HOME HINTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2966, 2 January 1917, Page 2

HOME HINTS

(By an Expert in Domestic Science in tho Sydney "Sun.") To remove tho smell of cooked onions from a pot, lill with boiling water and drop in a hot cinder. Juilk which has slightly turned may be sweetened and rendered fit for use again by stirring in a little soda.

To remove tho skins from tomatoes rub them all over with the back of a knife to loosen tho skins before peeling. This is better than scalding them.

Add a little cornflour to salt for filling salt cellars, as this prevents the salt hardening. Only half a tcaspoonful of cornflour to two tablespoonfuls of salt is needed.

Cut-glass should always be washed in. very hot water, but no soap is required. If at all blurred, the- glass should ,be cleansed with a soft brush dipped in whiting and polished with a soft piece of old newspaper.. To remove marks on polished tables, sideboards, etc., caused by damp glasses, rub with vaseline and leave for a few hours. Wipe off afterward with a soft cloth and polish as usual. No trace of the mark will remain.

Bcforo putting a bright pan on tho fire, rub it over with a little dripping. When washing up, use nice soapy, water, and when dry rub with a soft duster. By this simple method your pans Will keep bright for weeks, thus saving time and polish. ■ ■ ' ...

If you happen to buy a piece of steak that seems tough and, sinewy, place it on a board and beat it well with the rolling-pin on each side.- Then sprinklo it with pepper and salt anil it is ready for frying. For meat that is to be boiled, a teasnoonful of vinegar added to tho water will improve tho flavour and ensure its being tender and sweet.

Leather chairs become greasy-looking ■H'hero the' arms and bond rest on the leather. To remove these, marks try the following:—Boil half a pint of linseed oil, and lot it stand until nearly cold, then pour in linlf a pint of vinogar. Stir till it is well mixed, and bottle. Put a few drops on a flannel and rub the greasy places lightly and polish off with soft dusters: To keep cheose fresh, wrap in a cloth damped with vinegar and. place in a covered dish.

When making jam tarts mix the jam with a little hot water before putting in the pastry. It tastes just as well, and the jam goes farther. When taking a pie from the oven do not put it on the flat surface of a table to cool, but on a hif»h wire rnck. Tlir rack helps to keep the crust crisp, and it will not be saggy.

If flannels have become yellow with age. 1-Jlb. of white,soap should be dissolved in twelve gallons of soft water, to which should bo added 2-3oz. of spirits of ammonia. Place articles in this solution, stir woll for, a short time, and then wash in pure water.

For scratched silver, buy a small Quantity of putty powder at a chemists, and put it into a saucer with enough olive oil to make, a pastp. Rub this paste on to tho silver with a soft rag, tlion polish it with a chamois leatlior, and the scratches will no longer bo seen.

After corks have been uvd awhile they sometimes become so compressed that the contents of tho bottle leak out. This'may hn remedied by nutting the corks in hoiling water and Vaviiif thorn until the water cools.. They will then he as good as new and fit just as tiehtly.

Coloured handkerchiefs require a little morn care in washing thorn than do nlain ones, and should first be soakot] for ton minutes in a basin of tepid water to which a tpaspoonfnl of turpentine has been added. _ This will ensure tlifiin relainiiiT their colour, and after the snaking they can bo washed ni the usual way.

If Hie sink- had hoen nniiped for a considerable time, through the house heino; inilofc or the occupants nwn.v, rub mutton or bonf tallow on it. The "jnlf should ho flushed GV>ry day with hniliii" water, and now and agai" sod", should he nddetl to the water. By this treatment a lot of unnecessary bother may he saved, as when sinks aro never properly cleansed they become greasy,'

The. contorts -given at Victoria Mil'tary Hospital have for some time suf-frrf-fl rwi recount of the ancient piann which liad In do duty there, and though various anneals ■ were mado fliern was no rosul f . However, Mrs'. Morifß. wifp of Dr. Morioe, of the Wellington Hospital, latfly took the rnatter in band, and collected donations towards n iifw one. Mrs. Moric" had mosfc gratifyinp success in her ef-. fnrt, and thp result, is that n. fino Brinsmiwl piano will be placed in the hospital.