HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3898, 27 November 1928, Page 65

HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS.

A little vinegar and water rubbed on the skin will prevent insect bites.

.Thermos flasks should not be put away with the corks left in, or they will become musty, A new toothbrush should be soaked in cold water for 10 or 12 hours before it is used. _ Plain lemon juice prevents chilblains on the hands, cures warts, cleans the nails, and removes stains. Old gramophone needles make excellent brads for making secure the backs of picture and photograph frames. A lump of soda dissolved in the water when rinsing clothes will prevent any blue stain remaining on the garments. Remove tar stains from rugs and carpets by applying a mixture of equal parts of methylated spirit and ammonia. Before placing a sponge cake in the oven, sprinkle a little fine white sugar over the top. This forms a rich, brownlooking crust.

When the steel fittings of a stove become brown through heat, rub them with a rag dipped in vinegar before cleaning in the usual way. To clean a tiled hearth use a little turpentine, rubbing it on with a flannel. This will remove all stains, and the tiles will look like new.

Petrol will remove grease stains, but soap and water or a weak solution of ammonia and water are necessary for stains in which there is any sugar. Do not let soup boil, but allow it to simmer slowly. Much of the liquid is wasted in evaporation, and the best of the flavour is lost if the soup boils or is heated too quickly. To remove screws, apply a little vinegar, leaving it a few moments to penetrate before using the screwdriver, this method will often prove effective when oil fails.

To remove fur from kettles, dissolve a dessertspoonful of borax in a kettleful of hot water and allow it to boil for about 20 minutes, when the fur will be loosened.

To prevent rain driving in under a sash window, nail to the underside of the bottom sash a strip of rubber piping such as is usually employed as a draught excluder on doors.