THE CARE OF SILVER, GLASS, ETC.—­If silver is well washed in hot water containing a few drops of ammonia, and carefully dried with a fine, soft towel, it will keep bright for a long time without other cleaning.  If special cleaning is necessary, try the following:  Place the silver in a pan of hot water, then with a soft cloth, soaped and sprinkled with powdered borax, scour the silver well; afterward rinse in clear cold water, and dry with a clean cloth.  If a more thorough cleaning is needed, apply moistened Spanish whiting with a silver brush and soft flannel, afterward polishing with dry whiting and chamois skin.  Frequent scouring should be avoided by careful washing, as too much rubbing wears out plated ware and dulls the best of silver.  Silver ware and plate which is not in ordinary use can be kept from tarnishing by varnishing with collodion, a solution of gun-cotton in ether.  The articles should be carefully brushed in this colorless varnish with an elastic brush, taking care that the entire surface is covered.  The film of collodion will protect the underlying metal from the action of the sulphurous vapors to which is due the blackening of silver.

Tinware which has become blackened may be made to look bright and shining again by rubbing with a damp cloth dipped in sal-soda.  Afterward wipe dry.  Sand soap or sapolio may be used for the same purpose.

Cut-glass ware which has become in any way blurred or tarnished can be restored by polishing it with a soft piece of newspaper.  First rub well with a piece slightly moistened and afterward repeat the process with dry paper.  Rubbing with a soft brush dipped in fine, soft whiting is another method often employed for the same purpose.  Cut-glass water-bottles dim or stained on the inside are best cleaned by rinsing with dilute muriatic acid, then carefully rinsing several times in clear cold water to remove all trace of the acid, which is a poison.

All fine china should be handled carefully in washing and drying.  There will be less danger of breakage if the china is gradually heated by allowing it to stand in a pan of warm water before being put into hot water.  The same is true of all table ware, and is of especial importance in cold weather.

Brass faucets and other brass or copper articles may be cleaned by rubbing with whiting wet with aqua ammonia.

Yellowed ivory handles may be restored to their original whiteness by rubbing with sandpaper and emery; mineral soap or pumice stone may be used for the same purpose.  Nice table cutlery packed away for a season may be kept from rusting by covering the metal portion with a thin coating of paraffine.  Rust may be removed from steel by scouring with emery and oil; but if there is much corrosion, some weak muriatic acid will be needed.  This, however, will take some of the metal with the rust, and must be washed off quickly.

Trays and japanned goods should never have boiling water poured over them, as it will make the varnish crack and peel.  If a tray is badly soiled, wet with a sponge moistened in warm water and soap, and rub with a dry cloth; if it looks smeary, dust on a little flour and rub again.  Marks and scratches may sometimes be removed by rubbing with a flannel cloth dipped in sweet oil.