The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-10-15
DOMESTIC NOTES.
Uses OF AMMONIA.

I-IHo VI AmMC-NAh"
One of the handiest things TO have
about the house is bottle of ammonia.
A mixture of one part of ammonia and
four or more parts of soft water can be
used for any of the purposes for which
soap and water are employed, and for
many Others besides. A sponge or very
soft cloth dipped in the mixture will re-
move dirt from painted or vanished
woodwork without rubbing, and conse-
quently without injury. AmmOn and
water far preferable to soap end water
for cleaning furniture and small art cles
that would be injured by rubbing.
For cleaning watch chains and all
articles of iewelry there is nOthi 9 equal
to ammonia. 1t may be applied with a
sponge o.; soft cloth, or the articles may
be dipped and moved through it. 1t 5
the best article to use in cleaning coat
collars, brushes, and clothing that has
been soiled by oil or grease. 1t should
always he diluted with at least four parts
of soft water The water employed
should be cold as hot water would cause
thea AMIN MIA to evapOrate at once. Ar
ticles washed with ammOn require no
rinsing, as when soap-suds are used, as
the ammonia soon evapOrates.
HOW TO SOFTEN HARD WATER.
As was explained in previous article
water is hard because it contains lime.
Ordinarily the lime is in the form of the
carbonate, which is dissolved by means
f carbOnic acid in he water ANY
method that will remove this carbonic
acid from the water or will cause it to
unite with some other substance, W II
liberate the li4e and it will fall 10 the
bottom. Ihe deposit Cf carbonate of
lime the bottom of tea-kettles is ex-
pla ned on this principle: The rapid
boiling of the water DIR YES off the car
bon acid when the carbonite of lime
sinks, and in time forms a solid cake.
If hard water is boiled for me time
in an open vessel the carbonic acid will
escape, aud the lime will fall to the
bottom of the vessel. If after the water
becomes cool, it is pped off, it will be
found to be nearlys #. Another method
of softening hard wa er consists in adding
some substance that will take up the
caTbOnic acid. Ammonia, potash, and
all will accomplish this, and will cause
the lime to ia to the bottom of h9 dish.
The cheapest material to use for this
purpose is I've formed from wood ashes
1t has lOCg beea employed by persons
who did OF understand he phi osophy
of its use.
DESTROYING RATS.
Before winter comes, it is very dCsir-
able thing to kill the rats that are about
the premises. If this is not done before
the ground freezes up, it will be difficult
to do at all. There is little danger III
employing poison in killing rats, if it is
used before the cellar is filled with fruit
and vegetables and while the vermin can
run out of doors. The cheapest and about
the safest thing to Use is arsenic. If hot
biscuit are split in two, buttered, sprink-
led with sugar, and then more melted
butter or fat added to keep the last in
place, they will form a tempting, and, at
the same time, very unhealthful article
of diet for rats.
To guard against danger, the biscuit
should be placed in a pan or other sUita-
bic vessel, which should be put in place
that is frequented by rats In thCmorn-
of it all night, the pan should be re-
moved, and the contents buried or COW
eredup in the manure heap. It's of little
use to leave the food for second rcpast.
as the rats will not touch it. Rats that
have eaten of arsenic, will generally seek
Il ditch containing water, and will die in
the course of few hours Rats that have
not eaten sufficient arsenic to cause death.
will generally leave the premises as soon
as they find the neighborhoOd an I'M
healthy one.