TO WASH RIBBONS, SILK HANDKERCHIEFS, ETC.—None but ribbons of excellent quality, of one entire colour, and of a plain unfigured surface, will bear washing. A good satin ribbon may be made to look very well by washing it carefully, first in cold water, to which add a few drops of spirits of wine; then make a lather of white soap and lukewarm water, and wash the ribbon through that; afterwards rinse it in cold water, pull it even, and dry it gradually. When dry, stretch out the ribbon on an ironing-table (securing it to the cloth by pins), and sponge it evenly all over with a very weak solution of isinglass, that has been boiled in clear water and strained; or, if you have no isinglass, rice-water will be a tolerable substitute for restoring the stiffness and gloss. To iron the ribbon, lay it within a sheet of clean smooth letter paper (the paper being both under and over it), and press it with a heated iron moved quickly. If the colour is lilac, add a little dissolved pearlash to the rinsing water; if green, a little vinegar; if pink, or blue, a few drops of oil of vitriol; if yellow, a little tincture of saffron. Other colours may be set by stirring a tea-spoonful of ox-gall into the first water. If white, a salt-spoonful of cream of tartar, mixed with the soap-suds. It is seldom worth while to take the trouble of washing ribbon, unless you have a tolerable quantity to do. Unfigured silk handkerchiefs and scarfs may be washed and ironed in the above manner. The proportion of spirits of wine is about a table-spoonful to a gallon of water.—M. D. TO CLEAN GOLD LACE.—Rub it with a soft brush, dipped in roche-alum, burnt and sifted to a very fine powder. I have tried this several times, and always found the lace brightened and improved by the method.—W. J. J. TO CLEAN BLACK LACE VEILS.—These are cleansed by passing them through a warm liquor of bullock’s gall and water; after which, they must be rinsed in cold water, then cleansed for stiffening, and finished as follows:—Take a small piece of glue, about the size of a bean, pour boiling water upon it, which will dissolve it, and when dissolved, pass the veil through it, then clap it between your hands and frame. TO WASH A WHITE LACE VEIL.—Put the veil into a strong lather of white soap and very clear water, and let it simmer slowly for a quarter of an hour. Take it out and squeeze it well, but be sure not to rub it. Rinse it in two cold waters, with a drop or two of liquid blue in the last. Have ready some very clear and weak gum arabic water, or some thin starch, or rice-water. Pass the veil through it, and clear it by clapping. Then stretch it out even, and pin it to dry on a linen cloth, making the edge as straight as possible, opening out all the scallops, and fastening each with pins. When dry, lay a piece of thin muslin smoothly over it, and iron it on the wrong side.—M.