ODDS AND ENDS

Evening Star, Issue 21138, 25 June 1932, Page 21

ODDS AND ENDS

Motor Oil on Clothes. Motor oil splashed or spilt on clothing can generally be removed by placing the stained part in a saucer or dish containing a small quantity of olive oil. Leave until next day, then wash the garment in the ordinary way or sponge off the oil with fairly hot water if the materia! is nnwashablo. Washing Silk Draperies. Artificial silk curtains and cushion covers arc inclined to tear in the wash unless very carefully handled. They should be squeezed in a warm, soapy lather, but never rubbed or wrung and rinsed in at least two warm waters. To dry them it is best to drape them over two lines, so that there is no drag on any part. For the Bath. Oatmeal is an economical and useful water softener. For the toilet or the bath place a few spoonfuls of medium oatmeal in a course muslin bag, and add to it a little powdered orris root. Put the bag into the water a few minutes before it is to be used, and squeeze it gently once or twice before removing it. The orris root, besides helping to soften the water, gives it a refreshing fragrance; For the Piedish. If edges of dishes in which milk puddings arc to he cooked are well greased before use they are easily cleaned of any brown marks. To prevent kitchen window steaming rub with a little glycerine after cleaning. A Temporary Measure. AVhen a pan or tin springs a leak and the hole is small, an excellent temporary repair can bo made with an ordinary dress fastener. Put the one half of the fastener through from the inside and clip the other half on from the outside. Those Nickel Fittings. Though nickel fittings do not need regular cleaning, after a tiling they begin to look dull through deposits from gas or the atmosphere clouding their surfaces. They can bo restored to their original brightness by sponging them over with a cloth wrung out of hot water to which a few drops of liquid ammonia have been added and then rubbing them with a chamois leather when they are quite dry. Should they have been neglected for some time and the deposit be difficult to remove, make a paste with a little whitening and liquid ammonia and use this on a soft cloth before washing and polishing them. When a Tap Leaks. A leaking tap can often.be remedied in this very easy way. Insert a little oil into the space between the upper part of the tap that turns and the stationary part into which it fits. The oil will work down to the washer and cause it to swell as it absorbs it, with the result that the leakage will soon stop. For Black Marble. Black marble clocks and mantel shelves sometimes get a greyish look or, where there is damp, white patches on the surface, both of which are difficult to got rid of. Wash the marble over with fairly hot water containing a little turpentine, and when it is quite dry clean it with ordinary black boot polish. Rub off very thoroughly, and the marble will retain its shine and deep colour for quite a long time. This will be found' the best cleanser for all black marble. Mending Glass. Glass can bo mended almost invisibly with the help of ordinary carriage oil and a camel-hair brush. See that the edges to bo joined arc perfectly clean and dry, dip- a small brush into the oil and carefully paint it on the cut edges. Do this sparingly, so that tho oil will not ooze out on to the surfaces. Press tho edges together carefully and allow to dry. Glass repaired in this way can he washed with perfect safety.

Cleaning Old Ivory. Carved ivory beads or knick-knacks easily hold the dust. They can be cleaned with sol volatile painted on with a soft brush—an old shaving or tooth brush will do. When they are rinsed, hike-warm water, not hot, should be used, otherwise they will be discoloured.

Keeping the Colour. When wrapping up white linen, cotton, or silk articles to put away in a drawer or cupboard, use blue paper instead of white. The chloride of lime in all white paper affects white materials and gradually turns them yellow. Light also spoils the colour, and as the blue paper excludes light it is advisable to use it for this reason, too.