush to spots where the gilding has come off so as to expose the wood.

Or if the bit of gilding that has come off can be found and is large enough, moisten the spot with glue and replace it, bringing it up to a level by means of putty if necessary.

Let dry and go over it with gold paint.

To Clean Gilt Ornaments. - Make a strong solution of cyanide of potassium. But remember that this is a deadly poison. Apply with a stiff brush, or dip the articles in this solution. Afterwards rinse with water, using a soft brush, and dry in boxwood or other hard-wood shavings. These may be obtained of any jeweler. Store away gilt articles in boxwood shavings to keep them from tarnishing.

Or clean them with a lather of soft white soap, rinsing with clear water.

To Clean Silver Ornaments.-Make a suds by dissolving hard white soap in boiling water, immerse the articles, and boil for five minutes. Remove and scrub gently with a soft brush, rinse in clear boiling water, and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Lay them near the fire until the moisture has perfectly evaporated, or cover them with boxwood sawdust until fully dried. vas.