Fashions and Furbelows

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18338, 15 December 1927, Page 13

Fashions and Furbelows

NOTES BY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS.

TO REMOVE SHINE FROM CLOTH. To remove the shine from long-used cloth, take an emery board or a piece of fine emery paper and rub it very’ gently* with a rotary movement over the glossy surface. This raises the nap that constant rubbing has driven back into the material. EXERCISE FOR BABIES. Exercise for babies is far more important than is generally supposed. A baby should be given every’ opportunity of exercising his muscles. Let him lie for a few moments on his nurse's knee after his morning bath. Watch how he stretches and kicks his legs about and revels in his freedom. These movements are of great beneficial value, for they’ help to develop the muscles and to straighten the child’s legs. Consequently, by the time the child wants to stand alone, the legs should be quite straight. It is a good plan to place a baby in the middle of a big bed and leave him there—of course, only’ when someone is in the room—for a few minutes. so that he may’ kick and stretch as much as be likes. After a child has reached, seven months he will remain happy for a long time if placed on a warm blanket upon the floor. In order to prevent him crawling all over the room, put him in a play pen and give him a few to vs to plav with. According to a weii-knowu childrens doctor. I

“bow-legs and knock-knees are due, not to premature walking, as is usually supposed, but rather to late walking and want of exercise of the legs in early infancy.’* DARK STAINS ON SHOES. First remove all traces of mud and dust from the shoes. Dissolve half a tcaspoonful of salts of lemon (remember, this is a strong poison) in a teacupful of water. Dip a piece of sponge in this liquid and rub on to the stains. When the shoes are dry the. stains should have gone. Then clean the shoes with ordinary polish. PERSIAN RUGS. Nearly every woman has a liking for Persian rugs. Their soft colourings and silky textures appeal to all lovers of beautiful things. Of course, nothing can rival the real thing, but it is possible nowadays to buy excellent Britishmade imitations of Persian rugs, which are just as suitable for a sitting-room as a bedroom. These rugs are especially charming laid on a well-polished floor. Oriental rugs require careful treatment. They are not made to stand the tread of heavy’ boots, and. therefore, they* should not be laid where there is heavytraffic. They’ are not improved bybeating, shaking and brushing with a heavy brush. An electric vacuum cleaner will remove all dust without injuring the nap. If a vacuum cleaner is not available, take up the rugs, lay them face downwards on clean gras, lieat them very gently, and then brush their backs. Then turn the rugs over and sweep across, and with the nap, but not against the nap. If the rug is dirty, dip a clean cloth in some warm water in which a little salt has been dissolved, and wipe the rug all over, rubbing gently in the direction of the nap. When a room is not in use. take up the rugs, shake them very gently, treat them in the way described above, and roll them (not fold) so that the pile is inside. Then wrap them in clean paper or dust-sheets. With careful treatment Persian rugs will last many years and give great satisfaction.