EVERYDAY ECONOMIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 123, 15 August 1927, Page 5

EVERYDAY ECONOMIES

THE WITS-END CLUB • A new novel may be selected by the winner each week as a prize for the most original household hint or recipe that has been tested and found to save time, labour or money. Many folk might be glad to have the benefit of your experience, so send in your suggestions, addressed to The Homecrafts Editor, Women’s Page, THE SUN. Auckland. The prize this week has been awarded to Mrs. E. Stevenson, Parnell, for the following hints: IT’S A GOOD IDEA—To use a feather when washing filigree china, to work into the crevices and loosen dust and dirt. To clean copper articles which are very dirty with vinegar and salt, and rinse afterwards and polish with a soft cloth. * * * To use a little linseed oil on a flannel for cleaning varpished paint of all kinds. To clean mirrors with a pad of tissue paper sprinkled with methylated spirit. To keep a little wood ash (collected after a wood fire) near the scullery sink, as it is invaluable for removing stains on china and makes a good scourer for the bench and sink. * * * To keep watches and clocks in good order, always keep them going, even if not required for use. To wind wool by yourself, stand two flat irons on a table and wind the wool around the handles. * * * To have an old carpet, no matter how worn, put down under linoleum in a kitchen. The floor is, of course, warmer and the lino will last much longer. E.S. * * *. SCRATCHES ON GLASS Scratches detract very much from the good appearance of windows and mirrors. Jewellers’ rouge is excellent for removing all but the very deepest ones. Apply the rouge in the direction of the scratch, and not across it. The marks should disappear with vigorous rubbing. AN AID TO,WASHING UP A forceful spray of water is the best means of rinsing plates and saucers before placing them in the plate rack for drying. This is very easily accomplished by a short length of garden hose with the ordinary adapter at one end to fix to the tap, and a rose at the other end. The water comes through this with much more force than it leaves the tap. In addition to washing up such a length of tubing has many other advantages, such as rinsing down the draining board, 'cleansing the plate rack itself, and the washing rinsing of the sink surround. GOLDEN SYRUP CUSTARD Delicious hot or cold; 2 tablespoons cornflour (level), 2 tablespoons golden syrup, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 eggs, well beaten, 2 pints boiling milk. Mix in pie-dish cornflour, sugar, syrup and eggs, then pour over gradually the boiling milk and place in moderate oven till a nice light-brown colour. Place pie-dish in a dish of water before putting in oven to prevent curdling. FOR COLD IN THE CHEST Place £lb. black t*eacle in a basin in a warm place on the oven, and £lb. fresh mutton-suet i;i a pan over a slow heat. As the suet dissolves pour it into the treacle, stirring all the time until all the fat has been added (do not allow any of the skin to go in). Mix well and allow to get cold, when it will become quite firm. Half a teaspoonful taken night and morning for children, and double the quantity, or even more, for adults, is the dosage. It is excellent for building up weak chests and lungs. Children usually like it very much. FIRST AID FOR A BURN No home should be without a bottle of carorn oil, that most invaluable dressing for burns, it is quite easy to make by mixing equal parts of lime water and raw linseed oil. If the mishap occurs, however, and there is no carron oil available, a paste of baking soda and water will effectively keep out the air, and that is what is desired. Pile the powder on the burn, apply a bandage, and then moisten it * wiuh water, and finally cover with another bandage. Never cover a burn with flour; this cakes and in the end is very difficult and painful to remove. HINTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW An excellent way to keep carpets in good condition is to go over them once a week witli a broom dipped in hot water to which a little turpentine has been added. This treatment not only prevents moths, but freshens up the colours of any carpet in a wonderful way. If an inexpensive table salt is wanted which does not cake, rub down some ordinary brick salt which has been thoroughly dried. Add one tablespoonful of ground rice to half a pound of salt, pass the mixture through a hair sieve, and store in a tin in a dry place. IF THE TAP LEAKS Replacing a washer on the tap is a very simple operation, which every woman should know how to carry out for herself. The first thing to do is, of course, to turn off the water supplyleading to that particular tap. If on the main, then the main stop cock must be turned off, and that will suffice, but if the tap is supplied from the cistern that must be emptied in addition, unless it may be controlled by a special stop cock. If it is a hot water tap, be sure the fire is out before the tank is emptied. The nut beneath the handle of the tap should be -unscrewed with a spanner. It may be a left-handed nut, so if it seems obstinate try unscrewing in both directions. When it is loose the rod may be withdrawn and the washer will be seen at the bottom of the shaft. It is held by a small nut. The new washer (bought at the ironmonger’s) is fitted in its place, the shaft replaced, and the tap screwed up.