USEFUL HINTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12298, 18 November 1925, Page 5

USEFUL HINTS

If you want to us© a transfer that has been used before, damp it slightly before ironing on material. In this way one transfer may be used several times. Tiled hearths should never he washed with water, as this causes the enamel to split. Dip a cotton cloth in turpentine and rub the tiles until they are clean. Polish with a soft cloth. A good remedy for damp walls is to make a strong solution of alum and wash the walls down with it. If the wall is to he papered, put some brown paper on the wall, and let it dry thoroughly before papering in the usual way. To clean paint that is not varnished,, take a flannel, squeeze it nearly_ dry out of warm water, and dip it in a little whiting. Apply it to the paint, and with a little rubbing it will instantly remove grease, emoke, or other stains. Wash with warm water and rub with a soft cloth. In darning stockings, hold the darning wool for a minute or two over the Boout of a kettle of boiling water. This shrinks the wool, and when the stockings are washed there is no fear of mended parts shrinking and so tear away from surrounding .parts, so that the stockings last much longer. To brighten and hold the colours of cotton material it must be handled carefully the first time it is washed. Put a tablespoonful of salt into each' quart of water. Use the same quantity of vinegar in the rinsing water. The best way to cut a cork is to damp it slightly, and then use a sharp knife. If the cork is not damped there is a danger that it may slip and the fingers be cut. A little moistened whitning will remove stains which, even with caifful washing, frequently appear on teacups.

When the tiny halls fall cut of a bearing—say, from some part of a bicycle which is being attended to— it is a good plan to rub some fire g~er.se Inside the bearing, so that the halls will rc>ain in position when replaced. .Bacon rinds, if clean and fresh, are excellent for covering the breast of game and poultry with, instead of bacon. Bacon fat is better for basting purposes than ordinary dripping. Linoleum that has been stored for some time is apt to become hard and brittle. Old' linoleum can be unrolled without the danger of cracking if it is placed in front of a fire for a few hours. Lemons are so useful that no house should be without them. If bought in quantities they may he kept by being tied on to a string and hung up without touching each other. Another method is to wrap each lemon in paper, and keep them in closed tins.