HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 22 November 1924, Page 3

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

A dash of ouu-deCologne in water is very refreshing when one is fatigued. Brass bedsteads must lie well ruobed constantly with a dry duster, or they will tarnish. Mice will quickly disappear if birdlime is scattered by it'.eir holes and along their runs. When brown stock is needed foi some dish and none is ban ly, dissolve a little meat extract in water and use it instead. To prevent- glass dishes breaking, place a wet cloth underneath the dish when you pour in hot iruit, custard, etc. If you are suspicious of certain gaspipes, a sure test for leakages is as follows: Make a paste of soap and water, and apply it to .he joints of the gas-pipe. Jf there is a . rack, escaping gas bubbles will appear in a very short time. Varnished furniture may be cleaned bv washing lightly over with a sponge or flannel dipped in rater in which liquid ammonia has been mixed. The proportions are one tablespoonffd of ammonia to two pints of water. Wipe dry, then polish with a soft linen duster. When an umbrella is brought in from the rain, it should he spread open to dry; if it is impossible to do so, always stand it with the handle down. Otherwise it is so slow drying that the cover rots and the frame' rusts, thus causing the ribs 10 poke through. The care of the umbrella has much to do with its durability. Tea leaves to he used for sprinkling over learpots when sweeping should always be washed before using. Put them in a colander and let cold watei run over them; let them drain and squeeze before using, they will not then stain light patterns in the carpet, as they are very likely to do if used straight from the teapot. Kitchen saltsprinkled over the carpet is uselul for allaying dust when sweeping: it: will not spoil the carpet but will brighten the colours. Scratches may he removed from furniture by using the following solution :—Mix a ieaspoonful or turpentine with an equal quality of linseed-oil. Apply quickly with a small, soft brush and the scratch will soon disappear. Then wine off the liquid and the spot cloth for a few minutes. Add cue-half teacupfnl of gasoline to 2 quarts of water that is to be used to |olean varnished wood-work. This he Ins fn retain the glossv finish. To keep butter cool di.-solvci salt in water and stand the dish in it. Cover with a wet cloth, and 1 let. the ends touch the water. . 'Who'n putting away spare blankets for the summer do not unit to protect them from moth. Carbon is a great preventative. When making boiled starch it is good ' to lather some pure soar into it adding some bind. The soap mokes the clothes ‘ beautifully glossv, and the iron will not stick if the clothes arc rather damp when they are ironed. Equal parts of salad oil and vinegar is the best'thing for cleaning new linoleum. Tf dirtv. wash the linoleum first with soap and water. Soda rap'dlv destrovs it, but soap cr grease imreves the wear.