ODDS AND ENDS

Evening Star, Issue 22448, 19 September 1936, Page 26

ODDS AND ENDS

Hard calloused hands often result from constant wielding of the mop and broom. This may be avoided if the handles of these articles are covered with pieces of old motor tube. Slip two Sin pieces over the handle, and place at convenient distances, where the hands will rest. Before using new pegs, boil them for half an hour. They will never split, and will last twice as long. When polishjng brasswork, wipe first with vinegar. 1 The ordinary treatment with metal polish will then give a brilliant finish. . To remove over-tight corks or glass stoppers from bottles, etc., place, cork down, into sufficient boiling _ water to cover length of cork, and raise in a,nd out about a minute or less, according to size. Then they can be quite easily removed. Before attempting to drive a nail through wood, push it through a thin cake of soap. You will find that it will then go through the wood quite easily, without splitting it. If, when running tape through children’s garments,-ypu; sew it a little at the centre, fastening it to the article, the annoyance of finding the tape out would be avoided. . . . When washing lace, never rinse it in blue, with the' idea of improving the colour. Good , lace should be finally rinsed in skim milk, which will give it a soft, creamy tint. A good idea for cleaning stains from mackintoshes is to rub them with raw potato. Potato* will also remove marks from skirts or coats if not of a very delicate colour. ’ \ Pie dishes which are badly stained should be scoured with . powdered hearthstone. This old-fashioned cleanser is not used' enough. It is excellent for tables, and'dodrsteps. _ : Grained wood should be washed with cold tea, a small part of the surface at a time, and rubbed well with a flannel cloth, before it becomes dry. When making pickles, place all the spices in a small muslin bag and crush them with the rolling-pin, then add to the vinegar. The pickles will be a much better flavour. Put a.pinch of borax in the water in : Which " lettucb' is'- washfed. ’ Allow - to' soak for half an,,hour, then shake free from water. Salt water softens lettuce, but borax cleanses and freshens it.