The Home

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 12, 22 March 1906, Page 29

The Home

By 'Maureen*

The Odor of Vegetables. A piece of bread tied in a bit of muslin and dropped into the water in which greens are boiling will absorb the unpleasant odor. Opening Glass Jars. The resistance of glass jars that refuse to open oau be overcome by setting them, top downwards, in an inch or two of hot water. Stair Carpets. When laying a new stair carpet always get about one yard more than is required, so that when the edges become worn the whole carpet may> be moved up, and thus present a fresh, new appearance. Clothes Pegs. Clothes peg 9 should be scrubbed in hot soap and water and boiled for twenty minutes, then 51 taken out and allowed to drain till dry. They will last much longer and will not split if this is done. Cleaning Fire-places. Before cleaning out the fire-place in the morning, sprinkle a good handful /bf tea-leaves amongst the ashes j it saves a lot of labior, and prevents the dust from flying round the room Dents on Furniture. To remove furniture bruises, wet the part with warm water, ■ fold a piece of brown paper five or six times, soak and lay it on the place and apply to it & hot iron until the paper is dry. If the bruise has not disappeared repeat the process. After two or three applications the dent will be raised level with the surface. Mildew. To remove mildew from cloth, rub a little common salt into the spots, then apply a paste made of powdered chalk- and cold water. Let this dry on, hanging the garment in the open air meanwhile, and when perfectly Idry brush the) chalk off. If one a#pli£atfa<ri is not sufficient the treatment should be repeated till the spots disappear. Inflammation of the Eyes. A little salt dissolved in warm , water — about onefourth of a saltspoon to one-balf cup of water— will 1 remove inflammation from eyelids reddened by the wind. If the eyes are strained from sleeplessness or from work,, apply to the lids soft linen wrung out of boiling water. Use this as hot as can be borne, and relief will be felt in. half an hour. Dishwashing-, One of the most dreaded and distasteful of household duties is decidedly the dishwashing. And the fact of having to do it for 365 days in the year pn an average three times a day does not make the task the more congenial ; it never becomes anything more than a necessary evil. Necessity knows no law, therefore the'besb thing to do with the dishwashing^ is to do it in an ideal way, for even in dishwashing there is an ideal. The chief things required to make it pleasant are care, order, plenty* of good hot water, a stack of dry teatowels, (two dishcloths, and a 'large enamelled bowl. The dishes, when removed from the table, must have each of the kind put together. Put all the cooking utensils on the range and fill them with water until the time comes to clean them. Have a receptacle in which to place all the scraps that come'from the dishes, platea etc. The most important thing is to have plenty of hot water ; not merely warm but hot, and use some good soap in the water 1o make ycur suds. It cleans the greasy meat dishes and plates twice as qiuickly. It is worth while making a note of these points, sinoe grease is 1 decidedly) the enemy in dishwashing, and plenty of hot water and good soap, the only means of conquering it. iHave your mops with handles or deep-mouthed jugs, and have nice dishcloths made of cheese-cloths. Begin with the glassware and next china, 'and follow with spoons, forks, knives, etc. Never use a wet towel. Reduce your dishwashing to a system and the difficulties will quickly disappear.