HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16907, 5 December 1922, Page 10

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

I o keep milk from turning sour, cLup »i binail piece of horsej-adish into .-t when it is new. Before cleaning brass, rub it with a cut lemon. Poii.di in the ordinary way with soft cloths. M hen cooking dried fruits, such as apricots, prunes or figs, after stewing them add one teaspoonful cornflour to every 41b fruit. This improves tho flavour and makes a good syrup. In making sauce with butter in it, never cook the butter with the sauce. Whon the sauce is made, take it off the fire, put in the butter, and stir tiii it- is melted. When butter is added in this way, it never goes in oil cm top, but keeps mixed with the other ingredients. Varnishing Oilcloths.—Copal varnish may be applied to oilcloths and linoleums, which may then be kept in good condition by polishing with an ordinary furniture polish. Bea Mater Stains.—Sea water often causes ugly stains oil brown shoes. To remove the marks, dissolve a small piece of washing soda in an eggeupful of hot milk. While the solution is still warm apply it- with a rag to the mark. Rub well, and, after drying, clean the leather with ordinary polish. Odour of Fish.—The odour of fish can be removed from knives and forks by covering them with tea leaves lor a short time. Fermented Jam.—The onlv remedy for fermented jam which I have tried and found successful is to reboil after taking off any mildew on top. Add a little more sugar, take off the scum which rises while boiling, reduce jam about one quarter and re-pot. It will then keep for any length of time. Mouldy Jam.—Cut rounds of tissue paper, eize of jars. Soak each separate ly in vinegar, and lay close over the top of the jam. Cover in tho usual way. Have done this for three years, and have had no mould. Pastry Making.—V\ hen making pastry, melt the butter or lard slightly, and beat to a cream l>ofore mixing it, with the flour. Only half the usual quantity of shortening is required if tliis is done. To Keep the Ateat Fresh. — Here is an excellent way of keeping meat- fresh and free from flies: —Make a muslin bag big enough to hold a fair-sized joint ol meat, and before the meat is placed in it soak it in vinegar. Hang the bag with its contents in a cool place and the meat will keep fresh even when th© weather is sultry, and Plies will not attempt to settle on the vinegar soaked muslin. Th© muslin bag should be washed occasionally and ' soaked again in vinegar. Glove Cleaning 11int.-r White or , light-coloured kid gloves may ho rapid ly cleaned with a piece of soft white indiarubber procured from a stationer. Put the gloves on the hands, and, starting with the fingers, nib the leather well with the eraser. If the surface of the rubber lx*.comes dirty, pass it: over new blotting paper until it 'w clean. A Flat Iron flint.—To improve tho surface of an iron which has become rough or rusty, rub it backwards and forwards on a board on w hich has been spread a paste made of powdered hath brick and paraffin. Keep on rubbing until the iron seems quit© smooth an.J 1 free from rust.. Then wash the- iron in hot soapsuds find dry it well ; it will then he found to ho in good comli tion.