ODDS AND ENDS

Evening Star, Issue 22631, 24 April 1937, Page 26

ODDS AND ENDS

If a small cork is glued to the inside of the machine drawer your thimble can be slipped over it, and there will be no hunting for it amongst other articles. When bladk suede shoes become shabby a good way of restoring the colour is to mix equal quantities of olive oil and black ink, and apply to the shoes with an old toothbrush. When quite dry the mixture brings up the nap beautifully. To remove the odour from a bottle that has held strong-smelling medicine half fill it with cold water, then add one tablespoon of mustard, shake well, and leave standing for an hour. Rinse well in clear, cold water, and the trouble will be remedied.

When making mint sauce sprinkle with vinegar before chopping. The mint chops more easily and retains its green freshness. Prunes are greatly improved by the addition of a few cloves and' a little lemon juice. When cleaning brassware apply the polish with a rag in the usual way, and when dry shine with newspaper. To improve a roast of beef insert a small piece of garlic into the centre of the roast before baking. When preserving plums or damsons prick the ends with a silver fork, and you will find they are greatly improved. ; Finely chop a little fresh-green mint, I add a squeeze of lemon juice, and mix j with the butter for grilled lamb chops. When it is difficult to make a label ! stick-to-a tin, rub the tin with a piece of sandpaper, : and then place thegummed label over the < cleaned spot. Always give caged birds a 'piece of clean wood or charcoal, to peck, for it helps to keep them in a healthy condii tion. • ■ If the inside of a mince tart or pie is first coated with beaten white of egg and left for a quarter of an hour before filling with mixture the bottom of the pastry will not become sodden. To prevent steam settling on your spectacles while cooking rub a little ’ common soap on the glass, then polish with a clean rag. Boots and shoes, however damp, will polish in a few minutes if a little parrafin oil is added to the blacking. Also, it prevents the leather from cracking. Ink stains on books may be removed by a solution of oxalic acid in water.