FOR THE HOMEMAKER’S NOTEBOOK

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 99, 20 January 1933, Page 5

FOR THE HOMEMAKER’S NOTEBOOK

Gas stove parts should be kept perfectly clean if the greatest heat is to be obtained from the flame. Remove all loose parts regularly, and clean in very hot water in which caustic soda has been dissolved.

To prevent birds from nesting in corrugated iron roofs fit corks into the corrugations of the iron If any opening occurs tliat is likely to be entered by birds, make a bundle of old flywire and push it into the place

Table-ware of the coloured and nonfragile variety should not be washed in soda, but in warm soapy water. If there arc any slight stains on the surface, rub lightly with damp salt.

Glass fragments can Ite quickly picked up after a breakage if a wet blanket or some other jnaterial of a soft texture is thrown over the pieces and gently pressed until the glass adheres.

Stoue steps cleaned with whitening usually result iu white footprints in the ball in wet weather. This can b.e avoided by adding a little made starch to the water used for washing the steps.

American cloth, if white, can be used to line the shelves and walls of dark cupboards. It will lighten them considerably. If placed on the last step of a dark cellar staircase, it will make the descent easier.

Pottery vases that, are used for holding water frequently become porous after a time. To prevent the water from percolating through, paint the outer surface of the lower part of the vases with two coats of enamel.

To make hessian waterproof take sufficient slaked lime to make a keroseuetin of not too thin whitewash. 'Throw in a cupful of salt and about 21b. of mutton kidney suet. Heat and stir until the suet is dissolved, and paint on hot with an ordinary whitewash brush. The liquid tightens the hessian like a drum, and the fat as it cools fills the loose fabric of the hessian, and turns the water off.

Paintwork on doors, gates, and windows which has blistered in the sun should be treated as follows: Scrape off the whole coat, removing with hot soda water if necessary. Give a coat of priming paint, which sinks well in and makes a good surface, then two coats of flat paint. Leave until hard, sandpaper, and give a final coat of hardgloss paint, which withstands a good deal of sunshine.

Guarding Against Moths. Before winter clothing is packed away for the summer it should be aired very thoroughly, well brushed if necessary, and’carefully examined for any chance grease spots, which attract moths. Bags or wrappers of new, unbleached calico are an excellent protection for furs and blankets. Large folders for woollen garments may easily be made from newspapers. They should be carefully sealed at the opening witli mounting-paste or strips of adhesive paper. Epsom-salt crystals and cedarwood chips are effective against moths, and may be used by those who dislike strong-smelling preventive preparations.