HINTS AND IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

HINTS AND IDEAS.

HAIR BRUSHES

BEST WAY OF WASHING.

It is surprising how careless many people are about their hair brushes, yet good brushes are costly. People arc afraid to wash them too often. This is a mistake, as 110 harm results if tliey are properly done. Dipping bristles into very hot water is bad. Petrol cleans them well, and bran is also an effective cleansing medium, and can be used for brushes with tortoise-shell backs or bristles set in rubber. Rub the dry bran into the bristles thoroughly, then shake well and rub out with a linen towel. The backs of brushes, fancy ones in particular should never be immersed in water. If of polished wood they should be well dusted and rubbed over frequently with a little olive oil. Silver-backed brushes should be scrubbed with soapsuds to which a little ammonia has been added, dried and polished with a chamois leather or silver cloth. Do not do this at the same time that the bristles are washed, as otherwise their "roots" will certainly o-ct soaked. Ivory mountings require very careful treatment. Grease marks should be wiped off with a cloth wiung out of warm water, but applied very dry, and the ivory should then be caiefully. dried and polished with a soft cloth. Tortoiseshell backs need careful handling, too; regular polishing with a chamois leather is necessary, and if the plan is followed they will maintain then polish indefinitely. But once lost it is hard to restore unless professionally treated. Another thing to remcmbci atmospheric conditions affect both i\oiy and tortoiseshell brushes. I hey should never be left in a draught, as they aie likely to split. MEDICINE BOTTLES. Used medicine bottles nearly always have a musty smell, no matter how thoroughly they are washed, and consequently many people are nervous ■ of using them for another kind of medicine. If the bottles are with mustard and water instead of ordinary water it will bo found that the smell has disappeared, and the bottles may thcrefoie be used ag<iin with perfect safety. Rinse the medicine bottle and put. about a teaspoonful of mustard into it._ Fill up with cold water. Leave the mixture in the bottle for several hours, occasionally shaking vigorously. Finally, rinse the bottle in hot water and leave it upside-down to drain dry. MACHINING SILK. Crepe do chine and other delicate silk materials are difficult to machine, as they arc inclined to slip and drag. When machining crepe de chine the most successful plan is to tack the material on to a sheet of tissue paper and to machine the two together. When the machining is complete the paper may be separated from the silk, and it will be found that the silk lias not "rucked," and lies flat and even. Brown paper is not- nearly as successful as tissue paper, as it is too strong to combine with a fragile silkmaterial. HINTS ON DYES. Tho summer dress can often be made a deep colour and under a coat will be found just the thing. A tie or scarf, even one's stockings and caps, all will be wonderfully Rejuvenated with a "dip in the dye pot." Of course, if you want exclusive colourings you want a good deal of knowledge, but a few hints for blending dyes will be helpful. The tomato tint can be got by adding half a packet of scarlet dye to a packet of old rose dye. Mix thoroughly, try out the colour 011 a piece of waste material until you get the shade you like. Then the mulberry tint takes two packets of purple dye to one packet of heliotrope. Mix thoroughly, and test as above. A dee]) chestnut brown shade —use one packet light brown and two packets of scarlet dye. Dyed goods have generally to be this darker shade; this covers faded or stained portions. Blue can be dyed brown, green, plum, navy, olive, claret, or black. Of course, a light colour will take almost any deep shade, but to be successful try the _ mixed colour out on some waste material, and when you are satisfied you can put the garment in. The directions for the use of dyes arc on the packets and should be strictly carried out. SMOKED TILES. In modern tiled fireplaces the tiles next to the fire sometimes become discoloured with smoke. _ They may be successfully cleaned in the following way. When the fire is out and the hearth cold, rub a good coating of lard over the stained tiles. Leave it 011 for an hour or so. and then wipe it off with soft paper. Wash the tiles with soap and hot water to remove all traces or the lard, and polish thein with a soft, dry cloth. Smoke marks 011 brick fireplaces may be removed by rubbing with a large piece of soft indiarubber. PAINT BRUSHES. After use remove the paint and clean the brushes in turpentine. • If the brushes are not to bo used again for some time' wash them also in soda water, rinse in plain water and moisten with linseed oil. To soften brushes that have become hard, soak tliem in equal parts of turpentine and linseed oil and then in warm soda water. Do not allow brushes to rest on the bristles when not in use. ARTIFICIAL SILK BEDSPREADS. Bedspreads of artificial silk taffetasliould be washed in a soapy lather of warm water and soap flakes, and rinsed in water to which a little gum arabic has been added. This will give the material the necessary stiffness. When the silk is nearly dry, press it on the wrong side with a fairly warm iron. RESTORING YACHTING CAPS. Thoroughly beat and brush the hats to remove all dust and to raise the surface. Hold them over boiling water and steam thoroughly from the inside. Turn the hats slowly so that they will be steamed all over. Shake well. Give a good final brushing when the hat is dry. HANDY WRINKLES. Pour boiling water over sausages, then dry before frying them. This prevents the skins from bursting and preserves the appearance. Cauliflower should be tied up in a clean' white cloth, then placed in the saucepan. Boiled in this way, there is no waste, it can be lifted out easily, and does not fall to pieces. Fresh fish can be cooked in the same way. Felt cut from an old hat and glued to the ends of kerb or fender prevents scratching or damage to mantel. If vinegar is mixed with equal parts of salad oil, it cleans as well as preserves furniture.