INFORMATION EXCHANGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 7

INFORMATION EXCHANGED

QUERIES AND ANSWERS BY FEMINA To Readers.—lt is advisable that questions and answers for this column should be sent in addressed to " Femina." To Clean Paintwork M.M. asks what is the best method of cleaning paintwork. Mildew from Linen A method of removing mildew from linen is asked for by M.A. Steak Paste Directions for making steak paste are asked for by C.G.M. (Okoroire). Fig Jelly "Housewife" will be very grateful to bo told of a recipe for fig jelly. , To Renovate Shoes D.L.D. —A correspondent writes that to renovate brown shoes, wipe them over with methylated spirits and then clean in the usual way. Stained Knife Handles Mrs. T.C. —To bleach knife handles M.H. writes that it is a good method and a simple one to rub the handles well with some damp salt for a little while till the discolouration is removed. If this does not altogether remove it stand the handles in fine wet salt (well packed) for a few hours and then polish with the salt. Olive Oil Stains "Oil."—To remove olive oil stains from a wallpaper mix some calcined magnesia with some benzine. Smear this over the stains and leave for a few hours till quite dry. Then brush it off and the oilstains will be found to have disappeared or nearly so. A repetition should remove all that is left. Pipeclay or fuller's earth could be used in place of calcined magnesia. Lavender Stains Lavender stains on llannel may be removed by rubbing or soaking the parts stained carefully with a little methylated spirits or with some methylated spirits in which a little soap has boon dissolved. The marks should then disappear. If any oiliness remains press the parts for a few hours between doubled sheets of blotting paper which have been soaked in benzine. To Waterproof An Oilskin To waterproof an oilskin M.H. advises an inquirer to take some good boiled linseod oil, and, warming it gently over a pot of hot water, stir in for every pint of it loz. each of resin and beeswax. When all are nicely mixed lay out the coat and give it a good covering all over of the mixture. Let it dry thoroughly, hung up in an airy, sunless place. Then repeat process for good results. When thoroughly dry from second coat it is fit for use. This is a good dyeing method and ensures an absolutely waterproof coat. Rainspots on Hat Tui. —To remove rainspots from a felt hat M.H. writes: —Make a paste of some calcined magnesia or pipeclay or fuller's earth and a little hydrogen peroxide; rub this paste well into and over the stained parts; let dry completely and then brush out the powder well. To go over the stains with some peroxide of hydrogen on a fine paint brush, touching theni carefully with the bleach till they fade out is also £ood. A little methylated spirits will sometimes remove such stains, too, but the peroxide is surest. Tomato Wine "Meg."—To make tomato wine M.H. advises as follows: —Take some nice ripe, sweet tomatoes, crush them in a pan or tub and strain off as much juice as possible without using too much force through a cloth bag. Add 3 J lb. sugar to each gallon of liquor thus obtained and stir till well mixed. Then set in a barrel with the bunghole open and only loosely covered with a cloth. Stir in a small spoonful of yeast and leave in a quiet, warm place to ferment. When fermentation has quite ceased close the bunghqlo closely and let stand about nino months, when it can be bottled off if desired, It is then fit for use. This makes a nice wine if one does not mind a slight taste of the tomato remaining about it. To Clean Blackened Silver To treat blackened silver M.M.W., of Ruawa, advises M.K. to get a new kerosene tin or half a one, put a few quarts of water in it and a handful of common washing soda and boil well for a few minutes. To test it, dip in a spoon that is blackened, or any other silver article that can be held for a few seconds or until the black stain comes off. If the water is strong, they will come of in a second. This, she adds is a scientific discovery, and it will bo noticed that the tin substance has comes off the receptacle. With the washing soda, it has formed a solution that has acted as a bleaching agency to the silver, taking off the sulphur that had blackened it. This treatment has to bo carefully carried out, as it may remove some of the silver if too strong. Beans in Tomato Sauce A rccipo for beans in tomato sauce has been forwarded by a correspondent in answer to an inquiry from Mrs. L.L. She writes: —This may not bo quite the way used in commercial tinning, but it is a close approach to it. Soak a pint of beans overnight, and then boil them in the soaking water (just a covering, no more), till quite tender and most of the water has been absorbed. Strain them, and add half a pint of the liquor to the sauce made thus: Put lib tomatoes in just enough water to prevent burning find cook in the oven till sott. Sieve them and rewarm the sieved puree, adding a little seasoning to taste. Add \oz melted butter and £oz flour to the half pint of bean liquor; make these in a paste, and stir in the tomato puree. Just bring to the boil, and stir in the beans. Serve warm when well mixed. Marks from riour-Bag "Ida" advises "Cork" that one method of removing printing marks from flour-bags ,is to wet the bag in cold water, soap the marks well and then put the bag in a saucepan. Cover with cold water and add a good handful of washing soda. Boil for a while. "Cork" will see the marks disappearing after rinsing in cold water. Another correspondent from Kihikihi sends similar directions, while Mrs. H.D., of Cambridge, suggests scrubbing the flour-bag well with soap and a scrubbing brush, leaving a soap lather on the bag. Then place it face downward on the grass and leave to bloach for at least a week. Rinse and soap again and put in the copper after the ordinary washing has been done, with a little extra washing soda. By the time the rest of the washing has been hung out it will bo easy to wash out what little there is left of the printing marks. A.M.G. (Whangarei) writes:—l have found the following method (read in an Australian paper) useful for both black and red printing. Open out the bag and smear a thick coating of dripping over all the printing. Boil for some time in soapy water. Remove from water and, while the bag is still hot, rub the material well until the printing disappears. Warm suds are helpful to the rubbing, which is the deciding factor in the success of the process. Directions have also been received from a correspondent at Putaruru.