HINTS THAT HELP TO ECONOMISE

Ladies' Mirror, Volume 3, Issue 2, 1 August 1924, Page 33

HINTS THAT HELP TO ECONOMISE

HOW OFTEN YOU HAVE WISHED YOU KNEW A BETTER WAY OF DOING SOME SIMPLE HOUSEHOLD TASK? HERE ARE SOME WAYS THAT OTHER WOMEN HAVE FOUND USEFUL. CUT THEM OUT AND KEEP THEM HANDY UNTIL OPPORTUNITY OFFERS FOR TRYING THEM

Steel, Silver, and Stains SMALL quantity of methylated spirits added to the metal polish will give a silvery finish to steel, which, after a few applications, will not rust so readily. Steel knives and forks are best cleaned with a slightly soaped flannel dipped in bathbriek, the knives polished on a board afterwards. Silver and plated spoons and forks can be kept bright by washing them in very hot water, and taking them out and drying them one by one; the same result cannot be obtained by lifting them all out at once and letting them cool before drying. A ripe tomato removes inkstains from the hands and from white cloths; cut the tomato in half, and rub on the stain like soap, leave for a few minutes, then rinse in cold water; repeat, if necessary. Eucalyptus oil removes grease from any material; apply with flannel, rubbing gently until the stain disappears. To Clean Varnished Walls To clean and polish varnished walls and wainscots add a tablespoonful of ammonia to a quart of warm water, and wash with a soft cloth; then wring a leather out of a. pint of water to which a tablespoonful of turpentine has been added, and wipe down the alls, etc., and a fine gloss will result. To clean and polish furniture, wipe with a soft cloth rinsed out of warm water, to which one part of vinegar to three of water has been added; do each article singly, and polish with a soft doth. The advantage of this method is that the furniture will not show fingermarks afterwards. When cleaning inlaid linoleum never use either flannel, soap, or hot water; apply a • good floor-polish regularly instead of water, which is apt to loosen the sections, and, when necessary, clean off traces of the polish, marks, or stains with a pad of soft cloths dipped in paraffin. Little Hints that Help When a drawer in a chest or bureau becomes difficult to open rub some furniture polish or soap into the part that sticks. 0 o o Moths in upholstery can be removed by dabbing the fabric with benzine.

Short net curtains should be put up while wet after a visit to the wash tub. it is almost impossible to persuade them to hang straight or evenly, if ironed in the ordinary way. o o o Rub your spring mattresses with a cloth dipped in paraffin. This prevents rust.

Black Lead Marks Marks on a carpet or rug made by black lead can be removed by the application of a paste made of fuller’s earth and water. This paste should be left on the carpet for some hours and then brushed off. A Fireside Accessory The Velveteen Glove Undoubtedly large pieces of coal are the most economical to burn when the fire is well started, but they are difficult to manipulate, because they slide off the shovel and slip from the grip of the tongs. They can he handled best by hand, and for the purpose , a velveteen glove made exactly like a huge fingerless infant’s glove will ensure the operation being a clean one. Simple to Make Any piece of old velveteen will make one, but if it is to be a gift, half a yard of cheap black or navy blue velveteen

might be purchased and shaped from a simple pattern in paper, cutting the gloves' in two pieces and oversewing them firmly on the wrong side. Hem round the bottom and work the word “coal” across the back of the glove in brightly coloured wool. Clothes Pegs and the Clothes Line Clothes pegs should never be allowed to lie about after use. Store them in a bag, and give them an occasional scrub, so that they do not stain the clothes. New pegs should always be soaked before use. . When clothes pegs become soiled, throw them into a boiler of hot soap suds to which has been added a handful of soda and washing-powder and let them remain to soak until the water is lukewarm, then take each clothes peg and scrub it and rinse it. Place them on paper to dry out in the sun. Clothes pegs treated this way will last twice as long, and it keeps them from splitting. It also prevents the mark that soiled clothes pegs leave on nice white clothes. Take in the clothes line when not in use, and store in bag, and when it begins to get grimy, boil it in soapy water and rinse well in cold water. Then hang out in the air to dry. New Uses for Old Tins Innumerable uses may be found for the tin covers of coffee-cans, fruit tumblers, meat-jars, and other grocery receptacles, to take the place of expensive little nickel and glass kitchen fixtures. To the woman who likes to keep her little whitepainted, white-enamelled kitchen immaculate, these little tins are a great aid. When cooking, a couple close at hand hold the eggs or other slippery materials to prevent their rolling off. One is kept on the window-sill over the sink for the drinking-glass, to protect the paint. The larger covers make excellent food receptacles for the ice-chest, or are equally convenient as extra saucepan or dish covers. They also make good rests for hot - dishes or pans just removed from the fire. The smaller ones fit nicely over the average drinking-glassor use the jar over which it camein which one may keep left-over liquids or scraps that must be covered. Also use one to cover the water or medicine glass in the sick-room.