HINTS AND IDEAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

HINTS AND IDEAS.

CREATING A DIVERSIONi NEW IDEAS WITH CHAIR COVERS. • Since •Wβ-have been allowed; to use a Chippendale chair- with a Jacobean, and possibly with a Georgian one, without people condemning our taste,- we have come to the conclusion that cretonne or chintz covers may also be varied without striking a false note. True, it is often difficult to reconcile.a variety of pattern in the' same room, but there are still waya of achieving variety without offending aesthetic eyes. , Once we have decided upon the floral motif for covers and curtains, wo have endless possibilities open to us. A chair covered with a cotton that is a mass ot tulips of different hues will not quarrel with onethat is devoted to daffodils, nor with another flaunting rhododendron blooms, provided that in each case the "round be similarly chosen, say, in beige; grey or even black. This is an important proyis.o, for otherwise the\ danger . of patchinesscreeps in; ."''.-• . . Another way of creating a diversion- is by means of appliques of different types, cut from cretonnes , or other printed fabrics, and sewn on to covers of the same material, eay, purple or dull blue repp. Keeping the seat and the chair back (where the greatest' wear pomes) quite plain, the decoration will be confined to the sides and frills. One chair might be decorated with bird appliques;. a settee with tree branches; other chairs with add almond-blossoms, or vine and cherry fruits and their foliage.

Harlequin sets, in which each chair is covered in a different colour,, have their charms as. well as their practical side. 3?or they permit of 'a,' single cover being renewed if neceesary-ra great' economy. WASHING - CLOTHES. The coming: summer .weather, makes laundry 'bills:soar unless women do their own washing. The - various excellent soap flakes , and powders now on the market simplify the washing of summer frocks enormously, and, ' if' the directions for their use are rightly .followed, cotr tons, voiles, silks, and woollens issue triumphantly.'from the home wasttub.

Amateur foundresses should be warned not to fall into an almost universal mistake. How few realise the value after, waehing of rinsing a garment again and again! The rinsing water can.hardly be changed • €oo - often. Chiffon and' georgette and voile will wash beautifully if a good mild white'soap and lukewarm water, or soap flakes according todife'etions, are ÜBed and'great , care is taken with the'ironing: ./■

All whiie silks -wash more easily, if steeped in, cold softening water for 30 minutes before washing. Strong heat hardens the silk'fibre. This causes it to split. Heat' also discolours it. Therefore use warm water only. : ■■"

For ordinary laundry' work methylated spirits is used for silk in the last rinsing water.. Never use this for baby's laundry. It is dangerous ■' for infants. It.makes the silk more inflammable, and it ought to be hung in the open-air before being ironed; with-, an' iron that is not too.hot.- .. .": ' ' . ,- ' ~ I KERpSENE-iTHE 'HQUSEr' ':v. ;NviyEs;Friend.- ;?' , ■ -, ■•' ■ y ' • ■ ■ : Housewives, who do 'not use oil lamps for".lighting or heating' are .apt to oxelude kerosene from their list of household requirements; yet kerosene has a. great many other uses, and deserves to be. included in the store cupboard. A few drops added to the water used for cleaning mirrors and windows eases the job. wonderfully; the , most obstinate stains and-marks will yield to the wet rag dipped in the solution. The same applies to stained tiles of entrance hall or hearth. •'. . . When the) kitchen sink becomes stopped up, you will, in most cases, be able to avoid calling in a plumber if you pour a generous libation of kerosene very slowly down the pipe and allow it to remain untouched for a couple of hours! Then pour down a kettleful of boiling,-water equally slowly,. which should complete the cure. If not,, follow on with a etrong boiling soda solution. If. your ■ knife' or sewing machine is not working properly, try dipping a camel's hair -brush into kerosene and gently going over - the joints and crevices with this. It is a better method than giving bigger doses through the special holes provided for oiling, since it : does not, allow the oil to reach the knives or stain the needlework.-