Household Hints.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 86, 13 June 1918, Page 4

Household Hints.

Flour should always be kept in a cool dry place. If a white shirt is scorched when ironed, the brown marks may ba removed by rubbing them with a little dry borax. A teaspoonful or borax to a quart of water will make hard water soft, so that it can be used for washing the most delicate skin. About half a teaspoonful of ordinary moist sugar rubbed into the hands with a soapy lather will clean them and leave them beautiful and smooth. To thread a darning-needle, take a length of cotton, put the two ends together, and thread through the eve, put wool through loop and draw it. To prevent custard-dishes or glasses from cracking when pouring boiled custard into them, place the dish on a damp cloth. This plan is most effective. Tho yolks of eggs which have been left over from cookiug anything for which the whites only were required can bo kept for several days if covered with cold water. After filling the lamp with paraffin, take a cloth dipped in vinegar and well rub the outside of the reservoir with it until quite dry, This will prevent the lamp from sweating. To save incandescent mantles, when lighting turn on the gas for a few seconds, then hold the match one inch above the chimney. It is through apply ing the match too quickly that so many mantles are destroyed. To clean ivory and hone knife handles, make a paste of lemon juice and whiting. Rub well into the handles, and if very stained allow to remain for a few hours. Rinse quickly and polish with a soft cloth. Before putting curtain-hooks in curtains in damp weather, rub the pins with a clean, oily rag. It prevents them rusting and tearing the curtains, and they can be taken in and out more easily. When about to make a pudding, well flour j-our board and rolling-pin and roll the suet out to a thin sheet. Take between your hands and rub down, when you will find the 6uet as fine as breadcrumbs. Always empty the water out of the kettle after using it, and rinse it thoroughly before filling with fresh water. This prevents the thick white sediments from forming at the bottom of the kettle that so soon cakes the sides of the kettle if not rinsed. If you have any difficulty in giving children powders take a banana and cut it in half lengthways; scoop some of the fruit out, making a hollow in the middle. Put the powder into it, and place together again, and give to the child to eat. When rinsing flannels and woollens it is best to do so in warm soapy water, as pure water makes them hard, also when hanging curtains out to dry, hang them double, as it makes them even, and prevents them getting torn so easily. When cane-bottom seats sag, sponge both sides of the cane with hot soapsuds in which a handful of salt has been dissolved, then stand tho chair in the open air. Treated like this, the seats will become as firm as when new, shrinking into place. A gas range may he kept black by wringing out a sponge (kept solely for the purpose) in warm water and rubbing well with soap, washing the stove while it is warm. If this is done just after the cooking is over the stove may be kept black and freo from grease spots. To remove the smell of onions from knives, place them in the earth for a few minutes. Earth will also sweeten pickle jars, etc., that washing seems powerless to render fit for use; but in that case the jars, etc., should be filled with earth and allowed to remain twenty-four hours or so in the open air. If you want your table linen to look nice and glossy, but not to be too stiff, don’t starch it at all. Let tho things dry thoroughly, then dip them in hot water, and run through the wringer. Fold smoothly, and roll in a dry doth for a few hours. Then iron with really hot irons, and the linen will take on a beautiful gloss. An easily made and effective cement for broken china is made by mixing a thick solution of gum arabie to a paste with plaster of Paris. Dissolve gum arabie in a little boiling water; when cold, mix with sufficient plaster of Paris, and apply to edges of articles immediately. Press firmly together, and a strong joint will result. If black kid gloves or calf-kid boots have become hard, put the gloves on Hie hand and apply in that position (as if washing the hands) as much camphorated oil as the leather will absorb; then take off and hang to dry and also allow the camphor to evaporate. With boots rub in well with the hands the same kind of oil. This gives the original suppleness to the leather.