HINTS FOR THE HOME

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1716, 18 January 1905, Page 25

HINTS FOR THE HOME

Black silk can be made to look fresh and almost equal to new by sponging it with cold coffee and 'ammonia. To test nutmeg? prick them with a pin, and if they are good the oil will instantly spread round the puncture. Glaze a meat pie by brushing it over lightly with milk instead of eggs. This answers quite as well, and is moire economical. A hair lotion for use when the hair is falling off is made thus: Stew one pound of rosemary for some hours in one quart of rain-water. Filter it through paper, and add half a pint of bay rum. Use twice daily. Greasy spots on matting are often considered impossible to erad.cate. Try the following plan, and you will be delighted with the results: Cover the spot thickly with chalk, and moisten by sprinkling benzine on it. In about ten minutes brush off the chalk, and the spot will have vanished. For rolling rich pastry there is nothing better, where expense is considered, than an empty wine bottle for a roller, and a slate without a frame for a slab. A mahogany cement for filling up holes and cracks in chairs, etc., is prepared as follows: Melt two ounces of beeswax, then add half an ounce of Indian red and sufficient yellow ochre to produce the required tint. To Clean Greasy Windows. —Moisten a piece of rag with paraffin, and rub the windows w th it till all dirt is removed. Then polish with some soft paper, and you will be delighted with the results. Fresh Inkatains should never be touched with soap or soda, as either changes the ink stain to an iron mould. Slightly damp the stain, rub with some

acid or wash in butter-milk. The stronger the acid the more quickly the ©tain is removed. For house plants ammonia will be found a great sti ulant. Add half a teaspjonful to two quarts of boiling water, and when cold water the plants. This treatment applied once a we -k will cause palms and other plants to flourish in a wonderful manner. Polish for Brown Boots.—Scrape two ounces of beeswax, place it in a jar with ono gill of fcurp ntine and dissolve by heat. When cold, apply to the boots, using a flannel. Polish by rubbing wuli the palm of the hand. Stains may be previ nsly removed by rubbing with a lit - Ge methylated spirit or a week solution of oxalic acid. To remove ink from mahogany pour cue teaspoonful of cold water into half a feaspoo ful of oil of vitriol. Apply to the stained part with a small brush and the inkstain will quickly disappear. Great care must be taken not to touch any part except that which is stained. N.B.—Remember that vitr ol will burn the flesh wherever it touches. This household polish is very economical and can be put to many uses. Applied to floors, paint, or furniture, it gives a brilliant polish, with very little Phour. Pour half a pint of bo ling water on to two ounces of shredded beeswax, mixed with one ounce of white wax and a very small piece of castile soap. Stir all well in a jar oil the stove till dissolved, and when nearly cold add half a pint of turpen ine. This will not make the furniture sticky. Polish w.th clean dusters. To Remove Fur from Inside Iveltles.— Fill the kettle with water and add to it a, drachm of sal-ammoniac. Let it boil for an li ur, when the fur or p tnfmd substance formed on the metal will be dissolved and can easily be removed. In boiling a kettle care must br. taken to put on the lid closely so as not to leave the smallest oirev ee. If the lid is in the least broken ou* bent it is best to get a new cne, otherwise the water is iiablp t be smoked and rendered unfit for use, communicating a most disagreeable taste to tea.