CARE TAKING
Taking care of things means more than just keeping them clean. Anything that is particularly old, fragile or valuable even if it is only sentimental value needs special treatment.
If you are the kind of person who likes to live with old fashioned things, then you will probably think it worthwhile to spend time and care keeping them in good condition. ORNAMENTS- When transporting delicate pieces of china, glass and so on, wrap them first in damp newspaper.
It will form a firm protective covering around them as it dries. Pottery ornaments and ashtrays are liable to scratch highly polished surfaces. To prevent this, glue small pieces of felt or baize to their bases, or use bits of self-adhesive foam rubber draught excluder which you can buy in rolls from hardware.
BRONZE -Bronze should not be washed.
Dust carefully, then wipe with a soft cloth moistened with linseed oil. Dry in a warm place and polish with a chamois leather.
CANDLESTICKS
Freeze candlesticks until the wax on them is quite hard.
It can then be cracked off easily. COPPER AND BRASS- Tarnished copper can be cleaned by rubbing with half a lemon dipped in salt or with vinegar. Wash after wards in soapy water, then polish. Or make a paste of equal amounts of flour and salt mixed with vinegar. Rub this on to tarnished brass or copper and leave to dry.
Then rinse and polish with a soft cloth. Small brass objects such as knobs from bedsteads, picture, hooks and drawer handles can be cleaned by soaking overnight in household ammonia, then boiling in water in which haricot beans have been cooked. Allow to dry then polish with a clean and soft cloth. Alternatively soak in vinegar, rinse in hot water and dry off in a warm oven.
IVORY- Sunlight is good for ivory.
Leave your ivory ornaments in a sunny place to keep them white and we can leave the piano open so that sunlight can get to the keys. Japan is a hard varnish which gives wood a black, glossy finish. Wipe the surface with warm soapy water, dry, sprinkle with flour, leave for half an hour, then dust and polish.
ONYX
Sponge with methylated spirit. SILVER- The best way to clean silver is with jeweler` s rouge(which you can buy from hardware shops) rubbed in by hand. Or rub used lemon halves over ornate silver, then wipe with a warm damp cloth and polish with a soft dry one.
