HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Northern Advocate, 24 September 1927, Page 4

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

When cooking turnips drop a small lump of sugar among them. It improves them wonderfully.

Glycerine rubbed into shoes and boots will make the leather soft and pliable and save it from cracking.

To freshen stale cake, dip it for a second or two in cold milk, and then rebuke it in a rather cool oven. It will taste almost like new.

When frying fish, of any kini, sprinkle a little salt on the bottom of the pan when it is hot, the fish can then be easily turned without breaking.

To prevent a knitted jersey from shrinking, stitch a band of washing silk or soft linen, the size of the waist, insidq it. It will keep it in perfect shape.

To clean rusty flat irons, use beeswax and salt. Tie a lump of wax in a piece of cloth, and keep it for the purpose. When the iron is hot, rub it with the wax.

Boots and shoes, however damp, will polish in a few minutes if a drop or two of paraffin oil 1 (f& added to the blacking. It also prevents the leather from cracking. f • * » • When wall-paper is faded or shabby, put over it a coat of distemper in a pretty light shade, will look like a good plain shade, will not fade and will be washable. • « • • When choosing a carpet select one with a light ground and a small pattern, as it will not then show signs of wear so quickly and can be more easily turned about as .required. • • « • Instead of tacking lace or net sleeves in a dress, sew some patent fasteners inside the net or lace, and then some in the sleeve (proper), and when fastened they will look neat and pretty.

iCocoanut matting may be scrubbed with soda water and soap. The difficulty lies in the rinsing. If possible, turn the garden hose on it.' Another plan is to put it in a running stream. Instead of always folding tablecloths and sheets lengthways, it is an excellent plan to sometimes fold them the other way, as they are less likely to wear out if the folds are occasionally changed. • • • * After washing and drying woollen blankets hang them on a line in the open air, and beat them well with a carpet beater. This raises the fluff, and the blankets will look almost as good as new if they are treated im this way every time they are washed. ■« . « « • When roasting meat in a covered pan, never open it to baste the meat. Keep covered from first to last. The idea is that the pan is full of steam, which peneltrates the fibre of the meat. If desired to brown the outside, leave the cover off for a short time iu a quick oven.