Hints and Suggestions.

Otago Witness, Issue 2579, 19 August 1903, Page 66

Hints and Suggestions.

Pineapp'.es, either raw or cooked, are recommended to persons with weak throats. Old whalebones will regain much of their life if soaked in hot water and pulled into shape again. A black mark upon the ceiling, ou n<-A by the lamp-fcmoke, can be removed by washing it with a little lukewarm sodawater. Valuable vases should be filled with band. This makes them stand firmly, and they are far less liable to be knocked down and broken. Curtain-rods that are very shabby can "be freshened by painting with a coat of enamel of whatever colour is the predominating note in the room. To preserve the condition and colour of the teeth, it is more important to clean them before ret h ing at night than on rising in the morning. To keep lemons let- them lie loosely, uncovered, on a wire tray that will peimit circulation of air on all 6ides and underneath ; keep them in a dry and cool room. To prevent M:eel brooches and ornament^ becoming rusty, keep them, when not in use, in a box with a little powdered starch. | A ojiick waj of cleaning tcirnished silver

is to rub it with a little whitening moistened with methylated spirits.

Never use soap in cleaning painted surfaces. Sponge the woodwork thoroughly with a borax solution, dry with a clean, soft cloth, and finally rub in a very little furniture cream.

It is an excellent plan to cover the pantry shelves with white or very light oilcloth. It can be wiped with, a damp cloth, when dusty or dirty, and always looks delightfully fresh and cool. A sure and simple method of testing all tinned foods is to'preeK the bottom of the tin with the thumb. If it makes a noise like a machine oilcan when it is- pressed, the i a is not a:r-tight, and the co idiots, therefore, are unlit for use. Mirny a man who thinks lie has got a heart trouble is merely dyspeptic; many a woman owes her symptoms to tight-lacing or insufficient feeding. If the dyspeptic be cured, or the tight lacing be dispensed with, the symptoms of hearL weakness will disappear.

Cut flowers, an expensive item in many town houses, can have their lives greatly prolonged if the necessary pains are takea to change their water every other day, and if afc tlie same time the ends of their stalks are snipped off with a sharp pair of scissors.

When mending kid gloves use cotton in preference to silk, for the silk is likely to cut the kid. It is quite worth while to provide yourself with a proper glove needle, as these are much nicer and to use than ordinary needles, and can be purchased at any draper's.

The soft corn that usually appears between the toes, and- is kept soft by the moisture it obtains from the position, should have the thick skin cut away, care being taken not to wound the flesh, and touch the corn with -a drop of friar's balsam. A fresh piece of cotton wool each day should also be worn between the toes.

Pearl jewellery nyy be cleaned by wash* ing in castile soap and water, to which a little ammonia has been added. Rinse well in clear water, dip in alcohol, and dry in saAvdust. All this should be done as quickly as possible, for pearls are of ten cemented into rings, brooches, etc., and liquids tend to soften the cement.

To clean hair brushes, pour a dessertspoonful of cloudy ammonia into a basin of warm water, dip the bristles in and out rapidly, keeping the backs and handles as free from the water as possible. The bristles will be quite clean in. a, few minutes. Dry the backs and handles ■with, a soft dofcb, and leave in the sun. Do not dry them close to the fire.

The following lotion is excellent for cieirmg one's face in the daytime instead of washing : — Tie two tablespoonsful of oatmeal in a muslin bag, and drop into a pint of boiling water. When the water has coo'«'tl a little squeeze the bag to j.-tt all ire goodness out of the oatmeal. When cool strain, and add two tablespoonsful of eau-de-Cologne or alcohol. The bsst way to remove ink stains that have dried is to rub them with milk till the stains fade away, changing the milk as it becomes discoloured. Afterwards rub with ammonia to remove the grease. Fresh ink-stains should be sprinkled with salt, which absorbs the ink, and so prevents the stain from spreading. Brush into a dustpan as soon as it is discoloured, and sprinkle with fresh salt, removing that in the same

To get rid of mud stains from a waterproof ifc is often necessary to us& a little spirits of turpentine, in addition to soap and water. Cold or lukewarm water only should be employed — never hot, which is inclined to shrivel up the material and cause it to wrinkle. Always wait until the mud is dry before attempting to disturb it. Plenty of clean fresh water should bs used for rinsing purposes, and if no turpentine has been necessary, add a few drops of liquid ammonia to the rinse water.