HEARTH AND HOME

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20806, 16 March 1933, Page 4

HEARTH AND HOME

"Builder" invites contributions from readers on any matters of interest which they might like to propose. Correspondence on various subjects pertaining to building will also be accepted. NOTES. Lacquer can be removed from Ijiato by rubbing with methylated spirit. To recoluur red cement, make a mixture ol' red ochre and varnish. Thin with turpentine, and apply with a bnifcli. When i.-imng a path, sprinkle itwith sawdust in.sLe.id ol sand. It makes a smooth surface, and it is quiet, and pliable to walk on. J.L cannot be car--1 icd into the house on the shoes. Alabaster bowl shades ol the plain white variety will give a soitly dirt used light it a coloured electric bulb is used. The appearance ol the room at i.iglit can be clumped by naving dill'er-i-ni coloured bulb.j. If you live in a district where you aro tormented with lties in' the summer you will find it au advantage to paint il:o walls ot the kitchen and pantry i.due, or, rather, a light iiKiire. it has boon found that flies ami mosquitoes a void this colour. American cloth used lor curtains and so on is liable to stick to the metal of the sewing machine when being made up. This will be obviated it a strip of tissue paper is put on either side ot the cloth, the stitching done right through this, and the paper Lorn away afterwards. Sometimes the acid from a wireless battery is spilt on the carpet or on an article of clothing, with the result that, if a hole, is not actually burnt, the colour of the article - is" changed. In the hitter case the colour may be revived by the following' method:— Damp a cloth with ammonia and sponge t-be affected portion several times. Finallv repeat tho process, onlv this time with a cloth damped with chloroform. It will be found thai window leathers will keep in good condition far longer if they are treated in a special manner. Instead of leaving them to dry hard alter each time they are used they should be squeezed as dry as possible and placed in an ordinary ,)am jar with a covered top. The window leather is then ready for use again without needing to be soaked first. When window leathers are allowed to become hard and dry alter use, they wear out far more quickly than it they aro kept moist. Many people find difficulty in keeping their mahogany furniture in good condition, and as" highly polished as they would desire. The best way to keep mahogany looking at its best is to wipe it over with a cloth'which has been soaked in vinegar water. This will prevent a cloudy appearance, and will preserve its mirror-like surface. Mahogany furniture should always be polished with velvet in preference to an ordinary duster, and any odd scraps left over from sewing might be kept for tho purpose. Weak tea is also an excellent medium for cleaning mahogany article-:. The solution should be allowed to dry on and then polished. The best cleaner for tarnished silver is precipitated whitening and ammonia. It is quite a simple matter to precipitate the whitening, yourself. Tie it in a piece of muslin and suspend it inside a jug on a knitting needle or skewer. Pour boiling water through it until the water reaches up to the bag. Leave overnight, then pour off the water very carefully and spread the sediment at the bottom of the jug on paper to dry. This can be used"dampened with water, but for very dirty silver moisten with 11 little dilute ammonia. A good silver cleaner that cleans and polishes at the same time can be made as follows: —Half a pound precipitated whitening, two ounces shredded yellow soap, quarter gill ammonia, one and a half pints boiling water, two pennyworth jewellers' rouge. Mix whitening smoothly with half a pint of boiling water; boil up soap in remainder of water. Add other ingredients to soap, and stir until .smooth. Store in a bottle and shake well before using.