Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 14 October 1909, Page 1633

Domestic

By MAUREEN.

. . Plaster of Paris. ],'-. •"/-"■ - - When you have occasion to use plaster -of Paris, r wet it with vinegar instead of water ; then •it will be like putty, and can be smoothed better, as it will not v< set* for half an hour, while plaster wet .with water hardens - at once, .-- ~-- „--"- t '- -• ■ - ■'Use' of -Vinegar. * Vinegar will keep, the hands white and smooth and • prevent chapping when exposed to the cold- air iafter washing in. hot- or soapy water. ' Before drying the hands rub over them a teaspoonful of ..vinegar, and the 4 , result will "be satisfactory. -- -.- ' •"-• .».,> "-.-*- For a Hot. Oven. ; /-"--: v -\ "" "If, when baking, the oven gets too hot,, put- in... a basin of . cold water . instead" of leaving" the door open. This" cools the oven, and the stream rising from the "water prevents the contents burning. . When cooking in a gas oven a basin or tin of water should always be kept in" the oven. - " -r . -"^ : ,;",- : Lemon' Juice. ._ -" -" ~ - " Lemon-juice is unequalled for keeping ; 'silver : bright; combined .- with soft soap and fine stardh it „.- will remove mildew; vegetable " stains and xoughness will -vanish from the -hands if lemon juice is "applied. . Lemons are "also invaluable as a medicinal remedy, and are especially useful after -a hearty supper. Hot lemonade, if taken .before' a cold gains headway, will break ~-:it. up: "Lemon juice' __sweetened with loaf sugar will relieve a cough.- ""---' White Spots on Furniture. The white spots on furniture caused by steam or hot, dishes can. be removed by applying a soft cloth dampened with spirits of camphor. Rub the spots -well and then polish with 'another, soft, dry cloth. If one application does not remove the spot, repeat until it disappears. A " bruised spot or dent may be removed from furniture in the following manner. Double a piece of .brown paper five or six times, soak in water, wet the bruised place and lay the paper* on it; apply a hot flat iron to the paper until the moisture evaporates. Two or three repetitions of this process may be necessary to raise the bruised spot*. .' To Remove Mud Stain's.'" - '~~ Mud-stained garments are sometimes rather difficult to clean; especially is it difficult to clean them without leaving some traces of the stain behind. This is particularly true of garments of _a light shade... When mud stains cannot be removed", while, still fresh they, can be later, by using carbonate "of soda, dissolved "in water, applied with a piece of flannel, rubbing the stained places until -the stains disappear. Another old and very homely way of removing dirt and » stains from clothes, is by means of a ffl raw potato, cutting the potato in half and rubbing. -the stains with it; as the potato becomes soiled remove a thin slice from it and continue the rubbing T -iintil the" stains and the dirt- have been entirely absorbed by the potato. " ; How -.to Clean a Lamp. If the lamp is"-used every- night- it should be cleaned daily. The methodical mode is" Vthis : the shade carefully before you soil your hands with the oil. Provide a basin of" warm water, (a ..little above blood-heat) and m this first wash the "glass chimneys, then pour the oil from the fountain, and remove^ any sediment from about I the brasswork. Screw up the wicks, and if they are" not long enough for the time .they are intended (or may brobably be required) to burn, replace them .with * fresh' ones - by. means of a~ stick. Having washed all the br-asswork, wipe -the parts carefully j" screw everything in its former position, and -take care in replacing the wick that tho smair notch at • the side . of the brass enters the groove . which is sunk -to receive' it; turn it up-~and"*Sown once or twice to make sure that it works freely; then prime it (that is, singe the top), replace the fountain (filled with oil), chimney, and shade,' and the lamp is ready for use. ■- -, „ Take Care-of-the Eyes. ' ~- - ' Why on earth do you women wear white veils when motoring?' said the old physician irritably. 'Nothing on^ earth is so bad for the eyes. Don't+yoiu know how the glare of the sun on a white sandy "Troad, 'or the snow, hurts your eyes? A white veil is the same in principle ' - | But nothing else looks well with a white costume ' objected the woman in white. 'And a white veil is so dainty.' ' Dainty I•' shouted the old physician. ' Very dainty they look after a ride through dust! And must you have a veil. that " harmonizes," even though it gives you nervous headaches and spoils your eyes? No-no Leave the white veil to the lady motorist 'in the musicai comedy, and choose a.,sensible- gre&iveil, which is good for the eyes, and can be pretty and becoming, if you choose the right shade.' - .