Household Hints

Southland Times, Issue 22767, 18 December 1935, Page 12

Household Hints

A Pushed-In Cork. A pushed-in cork can be pulled from a bottle by a button that has been threaded on string. The cork should be first pulled to the neck of the bottle with a hat-pin. To Remove Hot Water Marks. The way to remove hot water marks on polished table tops or papier mache trays is to treat them with a paste made of olive oil and salt. The paste should be left on for half an hour, and then rubbed away with a cloth. If the first application does not succeed, repeat the process. Boiling Fish. The length of time which should be given to the cooking of boiled fish depends on its nature and size, although eight minutes to the pound, with an additional eight minutes, is the usual allowance. More time must be given to steaming than boiling, and this method of cooking is always to be recommended, as it better preserves its flavour. When fish is baked in the oven a piece of buttered paper laid over the top will prevent the top from browning too quickly and will keep the fish juicy and moist. When W’asliing China. The washing of china is a job that needs to be done carefully. Tea-cups

and saucers should be washed in moderately hot water with a small mop. Very hot water is liable to crack the fine glaze, and consequently must never be used. The articles should be rinsed in clean tepid water, and, after being allowed to drain, they should be dried with a clean cloth. On no account may soda be used in the water, since if is very liable to spoil the colouring of the china. If the water is hard, it may be softened by a little borax. Tea stains should be removed by rubbing the stained article with a little common salt. China which is used for dinner is stronger than that which is used for tea, and for this reason the washing should be performed with moderately hot soapy water. It is important to wash the dishes on both sides, and to rinse them in clean warm water. China ornaments should be washed in warm, soapy water, and since the operation is not performed so frequently as is the case with table china they will need a more thorough rubbing. It is advisable to rinse the ornaments in tepid water, and, after drying, to polish them with a chamois leather.