THE HOUSEKEEPER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 7

THE HOUSEKEEPER.

COOL CURTAINS FOR A HOME.

Gauze, net, voile, madras or organdi muslin, and triple ninon are all good materials for the transparent curtains which are so necessary in towns and wherever one does not want to share tho interior of a room with tho world in general.

The colourings of theso curtains may l/o chosen to intensify the colourings of a loom or to alter its appearance to make ifc warmer or cooler as ono may wish, states a writer in an exchange. Net is made in many thicknesses and colours, some of them shaded and somo with stripes or a design in additional colours.

Voile is attractive because of the watered .effect, it shows against the light and because it washes Weill.

Madras muslin is inexpensive and is made now with amusing little formal or ingenious patterns which go very well at the windows of small houses in tho narrow streets that aro so much granderthan they ft • $ Organdi mrfsltn it crisp irifcffectj) ami delicious witlj frills and when tied' back with a strip and a medallion of glazed liowered chintz. ' . ■,• Triple ninon is expensive to begin with,, but washes and wears extraordinarily well', and hangs softly. Many of these ephemeral curtains are* happier with a binding and edgo of an--other colour. Curtains of filmy lavender-blue, for instance, with a mulberry-coloured edging' of narrow r;bLon and a fringe to match —of sea-green with .a Chinese-red finish —of lemon-yellow with violet. The> choice and combination of colours will bt»> suggested by the rooms, tho outlook, and* the season of the year. TO KEEP AWAY FLIES. It is said that Hies dislike the smells! of geranium, mignonette, , heliotrope,, white clover, honeysuckle, aud hop blossom's. Bunches of any or all of thesoplaced in a room will discourage tha pests. Flies are also said to have an aversion to blue, and a room decorated in this colour will bo almost free from flies. If the windows and picture glasses are cleaned with paraffin flies will not settle on 'their surface. When preparing: whitewash for pantry or larder, add loz. carbolic acid to each gallon of wash, and tho tlies will keep away. Don't, put too> much of the carbolic' acid in tho wash.. FOR THE LAMP WICK. Oil lamps for heating and cooking are* still widely used, especially in. the country.. In the case of all paraffin lamps it is . very good plan to soak tho wick in vinegar for a few hours when it is new. This, makes the wick give out a brighter flame, and it is not so likely to smoke. When the burners aro being cleaned it is advisable to tako out the wicks and give< them another good soaking in vinegar. HAND BAG WISDOM. When a bag is soiled, it is best to have« it cleaned professionally, but it dan bo touched up at home. When the Mirfaeo is polished, wipe it over with a damp pg and dry immediately.

Kaindrops should be wiped away at once. Then polish with a soft brush and a suspicion of white boot-cream. Soft-surfaced leathers should be cleaned with rectified benr.ino or petrol. It is not safe for nn iniwperiencid person to use acids on a bag, although oxalic is sometimes employed as a cleanser. A scratch or abrasion may be disguised with a little water-colour rubbed in with tlin finger. To clean a silk bag, brush in one direction with :i hut brush. FRESH SANDWICHES. Cut the sandwiches, then wrap them in but.tcr-imi.slin which has been 'wrung out in cold water. Wrap them in a tablo napkin and put tlicni in an carthernwaro vessel. In this way they will keep fresh for a long time. If sandwiches arc wanted early in the morning they can bo Cut at night, treated in this manner, and they will bo quito fresh when wanted. HOUSEHOLD BRUSHES, New brushes should bo soaked .for sonio hours in cold watei' before use. otherwise the, bristles are apt to come out. i ["'.V should then be dipped in turpentine. A < use t'nev should bo put in turpentine 0( ' ' sionally to prevent stiffening. H"i' 1« should be cleansed first m "'"'V , j then in a very weak solution of so water, then in plain uatei. - drv thev should bo in a f-oft mm. pliable' condition before being put. nwa>.