HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Wairarapa Age, 15 November 1919, Page 2

HOUSEHOLD HINTS

SELF-HEATING IRON. A new. self-heating iron has lately been manufactured, which can be used both indbors and outdoors, and is particularly useful- for ladies travelling. It is very durable, as all parts through which the gasoluc passes are constructed of solid brass. There are no complicated parts, screws, or bolts to get out of order,! and it is simply operated. Tho gasoline is put in a reservoir in front oi the iron, and flows through a feed pipe to the generator, ,thence to the burner, which extends the full length of the iron, giving the bottom an even The heat may bt regulated; the handle never becomes heated. It ife handsome and so- wellbalanced as to reduce the strain on the hand and arm.

FASTENING CHILDREN'S SHOES For fastening children's shoes use good mohair laces. They keep tied better than worsted or silk. To fiis them securely, tie the bow in the usual way, but before pulling it tight, pasß the right-hand loop through the part that will rorm the knot; then draw the two loops tightly to form the* bow. QUILL PENS. A revival of an old fashion is the quill pen. It is easy to dye white feathers any shade with water colours or with marqueterie stains. Simply brush the feather with the stain, and let -it thoroughly dfy. A pen like this makes a dainty and useful gift. • MILK JUGS. To prevent the tablecloth becoming spotted with drops from the cream or milk jug, try rubbing a little butter on the outer edge of the lip of the jug, It will not bo noticeable anj will prevent the milk or cream from running down the outside.

HINTS TO GIRLS ABOUT PRESENTS.

When sending a present, however small it, may be, it is worth while to go to t & little trouble to make the outward appearance of the parcel as dainty as you can. The paper for a present should always be something a wee bit special, for such touches add much to the value of the gift in the eyes of the recipient. Coloured string is pretty in place of the

ordinary kind. Choose a certain colour and keep to it, just as many women arc faithful to a certain scent. A sheet of tissue paper inside , the outer wrapping ia another dainty touch that bespeaks refinement and consideration for the person to whom your gift is destined. Another trifle. When you receive a present, if ifc is only a card, or a short letter for birthday greetings, never—in any circumstances —omit to acknowledge its receipt, and do it promptly. Some girls, and boys, too, aro very negligent about this duty. They say, in excuse for themselves, "I hate writing letters," and eeem to think thati should exonerate them from thanking the senders. But they should remember that many persons dislike the trouble of writing letters, yet some have taken that trouble for them and others ;have sent gifts. Not only is it most discourteous, but it is also bad business draining not to reply promptly. Sometime tho excuse is made that school work, or home duties, oi sporta. make such demands on one's time that, there is none left for J writing letters. But, "Your kind gift received, many thanks/' would

not take long to write, even if it had to be repeated twenty times.

TO TAKE IRONMOULD SPOTS OUT OF FLtfl .SILK. '

Spots may be removed from Fuji silk by soaking them in lemon juice and then steaming them. The latter is dono by holding the material so that the steam from the Bpout ot a boiling kettle passes through the spots. , USEFUL IRON-HOLDER. If an iron-holder is made in some--thing the shape of a very small cosey it will not fall off whenever the iron is put down, as is invariably the case with the ordinary holder. It may bo made of two or three thicknesses of blanketing or other soft thick material, bound at the edge with braid.

A NEEDLE-THREADING HINT. When threading a needle with white thread hold it over black cloth, and for black thread hold it over white cloth.

Time may be saved by using a bright-coloured thimble, which can be easily seen when misplaced.

TO WASH TUSSORE SILK,

Tussore*is easy to wash with warm water and any good soag* It should be quite dry for ironing, otherwise It crinkles and is very unsatisfactory. When boiling white clothes' put enough soap or soap-chips into the water to soften it. Then BliCe a lemon, including rind, into the water. The lomon helps wonderfully to remove stains, and bleaches the clothes as well.

Since custard powder haß become i so dear, try this wrinkle,, Instead I of using the % full amount directed 1 for any quantity of liquid, use half custard powder and half" ordinary flour. Made in this way, the custard, if boiled for three minutes, is delicious, and -pale yellow colour, as if an egg had been used. Cloth and chenille make a very simple hat trimming, with tho cloth j ends cut to form a fringe, and some J little flowers or some conventional design worked on it in various coloured chenille. Another suggestion for trimming a knockabout hat if just one of those multi-coloured mending skeins of cotton or silk placed round the crown like a ribbon, and finished with a motif in front. This is made by cutting out a circle of cardboard and winding the various coloured silk round # and .round it until the cardboard is comfortably covered. A novel trimming can be made with small bone or brass rings buttonholed round with silk or wool in any colour or colours. These rings can bo arranged in many different designs, and can be made to look most effective.

A Quick Cure for Scalds.—One of the commonest injuries of the home is the scald. Everything depends upon prompt treatment, and. .if the metter is taken in hand at once, blisters and sore places can often be prevented. Get a "pint of lukewarm

water," and in this dissolve a teaspoonful of salt and the same amount of carbonate of soda. If the injury is on the hand, just plunge int6 the solution, and keep it there until the pain ceases, which will be quite soon. Where some other part of the body is scalded, wrap cloth saturated in the solution round the place. Renew quite frequently until, all the sting-; ing sensation, is gone. Then wipe the 1 part dry with a soft cloth, and apply a little carborated vaseline. Keep the air away for a few hours by means of a bandage. Scalds treated in this way get better in a marvellously short time, but a\\ depends on dealing with the trouble at once.