HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19862, 3 February 1920, Page 7

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

that is very hard l does not make good tea. It can be softened slightly by adding the merest pinch of bi-carbonate of soda. Fo remove the shine from cloth suits, nib well with a piece of flannel dipped in turpentine, then expose to the air to remove the smell of the spirit. Odds and ends often make good lunch sandwiches. A sprinkling of vinegar or lemon juice helps to keep fresh those which journey to town. Rub stains on linoleum with a piece of soft rag moistened with spirits of turpentine. Afterwards polish the spot, with a little beeswax and turpentine, or any other furniture polish. Add a dash of lemon-juice to a soup that is rather tasteless. Lemon juice brings up the flavour in a wonderful way. Don’t rise much, arid don’t use it at all if there is any milk in the soup.

If towels arc wearing thin, join two together. They should he as nearly alike a's possible. Corresponding threads on under and upper towels may not be equally worn, but by darning worn parts they will last a long time. Dust.—Save a quantity of very moist tea-leaves in a howl overnight. In the morning sprinkle them very liberally in the grates and allow a few minutes for them to soak in before raking out the ashes. There is practically no dust.

To Clean Brown Boots.—First brush off all dirt, then nib,with a cloth so as to remove all dust. . Rub the boots with a paraffin flannel, then with a clean soft cloth rub briskly and lightly, when a beautiful polish will appear which will last for days.

Clean Windows Inside.—A great many people do not know that the insides of windows generally > catch more dust than the outsides. They should be rubbed every two or three days with a clean cloth. In this way they will look very bright and fresh. For the Stove.—lt will he found a great help if a small whisk b© kept for cleaning the stove. It removes all the dirt and dust-from the cracks and the crevicesj and makes it much easier to keep clean. The whisk should be washed evry day in farm, soapy water. To Skin a Beetroot.—Many, housewives have found it a fiddling job skinning a beetroot, besides which it is often hacked about and made unsightly by the knife. Here is a simple little hint which will save yon all this trouble. Instead of waiting until the beetroot gets cold, place it in a howl of cold water, and mb through the hands. The skin will easily slip off, leaving the beetroot in perfect /condition.

Soldering Aluminium.—When, holes appear in aluminium utensils, it is not necessary to discard the dishes as no longer useful, for by a simple method they can he made to take solder. Insert a brass or copper rivet in the hole, flatten both ends, and then solder over both- the inside' and the outside surfaces in the usual manner. If you wish to solder a piece to a sound part of the utensil, use a sharp awl to punch holes for holding spots of copper or brass. If the aluminium is very thick, cut the holes with a small drill held in a carpenter’s bitbrace.

The Useful Cork.—The cork method of cleaning knives saves much manual labour. Take a stout cork from a wine bottle, and dip it into the knife powder, which must be previously moistened. Place the knife flat and rub it with the cork. In a few seconds the knife will be quite clean and polished, and only require wiping with a duster. Rainspots on a Felt Hat.—A clothball is an excellent thing for removing spots from felt and the like. These may ho purchased from a: chemist or a draper, or may even he made at home. Another method is to cover the hat all over, after first removing ribbon or trimming of any sort, with pipeclay, .worked to a paste with water. Leave this on for a day or two. and then brush off with a stiff brush, in the garden. Beat with the hands'and brush until no suggestion of dust arises.