Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 27 October 1910, Page 1769

Domestic

By MAUREEN

To Strengthen Table-cloths. hen table-cloths and sheets are new a piece of tape should always be sewn flat on the hem at each corner, so as to double the life of the article, and also to prevent it getting out of shape. Another good plan is occasionally to fold them widthways. This prevents the folds always being in the same place, and thus wearing into holes quickly. To Remove Tar Stains. One of the most undesirable stains to get on clothing is tar, and much patience must be exercised in removing it owing to the difficulty of doing so successfully. One of the best methods is to mix a small quantity of fuller’s earth into a thick paste with spirits of turpentine and lay some on the stain. Leave it till dry then remove with a clean hard brush. If the first application is not successful, the process must be repeated till effective. After carefully brushing out the paste with a clean brush, the mark should have disappeared. Home-made Sherbet. Sherbet is such a perennial favorite with the small members of the family that a recipe for. manufacturing a very good quality of it will not be amiss in any household. Take one pound of caster sugar, half a pound of bicarbonate of soda, half a pound of tartaric acid, and one teaspoonful of essence, of lemon. Place the soda and tartaric acid on a sheet of white paper, and, taking a knife with a broad blade, break all lumps and reduce to a fine powder. Then sieve in the caster sugar and mix thoroughly; lastly sprinkle over all the essence of lemon. Give one quick stir, and place in screw-stoppered bottles for use. Bleaching the Hair. The prevailing fashion of bleaching fair or auburn hair when it begins to lose its bright lights is a great mistake, as after a few‘applications the hair appears to grow lifeless, and shows signs of becoming brittle, while, in addition, most bleaching fluids injure the roots of the hair, unless very carefully applied. To keep the hair bright it should be shampooed oftenalmost once a fortnight—and the shampoo should be carefully chosen to suit the color of the individual hair under treatment. The rinsing off of the shampoo should also be carefully done and a little grease applied to the scalp after the hair has been thoroughly dried. Auburn or red-brown hair should have a little red oil, scented as preferred, while blonde or golden hair will look better for a little golden brilliantine. A very little of either of these will suffice, and the oil or brilliantine should be sprinkled upon the hair brush, and the hair thoroughly brushed. When this has been done, a clean brush should be taken and a few finishing strokes given. To Guard Against Moths. Prevention is certainly better than cure, and this is decidedly true in the case of the moth pests that make such havoc amongst clothing good, bad, or indifferent, unless precautions are taken to forestall them. Now is the time to look to the warmer garments which are being discarded with the advance of fine weather. When the articles are no longer required, they should be well shaken in the open air, and furs beaten carefully with a thin cane to remove dust, which favors grub development, and also to remove any moth eggs which may by chance have been deposited. It is not the moth itself that does the mischief, but the numerous tiny grubs which emerge from the eggs, deposited within the warm folds of blankets or among the hairs ot furs long after the parent moth has gone. Therefore the only safe preventive is the adoption of measures for keeping the latter out. The safest plan, then, is to do them up in parcels, using either paper or linen wrappings, taking care that there is no opening through which moths may gain entrance. The ink used in printing newspapers is said to keep away moths, so that folded newspapers may be used or good brown paper, fastened up with good paste or glue’ Some people prefer to hang up their winter coats and clothes for summer, using a coat-hanger to preserve their shape and enveloping the whole in a calico bag, but in this case special precautions must be taken to tie the bag very securely and closely, as it is astonishing how often moths find a way in where there seems to be no opening available. Where woollen goods are kept hanging in cupboards or wardrobes during the summer months 'cert tain , precautions must be taken to secure immunity ’from moth ravages. All the woodwork must be washed with paraffin, and the cupboards kept perfectly clean, and anv cracks should receive special attention. It is wise to apply the paraffin about once a fortnight during the summer months.