Useful Tips

To Clean Books
Books stained with grease can be cleaned as follows: dissolve tartaric acid in water and moisten the stain to be removed. Then add a little ether, sandwich the stained page between two sheets of blotting paper, and iron with a hot iron.

To Preserve a Pencil Drawing for a Longer Time
Mix half skimmed milk and half water. Brush over the drawing with a soft brush. Dry with blotting paper.

To Prevent Glue from Molding
Add a little turpentine.

To Restore Old Fabrics
Beat and brush the fabric, wash it, dry it, lay it flat on a table, and run a soft brush in the direction of the fabric with a little gum arabic dissolved in it, easily available at paint shops. Then cover with paper and then a board, weighted down, and leave until the fabric is completely dry.
If it's a black fabric, boil together small green branches of oak, hazel, or poplar. Strain the infusion and soak the fabric for a good hour. Rinse with clean water and let it dry. Iron, placing a damp cloth between the iron and the fabric.

Chinese cement for repairing pottery
Beat together: 60 grams of fresh blood, 80 grams of slaked lime powder, and 9 grams of powdered alum. Once beaten well, apply this putty to the cracks or edges of the breaks. Hold it in place until completely dry, tightening it with braids or string.

To remove rust stains from clothing
Pour a few drops of commercially available tin protochloride solution onto the stain and rinse immediately with plenty of water.