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Removal of Spots and Stains: Clean

To Clean Velvet. - First dust the velvet thoroughly, using for this purpose an old piece of rolled-up crape. Sponge with benzine or gasoline, same as silk.

Stretch the velvet right side up over a basin of boiling water so that the steam must pass through it. While thus stretched brush with a whisk broom in the direction of the nap.

The time spent depends upon the condition of the velvet, but if patiently continued the result will be entirely satisfactory. Any ingenious person can arrange a contrivance to hold the velvet in place while brushing, or an assistant may do so.

Or dampen a newspaper and set it in a hot oven until it steams. Lay this on the ironing board, cover it with a folded cotton cloth, and lay the velvet on it. While the steam is rising, brush the velvet against the pile.

Or heat a flatiron, turn it face upward, and lay a wet cotton cloth on it. Lay the velvet, nap up, over the iron, and brush while steaming.

To Revive Faded Velvet or Plush. --Brush slightly with a sponge dipped in chloroform.

To Clean Satin. - Sponge satin neckties and other small articles with a weak solution of borax, following the grain, and afterwards iron on the wrong side.

To Clean White Silk. - White silk may be washed in soapsuds the same as other delicate white fabrics, being careful not to rub or squeeze the fabric so as to cause creases or wrinkles. Or it may be washed in gasoline, or dry-cleaned by rubbing or dusting it with magnesia and laying it away for two or three days in a paper bag covered with magnesia, afterwards brushing it with a soft, heavy brush.

Naphtha soap will remove most stains from white silk, including paint stains.

To Bleach White Silk. - When white silk articles have become yellow from the laundry or from being packed away, dip them in a solution of one tablespoonful of ammonia to a quart of warm water. Squeeze out this solution, and rinse in bluing water until fully restored. Hang in the shade to dry and while damp press between dry cloths on the wrong side.

Or dissolve 4 ounces of salt and 4 ounces of oxalic acid in 6 quarts of water. Immerse the silk in this solution until it is bleached white. This will require a half hour to an hour or more. Rinse thoroughly.

Or the silk, after having been laundered, may be bleached with the umes of brimstone. Suspend a largesized paper flour sack upside down, either out of doors on a still day or in an outhouse, and put in it the article to be bleached, attaching it to the sides of the bag with pins or basting thread. Put burning coke or charcoal on an iron pan, cover with flowers of sulphur, and invert a tin funnel over it so that the fumes will pass up into the bag. Afterwards sponge the article carefully and expose to air and sunshine until the odor has passed off.

To Remove Stains from Colored Silks. To remove acid stains, apply liquid ammonia with a brush or soft rag, taking care not to rub the fabric, as the ammonia may cause the colors to fade or run. Should this happen, afterwards apply chloroform to restore the color.

Or cover the spot with cooking soda or magnesia and moisten with clear water.

TO CLEAN COLORED GOODS Alkali Stains.-Moisten the spot with vinegar or tartaric acid, and afterwards apply chloroform to restore its color.