The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-26
HOW TO CLEAN METAL.
Use Finely Sifted Rotten Stone and Sweet


OIL.
To begin with brass, it il best to
avoid all clenning mediums containing
corrosive acids, and there is really moth
Ing alter than rotten stone and oil-fine-
ly sifted rotten stone and good sweet oil.
Brass fenders may DO cleaned either in
one piece. or better still if taken to
pieces by unscrewing the Sorrows A soft
rubber Of blanket or flannel wrapped
round piece of wood or cork dipped in
OIL wrung out and powdered over with
rotten stone will soon polish up the fiat
portions. RoundportiOns, such us knobs
and bars, are best cleaned by passing
round them band of flannel (moisteucd
as ahove), pulling the ends alternately
Coal scnttlcs and any repousso articles,
spch as kettles and bellows, can best be-
cleaned by brushing with the Same COM
pound or with ammonia. OF course all
the coating of lacquer must be removed
before cleansing becomes possible, and
MI traces of tho rotten stone dust must
be brushed out of tho recssses. Nothing
looks more dctestablc than brass work
with patinn Of rcd or brown polishing
paste. The same applies TO brass candle
sticks, trays and walters Doorplatcs
ought to be removed before vigorous
cleaning, or else the paint may bo rub
bed off and leave an ugly halo round
tho doorplate Stair rods can be clean
ed by making thick pad of felt, anoint-
ed with rotten stone and oil, to shut like
book. The rods must then be inserted
and worked i'll and out for half their
length, then reversed, and treated sim
ilarly for the other end All brass
things should be Finished first by rub
bling with an oiledTor vaselinod rag, and
then by rubbing With leather. To Sc
cure good effect, rubbing should all be
i'll one direction. Cross rubbing never
gives n good result. Copper may be
cleaned i'll exactly the Same way rs
brass, though ut times very fine emery
powder may be required to give the best
results.
Timed ware looks very nico when
new, but vigorous securing soon wears
through the thin coating Of tin and
leaves the iron underneath exposed to
view and TO atmospheric action. Whit
lug with plain water, or else with am
monia, is the best for such wear, only
to remove all traces. If tho iron under
neathis exposed, retinning may be nee
essary. Such ware should be carefully
dried inside to prevent tho chance of
rusting.
The best cleaning medium for pewter
and britannia metal is rotten stone
mixed with scrapcd up yellow soap, or
soft soap, with the addition of some
turpentine. This sounds a curious mix
ture, but the effect is magical Oh dish
covers, we'll dishes, etc. The final rub
bling is best done with flannel and dry
rotten stone. If Il highly polished sur
face is desired, thcro is no reason why
such goods, if the metal is good, should
not be FURNISHED with steel burniaher.
Crates that have been BACKED must
be scraped with steel soraper, supple
lnented by turpcntine applied OH brush
OF rag A chain burnisher will also help
in giving high polish to bright steel
goods.
jewelers. soap is excellent for any
articles that will stand water, and any
thing so washed is best dried in box
wood sawdust. as this prevents any I'M
even drying and consequent streakiness.
Rouge is very commonly used by jaw
elers and is admirable for fiat surfaces,
such rs water cases, spoons and forks,
but is apt to stick in any depression or
projections in chased, engraved and re-
pousse work, and thus to give Il reddish
tinge to the article cleaned with it.