Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 25 January 1917, Page 57

Domestic

(By Maureen.)

/- ; r , Washing Blankets. V' ■ Select a day when the sun shines and there is much air stirring. Wash one blanket at a time; use ammonia in the'water, and dissolve the soap in it. . : Do not rub the blankets, but move them up and down in the water much as bread is kneaded. Have the wringer close at hand, and put the blanket from the first water through it into the second water, which should be of the same temperature as the first, of medium heat- little more than lukewarm. The second water should also have the ammonia, and the kneading process should be gone through again, and the blankets wrung from this into a third tub of water of the same temperature without the ammonia.'^ It will require two persons to shake up the nap of the blankets before they'are stretched on the line. They should stand opposite each other, , and as far apart as the full extent of the blanket will permit. Taking hold of the two corners, they snould snap the blanket up and down in the air, then carefully stretch it on the line, keeping the edges straight. . This washing.should bo done in the morning, that the sun may have a chance to dry the blankets thoroughly before night. This method of washing blankets has been tried over and over again in our family with the best possible results. / Invariably the blankets come out looking fresh, white, and with that peculiar downy appearance that new blankets have. One great secret in washing blankets is to have the water of the same temperature. Let it be hot, lukewarm, or -cold, housekeepers differ on this point, but all agree that it is the change in temperature from one water to another that causes them to shrink and grow wiry and hard-twisted.

; To Prevent a' Double Thread Knotting.'. . •-.O" r - ; • V Vi/'' j " ■ r 1 - v;,' ;• feewing with a double thread usually causes annoying .knots. To avoid" these, cut a thread from a reel,, double it, and twist the two cut ends-into one. ; Thread both ends.- through -the eye of the needle,? and then pass the needle, point first,, through the loop : of the double thread. This forms a slip-knot at the eye of the needle,-and serves to keep the thread straight, and is flat enough to pass through the»finest fabric. Boiled Oatmeal Pudding. To make a boiled oatmeal pudding,.soak half a pint of fine oatmeal overnight. In the morning drain it boil one pint of milk, to which add two tablek’poonfuls of sugar, and the grated rind of half a lemon, and pour on to the 7 oatmeal. Butter a basin very well. Fill it quite full with the mixture. Tie a floured cloth over the top, and boil for two hours. Turn out and serve with golden syrup, jam, or sweet sauce. Italian Batter for Frying. Put |lb of flour in a basin, mix carefully with it the yolk of one egg, also one dessertspoonful of olive oil, one teaspoonful of cognac, a pinch of salt, and a little cold water. The water must be added very slowly and carefully, so as not to make the batter too liqjuid ; stir well for some time, and put on one side till-re-quired. This batter ought always to be made some hours before it is required. Just before using whip up the white of an egg to a firm snow and mix lightly into the batter. Little bunches of cooked cauliflower are excellent dipped into this batter and fried. Household Hints. y Borax is a useful thing to have in a kitchen. Add a little hp the water when boiling out enamelled saucepans and it will help to cleanse them. If added to the water tea towels and dish towels are washed in it will help to keep them a nice color. Wash the hair brush and combs once a week. Wash them in warm soapsuds and a little ammonia, and rinse them in clear water. Tie a string to them and hang up to dry, in the air and sun.