FOR THE HOME-MAKER’S NOTEBOOK

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 4

FOR THE HOME-MAKER’S NOTEBOOK

For windows that jam rub the inside sash with olive or linseed oil. Do not use much oil, and after applying run the window up and down several times. Spots on linoleum will disappear if rubbed with a cork dipped frequently in petrol. (Remember that petrol is highly inflammable.). To clean paint brushes and keep them soft wash in turpentine, then in soda water, and rinse in cold water. Shape the bristles carefully by drawing the fingers’through, and moisten with linseed oil before putting away. ♦ • » Most amateur photographers are confronted by the problem of removing black silver stains caused by spilling photographic chemicals on cloths, carpets, and so forth. These stains may be removed permanently. First paint over the stained portion with iodine solution as obtained from the chemist, and let it stand for a minute or so. Only a fairly weak solution of iodine need be used, the strength depending on the intensity of the stain. Now wash out as much of the iodine as possible with water and treat the remaining stain with a solution of sodium hyposulphite —the ordinary “fixing” both useij in developing negatives—until there is no trace of the iodine present. This solution decolours the iodine, some of which has combined chemically with the silver of the stain and dissolved it as a colourless salt. The whole is now washed with plain water to remove any of the salts and Is then dried, when the stain will have disappeared. The process may be repeated if the stain does not disappear the first time. Any blue colouration that may be present at the end, due to the iodine, is removed by further treatment with the hyposulI phite.

Old linen tablecloths which have become badly worn in parts need not be thrown away as useless or made into dusters, as they will make excellent tray cloths and carving cloths. The cloths may be embroidered or hemstitched. The good parts of a linen cloth might also be cut into squares and used as mats to be placed underneath carving dishes and vegetable dishes. Such mats will effect a considerable saving where other tablecloths are concerned.