Household Hints

Southland Times, Issue 22731, 6 November 1935, Page 5

Household Hints

Soap Economy.

Buy soap before you need it, and keep it in a dry place so that it will harden. It will then last much longer.

To Keep Drains Clean. Sink and outside drains should be flushed with at least a gallon of boiling water and soda every day in hot weather.

When Cleaning Clothes. When cleaning material with benzine, a “water” mark is often left; this can be prevented if the material is ironed under a damp cloth immediately the stain has been removed.

To Cool Food Quickly. If you wish to cool anything quickly, fill a basin with cold water and squeeze the blue bag into it until it becomes a dark blue colour. Then add a handful of salt, and in this water place the jug of lemonade or milk, the blancmange or jelly, that you want to set quickly. Material That Shrinks.

Any material such as flannel, that is likely to shrink, should be soaked all night in cold water, and wrung out in warm water in which some soap-flakes have been dissolved, passed through the wringer, and dried. This should be done to new material before it is made up.

When Nail Varnish Thickens. Nail varnish which has thickened may be diluted with a drop or two of polish remover. If you find you have bought too dark a colour, get a bottle of the same make, but quite colourless, and mix them. Always buy the very smallest size in polish remover, since it evaporates quickly even when corked. To Clean Paint Brushes. Paint blushes that are hard with dried paint should be soaked for a night in enough warm water to cover the hairs just below the handles. Add a teaspoonful of soda to the water, and see that it is dissolved. Wash the brushes next day in plenty of warm soapy water. If this fails to bring away the dried paint the brushes must be soaked in equal parts of linseed oil and turpentine.