HINTS AND IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

HINTS AND IDEAS.

THINGS WORTH KNOWING. CLEANING FURNITURE. The cleaning of upholstered furniture is not an easy task when one does not possess a vacuum cleaner. If one is lucky enough to have a vacuum cleaner, then the thorough removal of dust and dirt from every crevice in the most handsomely upholstered furniture is quite a simple matter. The next best alternative is beating upholstered furniture in the open air. Loose covers prevent a lot of dust and dirt penetrating to the upholstery, but they must be removed occasionally for shaking and washing, and the opportunity of giving the chairs and settees a thorough overhauling should then be seized. Beat them lightly, then with a soft brush remove all surface dust. If it is impossible to remove upholstered furniture into the garden for cleaning, move it as near an open window as you can, then cover it with a clean dust-sheet that has been dipped in cold water and wrung out. If the furniture is covered with damp dust-sheets while being beaten the dust will be collected on the sheets and will not fly about the room. Stains on upholstery may be removed by some of the patent cleaning agents, or by petrol, if this is used with the greatest care and out of doors, or even by digging a clean rag in a warm, soapy lather, wringing it very tightly, passing it gently over the 6tained upholstery, and then wiping it dry with another clean cloth. Do not use a wet cloth, and do not allow any water to soak through the upholstery.

DECORATING CHAIRS. When the family dislikes cushions and it is felt the room requires the touches of colour given by them linen backs and arms may be pulled over the easy chairs. These not only look well, but preserve the coverings. To make the back "pullover," examine the back of the chair, and it will then be observed that its two sides are shaped, whether or not covered with separate pieces of velvet or tapestry. Cut a paper pattern to this shape, allowing it to reach down to the arm. Cut two pieces of linen to the pattern, and take a third piece, an inch wider (to allow turnings) than the back of the chair and as long as the combined top and sides of a side piece. Stitch this strip to the side pieces to form a bag. It may be necessary to ease the straight strip of linen a little while machining round the side pieces, and the tension must be loose.

To make the arm coverings, cut a pieec of linen-to the shape of the front of the arms and long enough to fall below the chair seat; machine round this (except at the lower edge) a strip of linen three inches wider than the whole length of the arm. Put this over the arm, tucking the superfluous linen, on the inside, into the chair seat. Shape off the linen at the end distant from the front so that it fits snugly, against the back of the chair and flows out loosely, and undo a little of the join at the inside front, so that the linen front piece will hang free from the tucked-in part, or cut it off level with the chair seat. Hem all round. Before hemming the top put both it and arm pieces on the chair, and then hem it to a depth proportionate to the height of the chair. WHEN BRASS IS TARNISHED. Tarnished brass is caused by the lacquer becoming worn off, and in order to restore a polished surface the fittings need to be relacquered. To do this, first of all remove the fittings from the furniture and place them in a hot solution of strong soda water for about half an hour, after which give the fittings a good scrubbing with a stiff brush. Most of the tarnish will be removed, and any odd patches which remain can be smeared over with spirits of salts and again treated with soda water. Be very careful when using the spirits of salts, as it is very poisonous. Do not use it when there are children about. Dry the brass and bake it in an oven for about half an hour. Then polish the surface with a piece of wash leather. Make a solution consisting of Joz anatto, loz turmeric, saffron and 1 pint methylated spirit. Strain the solution through a linen rag, and then add about 2Joz seed lac, the whole being gently heated. The fittings are relacquered by bring-, ing them to a gentle heat in the oven and carefully brushing them over with the above solution.

WHAT BRAN WILL DO. For paintwork and varnished woodwork bran water is excellent. Coloured Sgoods, if washed in bran water, will not lose their colour. Bran is excellent also for the hair as a scalp cleanser, and makes the hair glossy. Used instead of soap, it softens and whitens the hands. To prepare bran water, fill a small bag with bran, place in a bowl and cover with boiling water. VACUUM CLEANERS. Vacuum cleaners should be examined from time to time for the small holes that may appear in the dust-bag. A piece of black adhesive plaster will serve to cover the place securely. If you are the proud possessor of a suction cleaner, then you can clean your house from attic to cellar of all dust and dirt without raising any dust in the process, and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your house is hygienically clean. STALE CAKE. A cake which lias been kept in the tin for any length of time becomes dry and unappetising and is not very tempting fare to place before unexpected visitors for tea. While the bread and butter is being cut, however, the cake may be rapidly improved in the following manner. Place the cake on a flat meat tin and cover it with an inverted basin. Leave in a moderate oven for about ten minutes. The basin will retain the steam, which will sufficiently moisten the cake and remove all tendency to dry ness. If preferred, the cake may be placed in the top portion of a double steamer with equally effective results, provided the lid of the saucepan is kept firmly in place. i