Excerpt from The Farm, Garden, Stable, and Aviary: Part III. the Stable
The same remarks apply to the underworks and wheels, except that when the mud is well soaked, a soft mop, free from any hard substance in the head, may be used. Never use a spoke-brush, which, in conjunction with the grit from the road, acts like sand-paper on the varnish, scratching it, and of course effectually removing all gloss. If persisted in, it will rub off the varnish and paint down to the wood. Never allow water to dry itself on a carriage, as it will invariably leave stains.
"To remove spots or stains, a few drops of furniture polish, reviver, or even linseed oil, rubbed on with a dab made of woollen rags (using as little of the fluid as possible) will generally suffice. If the panels are very badly stained, nothing but a regular flatting down and hand-polishing, or even revarnishing, will be effectual. Patent leather may be easily revived in the same way.
"Enamelled leather heads and aprons should be washed with soap and water, and then very lightly rubbed with linseed oil. In cleaning brass or silver, no acid, mercury, or grit should be used; the polish should be obtained solely by friction.
"To prevent or destroy moths in woollen linings, use turpentine and camphor. In a close carriage, the evaporation from this mixture, when placed in a saucer, and the glasses up, is a certain cure.
"Be careful to grease the bearings of the fore-carriage so as to allow it to turn freely. If it turns with difficulty, the shafts or pole will probably strain or break.
"Examine a carriage occasionally, and whenever a bolt or clip appears to be getting loose, tighten it up with a wrench. Always have little repairs done at once. Should the tires of the wheels get at all slack, so that the joints of the felloes are seen, have them immediately contracted, or the wheels will be permanently injured. Keep a small bottle of black japan and a brush always handy to paint the treads and steps when worn by the feet; nothing makes a carriage look more tidy than this. Lay it on as thinly as possible. Never draw out or back a carriage into a coach-house with the horses attached: more accidents occur from this than any other cause. Headed carriages should never be allowed to stand with the head down; and aprons of every kind should be frequently unfolded, or they will soon spoil. As a general rule, a carriage retains its freshness better with gentle work than if standing for long periods in a coach-house. If not used frequently, draw it out from the coach-house occasionally to give it an airing."
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