HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5668, 12 September 1896, Page 3

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

CLOTHES-rEGS.— If clothes-pins are boiled a few minutes and quickly dried every few weeks, it will cleanse, them and make them more durable. , . To Keep Cakes Moist.— lf a dish of cold water is kept in a cake box it will keep the cake fresh and moist. The water should be renewed every twenty-four hours. Grease. — When hot grease has been spilled upon the top of a clean, white kitchen table, quickly pour cold water upon it and that will cool it at once. This prevents t' c wood from absorbing the grease, which then can be easily removed. To Wash Chamois LEATHER.-^-In washing chamois skins use tepid water to which a little ammonia has been added. Einso them thoroughly, stretch, and put them in the shade to dry. When partly dry, stretch the skin agamy and the skin will be soft and like new when done. To Cleanse .Barrels. — To remove an odour from a barrel half fill it with cold water. Heat half a dozen stones the. size of the palm of the hand until they are red hot and throw them into the water, and let the water remain in the barrel until cold ; then rinse the barrel with clean cold water. Coffee. — During damp weather in the .summer coffee often loses its flavour and strength. ' An old housekeeper says that if the quality, of, coffee berries needed for breakfast be put into a bowl, covered closely, and put into the warming oven over night the flavour of the coffee will be much improved. When to Eat. — Never eat a full meal when bodily exhausted. A biscuit and a cup of hot tea will be the best thing to take. The tea will give enough stimulus and a little strength, allowing the body gradually to retain its usual vigour, and in two hours a hearty meal may be eaten withoiit ill results. To Wash Glass.— Kerosene oil added to the water with which mirrors, windows, or anything of glass is to be washed will give a lustre. A pint of water and three tablespoonsful of oil will wash four large windows. First dust the windows carefully, then rub well with kerosene and water, wipe with a cloth, and polish with old newspaper. For the Cook. — A small table, not more tnan a yard or so across and supplied with strong castors, is of great convenience in a kitchen ; it can toe rolled everywhere and it saves many steps. When frying pancakes, or cooking griddle cakes, the table can . be put near tho range, holding all the articles required. During the preserving season such a table is invaluable. To Loosen Decanter Stoppers. — One way is to stand the bottle in hot water, another is to drop a little oil with a feather between the stopper and the decanter, and stand it near the fire. After a time strike the stopper gently with a piece of wood on all sides, and, if it does not move, repeat the process. A strip of flannel or wool wound around the neck of the bottle and smartly pulled backward and forward to produce friction, will sometimes loosen stoppers. Paste Similar to Stickphast. — Dissolve a teaspoonf ul of alum in a quart of water. When cold, stir in as much flour as will bring the paste to tho consistency of thick cream. Carefully^ press out all . lumps. Stir in half a teaspoonf ul of powdered resin and pour on to the paste a c\ip of boiling water, stirring it well. When it becomes very thick, pour into a jar, add a few drops of oil of cloves, and keep in a close place. When reqiured for use take a little and soften with warm water. Children's Hair Should Never be Plaited till they are eleven or twelve years old. There is no doubt that the process of plaiting strains the hair at the roots by pulling them tight, and also tends to deprive them of their requisite supply of nourishment, and, therefore, the growth is checked. If a child's hair is very straight, and requires a little waving, place the ends into soft rags, curl, the hair about halfway up its length, and then tie the rag. Where it is possible, a child's hair should be kept short till it is twelve years old. To Salt Butter. — If new butter is covered with a brine it is said to keep sweet a year or more. The best way is to make the butter into small rolls and wrap each one in a muslin cloth. Put the rolls in a large jar, and pour over them a brine strong enough to bear up an egg, in which has been boiled a quarter of a pound of granxilated sugar and a tablespoonful of saltpetre to three gallons of brine. The brine should become cold before being strained over the buttex*. A weight should be put on the :top to keep the butter under the brine. Care of Oilcloth. — An oilcloth may be cleaned and made to last as long again if treated in the following manner : Cut into pieces half an ounce of beeswax, put in a saucer, cover entirely with turpentine, and place in the oven until melted. After washing the oilcloth thoroughly with a flannel, rub the whole surface lightly with a bit of flannel dipped in the melted wax and turpentine. Then rub with a dry cloth. A polish is produced and the surface is lightly coated with the wax. When the floor requires to be cleaned the wax is washed off, together with the dust or dirt that may have gathered, while the oilcloth is preserved.