Household Hints

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 9

Household Hints

Ants can be kept out of food when camping by the simple device of standing all jars of butter, jam, sugar, and so on in a larger vessel containing cold water. This serves tho double purpose of keeping the food fresh and cool during hot weather. Bites and stiugs on tho lug can sometimes bo prevented'if the stockings are soaked in a weak solution of Epsom salt after being washed. Oils of geranium,' citronella,'- rosemary, ponnyroynl, 'birch-tar, and lavender are all useful 'preventives. Washing a bite witlvbicarbonate of soda will lessen the irritation; the bluebug is useful simply because it '.contains this. Ant bites can be soothed by eau do Cologne. Because Lee-stings, are acid, apply an alkaline remedy such as weak ammonia 0/ soda. Wasp stings are alkaline, so 'counteract these with an acid, like vinegar. Olivo oil soothes jelly fish stings. Pottery bowls of the black, unpolished variety should be occasionally elean^ ed by washing in warm soapy water, scrubbing with a soft nail brush, well rinsing'and drying.' tA little olive oil rubbed into the ware witli a piece of velvet usually improves the appearance and removes whitish marks. The olive oil should not be applied immediately after washing, but only when the bowl is perfoctly dry.'