GENERAL HINTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 175, 20 April 1929, Page 18

GENERAL HINTS

Eucalyptus oil applied to the collars of coats and mackintoshes will remove all grease marks. Ammonia and water will remove perspiration stains. Eisli should always be washed in cold water, but not left in the water, before it is cooked, or it will lose flavour and firmness. To clean windows in cold weather, when dirt has been frozen on the panes, mix a little ammonia witli some metal polish ami apply with tissue, paper. Polish afterwards with dry tissue paper and a duster. If a handful of common salt be added on tlie washing day to the rinsing water it will keep clothes from freezing in cold weather.

Fill oil lamps on blotting paper, and whatever oil overflows will be absorbed, thus saving the table. Get heavy blotting and keep a sheet beside the oil can. When the papen is dirty it is excellent for lighting fires. If a fire has to be left unwatched for several hours, put a handful ot salt .on i the top of the coals. This will pry vent the fuel burning away Loo quickly. Before frying slices of tomato, sprinkle them with a few drops of vinegar to keep them from getting broken. The .-best way to remove, the stains,of fruit or vegetables from the hands is to rub them with lemon juice and powdered borax. Do not fuse soap. A scrubbing-brush should never be left in the water, even for a few minutes, as * this loosens the bristles and makes them soft. A piece of tape should be fastened to the brush, so that it can be hung up and allowed to drain.

Stains on Polished Wood.—White patches on polished wood can be removed by rubbing them with a clean flannel dipped in spirits of camphor or essence of peppermint. After a few minutes, apply a "good furniture polish. Care must be taken that the camphor or peppermint has 'dried before the polish is applied. Otherwise, as these spirits soften the varnish, a bare place will be left.

Protecting a Piano. — When a piano must be left in a closed hbuse for any length of time, it can be kept in a good condition by placing a newspaper around the wires and over the keys. Over all place a heavy woollen covering. It will then be unharmed by coldness and dampness.

A Simple First-aid Outfit. —Every home ought to have its first-air box. which should be of tin. painted white inside and out, and with an air-tight lid. It should contain compressed packets of cotton-wool, compressed packets of boracic lint, three finger bandages an inch wide, and three two inches wide, and one large bandage four inches wide. A bottle of tincture of lodine, a bottle of witch hazel, some boracic acid powder or crystals, a small tin of boracic ointment, a jar of vaseline, and a bottle of carron oil should • also be in the tin. For Whitening Doorsteps. —The following preparation for whitening doorsteps is a great labour-saver, as onlj; very hard rain "will remove it. Place half a pound of pbwdered glue in a saucepan with one and a half pints of water, and melt over a slow lire. When dissolved, add one pound of powdered whitening, stirring it in gradually. Put this mixture on the steps with a strong brush, and if too stiff add a little m'ore water. Glass will remain bright if washed in the following way: Mix a little whiting with some blue-water, and add to a bowl of warm soapy water.