HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16927, 29 December 1922, Page 10

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

furniture will never shine if tho I polish is applied with a soiled cloth. I When cooking green gooseberries, add j« Pinch of carbonate of soda; if will ; take away a great deal of the sharp--1 ness. ; To clean and polish rusty irons, use j beeswax and salt. Never let an iron j got red hot. W hen tying down jam. dip the cover J i»t vinegar, and tie down whilst the is hot. This will keep it from i M hen making jam smear the bottom J of the preserving pan with margarine, ! mid the contents will not burn j There is nothing better than linseed j oi: for morocco leather. It is important to see that all dust is removed from the leather. Coloured garments should always be ironed on the wrong side. Polish the gas stove with newspaper i directly after cooking, and while tho metal is still hot. It will remove all Nevc*r use soda for scrubbing floors and tables, as it makes the boards a bad colour. Bones to be used for making soup will remain in good condition for several days if they are baked for a few minutes in a hot oven. AVben cleaning gilt frames, dust, rub in a little methylated spirits, ami dry. This serves as long a* the fiames are in good order. If the gilt wears off. use onion water prepared as fellows: In one and a half pints of water dissolve one teaspoonful flowers cf sulphur, and three or four bruised onions, and boil. Strain the liquid and apply to the frames with a soft brush anil dry with a duster, and til©

gilt will look quite fresh. AVhen -Frying.—AVhen frying fat has got slightly burned drop in a peeled raw potato for a few moments, and then remove it. All trace of burning will have disappeared. Tarnished Silver.—To clean tarnished silver, niosten powdered magnesia with cold water, apply to the article, and let it dry. Rub off with a .soft cloth Silver Plate.—For cleaning plate, an old cork dipped in a little moistened powder is excellent. Egg stains on spoous disappear if treated with ssalt applied with a cork. To Quench Thirst.—One of the best thirst-quenchers is a cup of hot tea. If a cold drink is preferred, oatmeal and water, flavoured with lemon juice and sugar, is not easily surpassed. Keep Your Brooms.—Brooms will last longer, and sweep better, if they are dipped once a week in very hot soap-suds. This treatment toughens trnd preserves the bristles. Dried Fruit-.-—lt is a mistake to soak dried fruit in water, as it takes away the flavour. First wash and wipe the fruit and then place it in a syrup made of two ports of water and one ot sugar, boiled until it thickens. Ijeave the fruit in this syrup lor twenty-four hours, and it will be plump and juicy. If shoes- squeak the trouble may 0© r* medied by standing the soles in a dish of linseed oil. To keep milk fresh in warm weather si and the jug in a saucepan ot cold water on the gas stove. When the water boils the milk is “ scalded,” and will not tarn soul*. Puddings containing custard should always be cooked slowly. Shoes can be made waterproof by rubbing the soles with a mixture of mutton suet and beeswax. Fish can be preserved for some time if it is sprinkled with coarse sugar. A, paste of starch and water applied to the spot after a bruise or blow will prevent discoloration. GLUE SUBSTITUTE A substitute for glue can be made by i rubbing a piece of cold boiled potato on paper until it is of the right consistency. This will be found equal to strong glue or cement. STICKING IRONS. Irons will not stick if, when you make your starch, you mix in one lump of sugar and a shaving of candle or v bite curd soap. CLEANING SUEDE SHOES. Suede shoes should not be cleaned wlien damp. Leave until dry', and then brash very lightly with a fine wire brush. OAND LE-EN D POLISH. A good polish for oilcloth can he made from candle ends. Melt the ends i.i the oven, and mix with them enough tui pontine to make a soft, creamy paste. This is a substitute for beeswax r.nd turpentine. MONEY FOR JAM. A good plan when, making jam in an ©namelled sauoepan is to place a halfcrown in the bottom of the pan. This Involves while the jam is boiling, and prevents the jam from sticking to the bottom. But first boil the half-crown. TO KEEP LEMONS. Lemons can be kept from drying and shrinking during the hot weather if they are plaoed. in a bowl of cold water. Change the water daily, and tho lemons will remain plump and juicy for quite a long time.

DRY YOUR SAUCEPANS. Always wipe tho inside of saucepan quite dry with a clean cloth, as the; art liable to rust. Enamel pans shout be washed with soap and hot water, o with a little fine ash rubbed on with flannel. Aluminium should never b cleaned with soda, but with sand am soap. RUBBER SPONGES. Rubber sponges should be held unde a running tap after use in order to fre them from soap. In the case of natura sponges it is necessary in addition t, f.nse them frequently in hot water am ammonia. GRASS STAINS. Grass stains on washing materials cai b • removed l»y rubbing the part wit-1 and then washing the garment in warm soapy water.