Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 27 September 1906, Page 33

Domestic

By • Maureen '

Cleaning an Old Clock. Have any of our readers a clock 'they value that seems to be near the end of its career ' of usefulness ? Does it skip..a beat now and then, a<nd when it -begins to strike seem to be in pain ? , Take a bit of cotton batting the size -of a hen's egg, dip -it in kerosene and place it on the. floor of the clock in the corner, shut the door of the clock and wait three or four 'days. Your clock will be like a new one— skip no more, it will strike as of old, and as you look inside you will find the cotton batting black with dust The fumes of the oil loosen the particles of dust, and they fall, thus cleaning the clock. Keeping Gloves Clean. Gloves should never be rolled or folded, as either treatment makes them look crumpled and unattractive Gloves can be saved in many little ways and their term of usefulness prolonged. The handle of a chatelaine bag will wear a glove white, so it should 'be carried on the wri j ml and lace gloves should be washed on the hands. These gloves are both practical and economical and may be worn for a considerable length of • time with careful haffdling in their washing. If care is not exercised, however, they will shrink and thicken up so as to become quite useless. They should be washed in tepid water, and afterwards rinsed in ' several clear tepid waters while still on the hands. Do not pass the soap through the hands, but always use the soapy water. A drop or two of ammonia in the second and'last rinsing waters will prevent the gloves from becoming yellow. These washable gloves should be allowed to dry if possible oa wooden hands ; if removed while only partly dry they will stretch out of shape. Soap-Making. For softT soap, allow to five pounds of grease three pounds of washing soda ,and four gallons of boiling water. Put into a small tub and let it stand for several days until the grease is eaten up. Stir every day, using a wooden paddle. If 100 thick add more water. If wood ashes are used, instead oi soda, boil the mixture. You can tell when the grease is all absorbed by dropping a spoonful of the melted soap into a glass of water, when any grease remaining will show on the surface. . To make hard soap, add to three pounds of washing soda a pound and a half of unslaked lime and two gallons of boiling water. Let it stand until perfectly clear, then drain and" add three pounds good clean fat. Put over the fire and boil until the mixture hardens, which will be in the course of two or two and a half hours , but watch and stir most of the time. After the mixture has boiled half the time add one gallon of cold water, which was poured on the sediment remaining after the two gallons of water were drained off. Just before taking from the fire add a handful of salt. Wet a small tub to prevent sticking, turn in the soap and let it stand until solid. Cut into cakes and put on a shelf to dry A delightfully pure toilet soap is made in this way N Add to one quart pure olive oil three pints of boiling water, in which four tablespoonfuls of refined potash have been dissolved. Have the oil at the boiline point in a porcelain-lined kettle before the potash water is added, then cook and stir with a wooden spoon until a little dropped <on a cold plate will thicken like jelly. Take care that the soap does not ~ boil over, as it is very apt .to do if left alone When ne-arly hard add a little scented oil, verbena lavender or rose, then pour into moulds to harden! When hard take out and pack where it will dry and season. After you have the knack of making- soap it is a good idea to make in quantity and keep ahead, as the older and harder it gets the better its lasting 'qualities;