HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3613, 12 June 1923, Page 63

HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

To wash coloured stockings, use a lather of soap and warm water, to which a pinch of salt has been added ; wring as dry as possible and hang out to dry. Never rub soap on them, or the dye will run. Smoke-marked material should be soaked in tepid water and placed afterwards in essence of turpentine. Sprinkle with cream of tartar and rinse. It is a wise plan to buy floorcloth a couple of inches or so wide every way than the actual floor measurement, as this enables the edges to be turned up a little, instead of being cut close to the wall, so that when washing the water cannot work under the doth and rot it. A Necessary item for the ironer is a bit of sponge and a bowl of tepid water to damp any part of a garment or scalloped edge that has dried or become too stiff. Velvet can be cleaned by rubbing with a piece of clean velvet dipped in paraffin. .Steam afterwards over a basin of hot water to raise the pile. If your wringer rollers are sticky, rub them with a cloth damped with paraffin. Wipe dry, and they will be as good as new.

Soak dusters overnight in a pailful of soapsuds to which a tablespoonful of ammonia has been added. Wash in the morning' in warm water. To paper a damp wall strip off the old paper and dissolve half a pint of alum and half a pint of glue-size together in a pai! of boiling water; wash the wall once or twice with the solution. When dry it. is ready for papering, and no damp will show through. Evening .gloves can be dry cleaned at homo by rubbing well, first with fuller’s earth and then with a fine, dry flannel, and finally with a. little French chalk mixed with sifted bran. To prevent suspenders tearing the tops of stockings pierce holes according to the number of “grips” in the required Maces, and buttonhole-stitch these with silk. A brilliant polish can be given to mahogany bedsteads by wiping with a cloth wrung out of cold water, then rubbing with a leather. Make a paste of sawdust with water and lemon juice to clean ivory ornaments, etc. Spread the paste on the ivory, and when dry brush off with a soft brush.