THE HOUSEWIVES' NOTEBOOK.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4810, 14 July 1939, Page 3

THE HOUSEWIVES' NOTEBOOK.

When you have wrung out the clothes on washing day pass a piece of old blanket through the mangle (two or three times) until the rollers are perfectly dry. This will prepreserve them and prolong the life of your mangle. When gardening it is a good idea to use a cushion to kneel upon made from an old mackintosh. Just cut out squares from the good parts and stitch them together to form a bag. Then stuff this with old rags or straw and you will find that you have an excellent waterproof cushion. If a loop is attached to it, the cushion can be hung up in a tool-shed when not in use.

Water may be softened by boiling it, or by soaking lemon or orange peel in it overnight. It gives it the quality of soft rain water, and makes it soothing to the skin.

A suede belt that you have grown tired of wearing can be converted into quite a useful article by cutting off the buckle and eyelet holes and then attaching a cheap bakelite ashtray to the centre of the belt. Parsley can be preserved through

the winter by washing freshly-gath-ered parsley and putting it into boiling water. Have the water slightly salted and let the parsley boil for two or three minutes then take it out and let it drain. Lay on a sieve in front of the fire or in the hot sun and dry as quickly as possible. Then store in a very dark place in bottles and when required for use pour over a little warm water and let it stand for about five minutes.

Into three quarts of cold water cut up one ounce of soap into small pieces; add one ounce of powdered borax; boil till the soap is dissolved. Mix into a bucket of hot water. When it is luke-warm you are ready to wash your "woollies." Rinse twice in warm water and hang out promptly to dry.