HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 September 1934, Page 9

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

THINGS USEFUL TO KNOW When You Distemper a Room When you begin to distemper a room, do the side of a room facing the light, so (hat you have a good view of the work while in progress. Lay on the distemper with firm sweeps of the brush. When a strip has been laid with the full brush, it should be lightly gone over again with the tip of the 'brush almost dry. The best temperature for a room about to receive distemper is (18 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures a light, uniform drying without 'any light and shade effects in the col- ' our. If a distemper is too thin it will

run down the wall, and will dry with a wavy water-mark in places. If too stiff, it is difficult to drag one’s brush along the wall. The distemper should be of a consistency that will not drip quickly from the brush on its way, and which will “stay put” on the wall. Sometimes a dead white distemper seems too glaring, or it has an unattraetivc yellow tinge. To counteract this, grind a little ultramarine blue colouring into some water and add this to the distemper. When re-distemper-ing walls a lighter shade remove the old wash first, using a damp brush for the process. Sweet-scented Flower Jars

Save the petals from the sweetscented flowers in your garden in summer so that they will fill your rooms in winter with a delightful fragrance. You can use practically any flower that has a nice scent. If you want a jar smelling of sweet herbs, pick rosemary, balm, rue. marjoram, and lad’s love. A very sweet-smelling jar could be filled with the dried petals of roses, heliotrope, jcsaminc, sweet peas, oiange-blossom, lilac, violets and lavender. Another could consist of syringa, tuberoses, stocks., lilies-of-thc-vallcy, carnations and magnolia petals, verbena and lemon thyme, with a mixture of clove-pinks. Scented geranium and bay leaf will give out a refreshing and spicy scent. All flowers and herbs should be gathered with the dew on them and in full bloom. The heads or petals are stripped and dried very slowly in the sun on sheets of white paper. As they dry they are put into wicle-mouthed, stoppered jars, with a handful of bay salt between each layer. The tighter they are pressed down 'the better. When all are in, squeeze out the petals in handfuls and let them dry again in a sheltered corner in the sunshine, then return them to their jars, shake them well, and put on the lids. 7. Doing a Man’s Packing

Before beginning t.o pack have everything ready and folded, and lay all the under-linen flatly at the bottom of the case. Upon this place starched shirts, fronts downwards, in such a mannev that they cannot possibly crush. Soft unstarched shirts may then be laid on top, and over these trousers carefully folded. Small articles will fit into the little nooks and niches left by the various articles. Coats carefully folded can be placed on top of the trousers. A light dressing-gown should be placed on top of the suit-case. Cuffs, collars, ties and handkerchiefs should be packed together. As regards boots, it will be found by far the best plan to have them packed in a separate box. Slippers should be put into the dressing-gown pocket or pockets.

Never apply soap to a fruit stain. If the stain is moist, remove with clear cold water. If it has been allowed to dry, stretch the material over a basin and pour hot water on it from a height. Should any trace of the stain remain, dab it with lemon juice and expose to the sunshine; rinse afterwards to remove the lemon juice.-

A remedy for corns is to soak some bread in vinegar for a couple of days and put a small piece on the corn overnight, binding it with a piece of rag. Every three days soak the feet in warm water and pieces of corn will peel off’.