Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 15 October 1908, Page 33

Domestic

By MAUREEN

A Darning^ Hint.

Before mending stockings with ordniary darning yarn, it is a good plan, to hold the card or skein over the spout, of a kettle of boiling water. By this means the steam effectually shrinks the wool, and when the mended stocking is sent to the wash no fear need be entertained of the mended portion" shrinking- away from or tearing the surrounding bait. \

The sound of a croupy cough strikes terror into the 'heart, the more so as it usually occurs without any warning in the dead of -night. Often the saving of the sufferer depends on immediate remedies applied. One of the most efficacious remedies is said to be alum and sugar. Take a knife and grate or shave off in small particles about a teaspoonful of alum, then mix it with twice its quantity of sugar to,make it palatable, and administer it as quickly as possible. Almost instantaneous relief will follow. «

Tea Stains.

Dried tea marks are always troublesome to remove, and in the case of a dainty tea cloth trimmed with lace and embroidery, which is always carefully washed at home without boiling, the stains should be treated at once. • A mixture should be made of equal parts of glyceiine and the yolk -of an egg, and this should be painted over the stain and left until perfectly dry. A good rinsing should then be given with clean water, and the cloth can afterwards be washed as usual.

To Clean Jewellery

Gold jewellery in constant use becomes grimy looking ami dull, but it can be wonderfully brightened tby washing in ammonia and water. Should the interstices of a brooch or links, of a chain be clogged with dust, the articles, should be first immersed in a cupful of warm water and rubbed gently with a brush which has bern dipped in soapsuds. They must then be laid in a little warm water to which a few drops of ammpnU have been added, and after a few moments removed and d"rie<i in a soft cloth, polishing being afterwards effected with a chamois leather. Rings set with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, or rubies should always be removed when the hands are washed When the stones appear dull and lifeless, and the setting ingrained with dirt, they should, however, be dipped in warm soapsuds mad- with yellow soap, twelve cr fifteen drops of sal volatile being added when the lather is made. This will have the effect of restoring all the lost brilliancy of the gem.

Stained Tan Shoes.

Stains in calf tan should be first washed in warm soapy, water, to which has been added a little soda. When dry rub the stained part with a rag dipped in methylated spirits' then polish with tan paste. Should the stained part be a little darker than the rest of the leather, rub well with a raw onion before applying the paste. Stains on chrome tan (grained or morocco leather) should be rubbed over with methylated spirits or with a slice of lemon. The acid in the latter is one of the best possible removers of stains in soft leathers. Polish off with, tan paste. Tan kid is more delicate. Stains in- it should be covered with fuller's earth, laid on damp, and allowed to dry Brush off, rub with lemon and polish with milk. Ordinary tan paste should not be used for kid, as it dries and cracks the v leather. Stains on glace tan will usually yield to lemon or methylated spirits. Finish off with milk to soften leather again When any kind, of tan shoes (except kid) get so. much stained that they look shabby, they should be blackened in the following manner r-5-Brush off, the dirt, rub all over with a raw onion then give a good coat of ink. When this is quite dry, polish with either. paste or, oil blacking, and a really good finish will be the result, and a new lease of life given to the shoes.