HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23004, 6 October 1936, Page 15

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

When cleaning water bottles, crush an eggshell small enough to go through the bottle neck. Add warm water and shake well.

To clean photographs, moisten a piece of cotton-wool in methylated spirit and rub over the photograph gently. This will not injure the surface.

To make burning oil for a bicycle lamo place a small piece of lard in paraffin oil. This will give a bright, smokeless light.

To rid a room of flies, heat a poker and place it on a piece of camphor. This will give off fumes which are disagreeable to all insects. •■\- * * If a child develops croup in the night and a quick remedy is needed, try heating half a teaspoon (or even a teaspoon) of vaseline over a candle or other flame giving it to the patient to swallow warm. An adult's life was saved with this some years ago. When gloves wear through at the finger tips, turn them inside out, machine round tops, tie cotton ends and trim rough parts off carefully. The gloves look almost new. with slightly shorter fingers.

The legs of old pyjamas make a good covering for a skirt-board. Cut off one leg and slip it over the board. Then put the second one over the first, and sew them at the ends.

An attractive bed-spread can be made for a few shillings from woven cotton dishcloths in a neutral shade. The number will depend upon the size of the bed for which the cover is intended; the cloths can be used as they are or dyed to a shade to suit the room. Embroider half the cloths with bright wools, having a transfer of a flower, with leaves, etc. in the centre of each. Blanket-stitch round both the embroidered and plain squares, using a matching shade of wool. When the coverlet is ready to make up, take two squares and place them wrong sides facing ani crochet them together. When pressed out, the spread looks very expensive and attractive.

For caramel, for colouring, put ilb of sugar into a saucepan, let it go very brown. Pour over it ,\ pint of water, and stir till it boils and all the sugar is dissolved. Strain, and when cold, put into a wide-mouthed bottle. Cork well, and it will keep. Use it for colouring gravies, soups, etc.