The Van Buren press., 1897-06-05
STORING FuRs AT HOME.
simple Prcventives for KeepIEs
Them Free from Moths.

Thcm free from Moths.
Eyes, furs are easy enough to keep
during warm weather." man well
known as dealer and storer of furs
affirmed the other day ,when approached
on the subject. IF ladies' would only
use a few simple preventives they could
keep them at home as well as we can
in our storereoms. OF course, a fur
garment is better hung up than folded
away in a box or trunk. First, be-
cause there is less danger of crushing
and wrinkles; second, because moths
can be more readily seen at their work.
The best plan is to select dark closet
and have it papered all over, top and
bottom, with tar paper. AS its sur
face is sticky, it should be covered with
a second coat of paper, TO prevent The
clothes coming in direct contact with
the tar. For this second coat | find
newspaper as good as anything that
can be used. Perhaps the smell OF
printers ink helps the tar to do its
work, or it may be because newspaper
is porous and allows the tar odor to
VIM I'LL iliOiN iSiNiIgs i'tioAS
hanging in this closet all garments,
both fur and WOOL should be carefully
beaten with a slender cane. Here is the
great secret of keeping furs. 1t is in
cleaning them before they are put
away. If a moth or a moth egg goes
into the closet with them the damage
is only partially prevented. While the
egg will hatch the moth only lives for
a short while and cannot increase, but
during that brief life | have known
these little insects to spoil the beauty
CT an elegant garment. So the greatest
care should be taken to beat and comb
furs clean before storing them away.
For this purpose a fur comb should be
used, or q slender, strong cane that
will reach the skin itself. The safest
plan is to remove the garments from
this closet about once a month and
give them a thorough beating. Some
persons hang them in the sun on these
occasions, believing that the sun de-
stroys moths and moth eggs, while, as
q matter of fact, it matches the eggs,
and, like any other heat, makes the
moth thrive.
where only a chest or trunk, or, as
is sometimes the case, only a paste
Loard box is to be had, then the man.
agement is different. After the clean
ing process, which is always the same,
it is best for the chest, box or trunk
to be lined with tar paper after the
same manner as the closet. But where
this is not practicable any of the nu-
merous moth preyentives may be used;
though sold under different names.
their ingredients are about the same.
They should be carefully sewn in bags
to prevent contact with the furs, as
they invariably leave spots on dark
colored skins. The odor can be over
come by a thorough beating and hang
ing for several hours in the wind or
open air. That is, where the furs have
been removed and beaten during the
season; otherwise the odor is hard to
get rid of.
"Yes, some dealers use the fumes of
sulphur to clean furs already attacked
by moths, but that should be a last re-
sort, as it discolors the garment and
necessitates it being re-dyed. Many Of
the old-fashioned preyentives have
some virtue in them, as sassafras, china
root, etc, and can be used to advantage
by people in the country where they
are easily obtained, but persons in the
city have better means in their reach
Emily McLaws, in Chicago Record.