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Removal of Spots and Stains: Feathers
TO CLEAN FEATHERS, FURS, AND STRAW To Clean Feathers. - Prepare suds by shaving and boiling half a bar of hard white or naphtha soap in a saucepan with sufficient water. Dilute with warm soft water. Immerse the plume in this and allow it to soak for ten or fifteen minutes, occasionally drawing it rather loosely through the ands to strip out the dirt with the suds. Rinse in water of the same temperature. If not yet clean, lay the feather on a smooth surface and with a soft toothbrush rub gently with soap and water, working outwardly from the stem. Rinse in clear warm water and afterwards, if a white feather, in bluing water. Draw through the palm of the hand to squeeze out the water, but without twisting. Pin or stitch the stem to a cloth and hang up to dry with the thick end of the stem up and the plumage hanging down. Shake occasionally while drying it, or, if time will permit, chake the feathers near the stove until dry.
Or dry out of doors in a gentle breeze. But care must be taken that REMOVAL OF SPOTS AND STAINS the wind does not whip the feather the muslin and rub the feather careand break the stem. fully between the fingers to make it pliant.
To Renovate Feathers. - Black feathers after having been washed may be restored to their original luster as follows: dissolve 1 ounce of sulphate of iron in 1 quart of hot water. Immerse the feathers in this and let them steep until the liquid is cold. Hang up in a shady place to dry. Make a solution of logwood and gallnuts by boiling ounce of each in a copper vessel with 1 quart of water down to 1 pint. Remove from the fire, while hot, immerse the feathers, and allow them to remain until cool. Rinse in clear water and dry. Lay them on a smooth surface and rub from the stem outwardly with a piece of flannel slightly moistened in olive oil.
Grebe Feathers and Other Skins.- These may be washed in the same manner as ostrich plumes by first removing the lining. They must be handled with great care to prevent injury by tearing.
To Curl Feathers. - Feathers which have temporarily lost their curl from exposure to rain or fog may be improved by holding them over a fire and shaking occasionally until the matted fibers are loosened, when the curl will be restored.
When the curl has been entirely taken out by washing or soaking, it will be necessary to curl the fronds with the blunt edge of a knife or a piece of ivory. The curl will be more durable if the feather is held near the surface of a hot flatiron while curling. The feather should be bone dry. Do not take more than two or three fronds at a time, and draw them between the thumb and the blunt edge of a silver knife or ivory paper cutter. Begin at the point of the feather, and work along the stem on both sides. After a little practice feathers may be curled to look as good as new.
Swan's-down. - To clean swan'sdown, first tack the strips on a piece of muslin and wash same as ostrich plumes. When partially dry, remove To Prepare Quills for Writing.- Cut thin, broad layers of cork wide enough to float the quills without their tipping over. Bore holes through these the right size to thrust the nibs through them so that they will be immersed when the corks float upon the water. Place the corks containing the quills in a deep kettle or other receptacle so that the cover can be put on without interfering with the quills, and so that the nibs will be immersed in water. Boil them three or four hours. Dry for twenty-four hours, remove the pith, polish with flannel, and dry in a warm oven. This method hardens the quills like bone without making them brittle, and also renders them transparent.
To Clean Fur. -The nature of fur is similar to that of wool, as both are animal fibers. Hence anything that will injure wool should not be used on fur of any description. Stains of grease or paint may be removed from fur hats or other articles by means of turpentine. Afterwards sponge with alcohol and dry.
Or other furs may be cleaned by rubbing damp corn meal through them and allowing it to dry. Afterwards remove by shaking and brushing. The coarse furs, as bear, buffalo, etc., may be scrubbed with warm suds made of pure white soap and pure water, and their appearance will be very much improved by combing with a coarse comb. To improve the luster of furs, heat corn meal in an iron skillet to a rich brown but without burning. While still hot sprinkle it over the fur and rub with a flannel cloth. Afterwards remove by shaking and brushing.