Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 28 April 1910, Page 673

Domestic

By MAUREEN

Earthenware. Put new earthenware into cold water, to heat and boil gradually; then let it grow cold again. While the water is boiling throw into it a handful of rye-bran. This preserves the glazing, so that it will not be affected by salt or acid. Boiling earthenware toughens it. s For a Strain. Camphor, the size of a pigeon’s egg, dissolved with a few drops of spirits of wine, the white of one egg, a small teacup of vinegar, well mixed and beat up together, when it forms a sort of lather. This rubbed in two or three times a day after inflammation has subsided has been known to effect remarkable cures. A Furniture Hint. To remove the bluish cast that comes on highly-polished furniture in damp weather wipe the furniture with lukewarm water in which there is a tablespoonful of ammonia to a gallon of water. Rub thoroughly dry with a soft cloth and heat the room if possible, for the dampness of the room is what causes the discoloration. A fire in the room once a week in damp weather would probably be sufficient. Cement for Mending Broken Vessels. To half a pint of milk put a sufficient quantity of vinegar in order to curdle it; separate the curd from the whey and mix the whey with the whites of four eggs, beating the whole well together; when mixed add a little quicklime w-’°, ug , a sieve until it acquires the consistency of a paste. With this cement broken vessels or cracks can be repaired* it dries quickly, and resists the action of fire and water. How to Clean an Oil Painting. I have an old family portrait—an oil painting—which had become so grimy and discolored by the accumulated out and smoke of years that the face was almost indistinguishable. taking a valuable painting to a professional cleaner is a hazardous proceeding, and I thought I would first try my own hand at cleaning it. I took a common raw potato and cut the end off square. Then I proceeded to mb the painting with it— too hard. As soon as the potato became soiled I cut off a thin slice and went on rubbing. After I had gone over the entire painting I wiped it off carefully with a soft cloth, and then repeated the potato treatment. The effect was magical. The colors came out nearly as fresh and clear as when they were first laid on, and the painting was not injured in any way, as is often the case when chemicals are used. * 5 How to Clean Wax Floors. A hardwood floor, which has been finished with wax only is easily cleaned and refinished if polished with a brush every morning. But if it is neglected for weeks at a time the surface of the wax grows dim and sticky, and dust clings to it, accumulating until it forms blackish streaks or spots, especially under rugs or near windows or in other places exposed to dust. Washing with water or ammonia will not remove these spots, and will injure the floor raising and roughening the grain. Instead of this, the floor should be rubbed with fine sandpaper, No 1 or No. 0, dipped in turpentine.. The turpentine will soften the wax without injuring the floor, and the sandpaper will remove the dust. If the floor is too thickly coated with wax, the sandpaper clogs quickly, so that steel wool, dipped in turpentine, is more convenient. When the floor has been sufficiently cleaned, a fresh dressing of wax may be put on and rubbed in the usual manner. 1 Food for Infants. ' •Slice a stale loaf very thin, put it in a saucepan with as much water as will cover the bread, let it simmer, but not boil, them strain off the water immediately, care being taken not to break the bread, then add more water as before • boil up for five minutes, and beat it very fine with a fork, pour it into a clean basin for use. A sufficient quantity should be made for two days in summer, and three in winter, beyond which time it will not be fit for use It becomes a jelly when cold, but readily dissolves in the pap saucepan when put on the fire. This food, when prepared as above, never produces acidity or flatulence; a few caraway seeds may be added. if the child can be persuaded to take the pap with them in it. Gruel. it be required thick, mix well together by degrees in a pint basin two tablespoonfuls of oatmeal with three of cold water; if thin, only one spoonful of oatmeal Put in a saucepan a pint of boiling water, add this by degrees to the oatmeal, mixed as above directed, return if to the saucepan, let it boil five minutes, stirring it all th« time to prevent from burning, skim and strain it through a hair sieve A little sugar or salt may be added according to the patient’s wish. y uaea,

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