Five thousand receipts in all the useful and domestic arts : constituting a complete and universal practical library, and operative cyclopædia / by Colin Mackenzie.

  • Mackenzie, Colin, 1775?-1827.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Five thousand receipts in all the useful and domestic arts : constituting a complete and universal practical library, and operative cyclopædia / by Colin Mackenzie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    Keep tlic cottons always clean and dry, as well as the stick to put them on. Choose them of a :fair thickness; not loose, but tight woven, firm, and cut even : do not get too much oil at once, as k loses its goodness by keeping. Cut the cottons even, and fill the lamps with oil when trimming •them ; bnt not so as to run over. When fresh •cottons are put in let the oil down, so that they may get well soaked, after which put up the part •.that keeps the oil up. Have a tin pot with a long spout to put the oil in with, to prevent spill- ing. Clean the glass with a damp sponge dipped in whiting ; rub it well, but not hard, with a cloth or soft leather, and finish it with a clean linen ■'doth, or silk handkerchief. If the brass part of •the glass lamp wants cleaning, use soap and flan- nel, and let them all be dusted every day, before igliting them. If the patent lamps be lighted up f?very evening, they should be emptied once a .veek ; do not put the oil that comes from them nto the jar with the best oil, but keep it separate i o burn in the common lamps. In cold weather warm the oil, by putting the amps near the hall fire, just before lighting them : >ut be careful in carrying them about the house, or fear of spilling the oil. When lighting them, fo not raise the cotton up too high or too quickly, o as to smoke or crack the glasses. In frosty •eeather in particular, the glasses are very easily roken by a sudden transition from cold to heat, .‘aise the cottons therefore, gradually, and let the lass get warm liy degrees. Use wax-tapers, or latches without brimstone for lighting them ; nt not paper. If any doubt arises as to the imps burning well, light them a little before they re wanted. TO CLEAN CANDLESTICKS AND SNUFFERS. If silver or plated, care must be taken that icy are not scratched in getting off the wax or rea=e ; therefore never use a knife for that pur- i ose, nor hold them before the fire to melt the trax or grease, as in general the hollow part of l ie cartillesticks, towards the bottom, is filled with a composition that will melt if made too hot. Pour boiling water over them ; this will take all the grease off without injury, if wiped directly with an old cloth, and save the brushes from being greased : let them in all other respects be cleaned like the rest of the plate. If japanned bed-room candlesticks, never hold them near the fire, or scrape them with a knife ; the best way is to pour water upon them just hot enough to melt the grease ; then wipe them with a cloth, and if they look smeary, sprinkle a little whiting, or flour upon them, and rub it clean off. He very partieulat in cleaning the patent snuffers, as they go with a spring, and are easily broken. The part which shuts up the snuffing lias in general a small hole in it, where a pin can be put, to keep it open while cleaning it; be sure to have them well cleaned, that the snuff may not drop about when using them. The extin- guishers likewise must be well cleaned in the in- side, and be put ready with the snuffers, that the candlesticks may not be takpn up without them. If the sockets of the candlesticks be too large for the candles, put a piece of paper round the end, but do not let it lie seen above the nozzle of the candlestick. Be particular putting them in straight, and having clean hands, that they may not be dirted. Always light the candles to burn off the cotton, before setting them up, but leave the ends long enough to be lighted again with ease, when wanted.— Footman's Directory. TO CLEAN FURNITURE. Keep the paste or oil in a proper can or jar, that there may be no danger of upsetting when using it. Have two pieces of woollen cloth, one for rubbing it on, the other for rubbing it dry and polishing; also an old linen cloth to finish with, and a piece of smooth soft cork to rub out the stains : use a brush if the paste be bard. Al- ways dust the table well before the oil or paste is put on ; and if it should be stained, rub it with a damp sponge, and then with a dry cloth. If the slain does not disappear rub it well with the