A Housewife's Diary

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 34, 3 November 1937, Page 11

A Housewife's Diary

— — — — 4 Hints About The Homt Oleaiing- Hints. After the sweeping and dusting are done the house that you like to thfnk of as "well groomed" will need more attention. To be spick and span about your house takes \ots of effort that is not appreciated' by the uninitiated. Let the details go and you wili pay tixe price of a messy home. Just for a check up, here's help:— Clean windows give so much more light and brightness to a room that it is worth while to keep them clean. There are ever so many methods of cleaning your windows, but to me the chamois way is the best. Have two pieces of chamois, one for washing and the other for drying. Dampen the leather used for drying before using it. The hard, dry leather may be inclined to scratch • slightly. Aftar the chamois is washed and dried it will be quite stiff, but it can be softened by rubbing vigorously between the hands. By this method cf window cleaning there is little pre* paration, no dust or stains, and a mini* mum of care needed for the equipmentt Glass curtains can look the frowsiest things if" they are not given propei* care. The best care is frequent launderw ing. Wash in light soap suds and rins# two or three times. An easy way dry and iron net curtains is. to hangi one curtain at a time on the rod acd put through the bottom hem another rod heavy enough to hold the curtai^ taut. . Let it dry and it will hang evenly and need no ironing. The curtain shodq be quite damp when hung. Knobs and switches can become Vttiy smeared and finger-printed and mua| be rubbed off every day or so. For moSi surfaces of this «kind a duster wrxmg out. tightly in water will be best. Silver cleaning of a drastic nature CSC be delayed by dusting and rubbing bf silver ornaments, etc., with a prepared silver cleaning cloth. Pewter may oftejj be kept clean by simply washing it . . hot soap suds, rinsing and polishing drjfc Brass and copper should be cleaned with a fine metal polish. Rub thorou^s* * » [y, let the polish dry, then remove and wash the piece in light soap suds. PoKsft dry. " Kitchen Cupboard. Any ordinary cupboard can be edft verted into a substitute for the Xaoet expensive -kitchen cabinet by giving ing side and outside a couple of coats white paint, finishing off" with. whitf enamel. The shelves can be enamelled also, or they can be covered with whK| oilcloth, pasted in. Glass jars, with metal screw-on or glass tops, can be bougbl cheaply, though two-pound glass jasi jars with metal lids make good coife .tainers, especially if the tops are painted with aluminium paint, and the necessaxy labels stuck on. Glass jars which COQp tain cereals should be carefully washei each time they are emptied. Use bora3| and hot water, and put the jars in i vwarm oven, so that they dry perfectly before they are refilled. All cereals*, . coffee, tea, sugar and spices must bf kept airtight, and should be taken oui of their paper or cardboard packeta >4 soon as they are delivered. "When the kitchen cupboard is wasshed Some disinfectant should be put in thel water, which helps to keep away flies and wasps, as well as sweetening the cupboard. Light enamel should be polished with a little furniture-cream now and again. Chromium-plated drawer i handles should be washed with soapy water and a little paraffin rubbed on occasionally. Rub ' a little soap along the edges of the drawers to keep them running easi|y. A small tray of Hme put in thfe bottom of the cupboard will absorb all damp. Linoleum Care. Clean soiled linoleum with warm water, a soft flannel and yellow soap. Dissolve sugar in your last rinsing water if you want to revive the colours,. * If the lino is very dainty, add paraffin to the water. If you like a high polish, polish it with beeswax and turpentine, but if you like only a medium gloss damp a cloth with milk and rub over it lightly. It is a good idea to give the lino a coat of clear varnish or transparent lino pajnt; this will save you a good bit of hard work in keeping the floor covering polished. When Buying Sheeta. Sheets, as every housewife knows, wear out first .in the centre. When you are replenisliing your stock of linen, bear in xnind that you may now buy sheets that are specially made to withstand this wear. They are reinforced, just where those thin parts are apt to appear, by the simple process of double weaving right through the centre. Hats of the Season. ' White .pique hats distinctly akin ^o sailors' hats, are a millinery note of tlie season. They are to be seen in town surroundings as well as seaside ones* and with a narrow petersham ribbon round their fitting head pieces tied in a flaunting little bow at the back, look charming on youthful wearers.