The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-11
How to Clean Lamps.

The common cause Of the smelling o.
lamps is the clogging of the tiny airholcs
at the base of the burner under the cap,
ana the crusting on the inside of the cap.
Tie arholes may be clear for a little
while by washing the burner in hot soap
suds, but this will have no effect upon
the crust in the cap. 1t will he as firm rs
ever To look at the Inside of the cap
there doesn't seem to be anything there,
for the crust is burnt on TO the brass SO
evenly and smoothly that it is, to all ap-
pcarances, a part OF the cap.
To clean the burner thoroughly, put 1t
in old tin which can be kept for this
kind of work, cover with water, throw
in lump of washing soda about the size
of walnut. put on the stove and let all
boil together about ten minutes. Re
move the burner from the water and
wipe dry with an old cloth or paper. If
it has been neglected for any length OF
time, on the inside Of the cap will be
found the crust so softened that slight
rubbing with a cloth will remove it.
When thoroughly dried the burner will
be nearly as clean and nice as when first
taken from the store.
The soda very often turns the brass to
dark lead color, giving it an antique
look. which is liked by some; but if the
bright brass is preferred this may be re:
stored by rubbing with ammonia and
whiting. Ii soda is not convenient boil
it in good strong soap suds and it will
clean it very well. If burners arc cleaned
in this way once every two weeks, which
is not too often, they will not get out of
order as easily and will last great deal
longer, besides insurng bright, clear
light, free from any offensive odor.
Try and arrange the work so as to
clean the lamps the first thing in the
morning after the breakfast dishes have
been washed and put away, for if they
are left until afternoon, they are very apt
to be forgotten or, if remembered, they
get careless, hurried leaning. lIavca
pair of scissors especially for trimming
The wicks. and have them sharp. Eu!l
scissors are never for this work. Lift up
the cap and cut off the wick close to the
fiat tube through which it passes, and it
will be sure to be straight; then turn up
the wick and cut a small piece from
each corner, which when the lamp is Ii;
will give a broad, round-cornercd flame.
1t is claimed by some that chimncys
washed in soapsuds break easier than
those washed in clean water To obvatc
this, if washed in warm soa apsuds, rinse in
clear water and their Will be no danger
of their breaking. After rin?ing, let drain
for little while, then wipe with soft
cloth or piece of newspaper. Once in
while wash out the inside of the bowl
of the lamp with warm soapsuds to clear
it of the sediment of the Oil that settles
at tho bottom. When trimmed and filled,
wipe we'll, put on the chimney and turn
down the wick just below the top of the
fiat tube.
1t is by leaving the wick above this
that causes that little circle of oil around
the cap, and which very often flows
down the outside of the bowl, necessi-
ta!ing a wiping before being lit. When
lighting the lamp sec that the wick is up
only a short distance above the tube
Put on the chimney and let the gas, get
heated gradually before turning it up to
its full height.
If cloths are used to wipe the lamps
they must OF ne essity be kept in a
close place, and are in danger at any time
of firing the house. Many Of the fires
with origin unknown were, no doubt,
due to carefully concealed lamp cloths.
1t is better to use old newspaper for this
work, which is cleaner and nicer than
cloths. York. Macs.