HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1651, 21 October 1903, Page 27

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

| Steaming i s the best process for clean- : ing veils. Wind the veil carefully, with edges even, around a piece of broomhandle, lay across a boiler or saucepan of water, and steam for three-quarters of an hour. Leave on the broomhandfe until dry, and all the dirt and dust will be gone, giving a new stiffness. ' When a black bag looks shabby and . worn sponge^it with strong warm~ soda water. When soaked with this, apply a coat ; of good black ink. and allow it to dry well in. Then give it another coat of the ink, and when this is quite dry rub off any surplus ink with a damp rag and brush the bag all over with the stale i white of an egg. Removing Old W r all Paper.—One of the best ways in which to remove old wall paper is to dip a large and clean whitewash brush in warm water and apply it evenly to the wall before scraping with a kitchen knife. Holes in the plaster should be filled with plaster of Paris mixed with mortar. Milk makes an excellent polish for glace kid. Rub a little in with a; flannel, dry with a soft duster, and polish with a pad covered with velvet. Hair brooms last much longer if dipped in hot brine occasionally. It makes the hairs stiff again, besides which brooms thus treated sweep much cleaner. Electroplated goods, when not in constant use. are apt to become tarnished. To clean this away dip a piece of flannel in vinegar, and then in plate powder, rub

'veil, and afterwards- polish with a leather. This treatment is very successful with discoloured egg spoons and salt spoons.

Cleansing the bath.—The most simple \ra.y to clean the inside of wash bowls, baths and the stationary marble basins, on which a sort of scum or deposit forms if not very carefully cared for, is just to rub them with dry salt. It takes off all dirt, and leaves them bright and shining. Arranging Flowers.—Here are five golden rules that should bo observed by tlioso who often arrange flower's: Use plenty of foliage. Put your flowers in very lightly. Uso artistic glasses. Do not use more than two or three kinds of flowers in one decoration. Arrange your colours to form a bold contrast, or, better still, a soft harmony. The aim of the decorator should be to show off the flowers, not the vases that contain them; therefore), the simpler ones are preferable to even the most elaborate. Glasses for the dinner table should be ■either white cr a delicate shade of green. To Remove Hot Water Marks.—The best way to remove marks and rings made by hot water jugs, etc., being put upon polished trays or tables, is to make a thin paste of salad oil and salt. Leave it on the mark or ring for an hour; then polish with a dry cloth, and the mark will have disappeared/’