Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 25 January 1912, Page 49

Domestic

By Maureen.

Peeling Onions. . yf When peeling onions do so in a free current of an, or near the _ fire, and much of the discomfort caused to the eyes when doing this work will be spared.’; Knives used for onions should be rubbed briskly up; and down in earth; this quickly remove's the taint of onions. It is better to keep a special knife for the purpose. Worth Knowing. An easy way to clean curtain pins and rings that have become black with use is to put them in a bowl with hot water and vinegar—two parts vinegar to one of water. Let them stand all day, then rub with a coarse cloth and they will be like new. Baking soda gives instant relief to a burn or a scald Applied either wet or dry to the burned part immediately the sense of relief is magical. It withdraws the heat and with it the pain. Moths in Furniture. Incessant watchfulness is necessary if moths are to be kept out of furniture. It is advisable to use a small broom whisk for brushing out the 'corners of chairs and sofas, and the whole surface of saddlebag suites should be vigorously brushed at least once a week Insectibane may be blown into-the crevices out of sight after the furniture has been brushed. , New Boots. . ;. ' , - ~ - All new leather is said to ‘ draw ’ the feet at first, and new boots should be worn only for short periods, till the feet are accustomed to them. Wearing them indoors near a fire is a very good plan to season them, as the heat helps kid and leather to give or expand to the feet. A good plan is to dip a sponge or cloth in hot water and put it on the place where the boot draws most. But this should never be done for children. Their boots and shoes should always be light and soft, because their little feet are very tender and soon tire; heavy boots and shoes are injurious to very younz? children. J ■ J &

A Simple Trifle. Warm about two tablespoonfuls of jam with water and lemon juice. Split some sponge cakes, smear with a thick layer of jam, and cut them in two. Arrange half the sponge cake and some ratifias or macaroons on a glass dish, and sprinkle with some almonds, blanched and shredded. Strain half the l jam and water over them. Pile the remainder of the sponge cake, ratifias and almonds on top, and soak these with jam and water. Make a custard, and while it is hot, pour it over the sponge cake. Stir the remainder till cold, and pour it over the trifle to form a thick coating. Whisk the cream till it is slightly thickened, and the white of an egg to a stiff froth. Mix them together, add castor sugar and vanilla essence, and arrange it on top of the trifle. Any kind of fruit syrup may be used instead of the jam and water. ' To Launder Colored Linens. . Colored linens are regarded as necessities nowadays, and it is well to understand how to launder them in a, way that will help to retain their fresh; appearance. Most colors require either salt or vinegar in the rinsing water to fix them as a rule, the lighter colors take salt; the darker ones vinegar. Both are used in the proportion of a tablespoon to a quart of water. When in doubt use both. For lilac, mauve, or purple, vinegar will be found to slightly intensify as well as preserve the color. Blues are often ruined" by . their first trip to a careless laundress. Any shade of blue may be permanently fixed by soaking first in a bucket of water into which an ounce of sugar of lead, has been pen red. Some prefer to iron - without starching, but if a suit is required to be stiff it should be dried before starching— in the shade, never in the sun. Linen should never be boiled. '• Pale green is a color that fades easily, but a little alum in the water will fix it. _ ; - ;