Cleaning Hints.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 510, 23 February 1933, Page 2

Cleaning Hints.

A transformation of a hearth may be achieved by going over the iron with aluminium paint, and, when this has dried, applying ever so lightly the blackleading brush, being sure that only a fractional amount of black lead is used. This latter treatment subdues the glare of the aluminium paint, and when the grate is finally polished with a cloth it will be found that the cast iron has changed, to all appearances, into c-xydised silver. It should be observed, however, that this is really a makeshift. It takes a good deal to compensate for those cast-iron fireplaces.

Sometimes a short end of cord breaks away from the upholstery of an easy chair or Chesterfield and begins to unravel. Short ends of this kind should be bound at once with a thread of silk to prevent them from fraying, and at the same time a length of thinner cord should be bound on to the frayed piece. If a little pad of cloth or velveteen is attached to the end of the thin cord and pushed well down between the side of the chair and the cushioned seat, it will keep the loose end from slipping out of place. It is usually very difficult to stitch these loose ends so that they will remain in position.

When cleaning windows and mirrors use an old newspaper sprinkled with paraffin, and polish with a soft, dry duster. This keeps flies and insects away and gives a bright, clean effect. Ink stains on wool can be removed by rubbing them with a duster dipped in paraffin. Rub hard until stains disappear. Wipe the paraffin off with a clean duster and in a day or so polish in the usual usual way. Bottle corks are always useful as cleaners. For cleaning plate a cork dipped in a little moistened powder is excellent for rubbing tarnished parts. Egg stains on spoons disappear when they are treated with salt applied with a cork. Marks on alu- I minium ware can be removed with a cork and a little sand. In most i cases stains on polished wood can be ] rubbed out with a soft dry cork. 1 Marks on light or brown shoes can ' be treated successfully with a cork which has been first rubbed over the inside of a banana skin. A dry cork is also good for cleaning spots on paint or wallpaper. Fly marks on mirrors or windows are easily removed with a dry cork. This will leave no smears and the trouble of having to wash the whole glass every ' time is avoided. j