Household Hints

Southland Times, Issue 22750, 28 November 1935, Page 12

Household Hints

Renovate Your Suitcase. A suitcase or attache case that has become shabby and soiled can often be renovated most successfully at home. First dust the case thoroughly inside and out, and sponge the outside with a cloth wrung tightly out of warm, soapy water. Next rinse in clean tepid water, and allow the leather to dry slowly in a gentle heat. Never place the leather near a fire, as the heat is liable to cause cracks to appear. When the case is quite dry, it should be polished. If, however, it has been neglected for some time it is advisable to rub a little olive oil into the leather before applying a polish. Use only a very little oil, and let it remain for at least 24 hours before removing with a soft duster. This will nourish the leather and help to keep it supple.

Also Your Handbag. The leather should be cleaned thoroughly by the application of saddle soap. Where saddle soap is not available a good non-acid yellow soap will do but its use must be followed by a little olive or similar oil. The saddle soap should be applied with a moist sponge and then the surface should be rubbed dry with a clean cloth. To remove oil and grease spots a thin coating of a good quick-drying rubber solution (as used for mending punctures in cycle tyres) should be placed over the spots and peeled off just before the solution is dry. Do not use any strong acid preparations on the bag, such as oxalic acid, as this is injurious to the leather. To clean the fasteners, remove the rust with a little petrol or paraffin and then use whiting where they are of nickel and metal polish on brass fasteners.