BRIGHTEN UP YOUR METALS

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 15

BRIGHTEN UP YOUR METALS

New Features of Household Cleaning-kit

J^JBTALS are so popular m the home that the matted of keeping them clean constitutes an important part of one's household duties.

HTHERE ia nothing so likely to spoil 1 the appearance of a room as dull I or dirty brass, nickel or silver- 1 ware, and yet the business of cleaning it is one that can easily occupy more time than its usefulness warrants. In the first place, it is always much easier to perform, any task if the necessary cleaning kit is kept all together and for this purpose the flatbottomed basket illustrated is admirably suited. The "kit" to be complete should contain a jar of silver polishing paste, a tin of abrasive cleaner, a packet of powdered ammonia soap, a knife cleaner, a discarded tooth-brush, some kerosene, cotton-wool and a supply of clean soft cloths and a chamois cloth. If the kit is kept handy and its contents used regularly the metals will never get really bad. An old newspaper placed m thai drain -board at the side of tho sink will prevent the wood from bocoming stained and as the articles MiiiiHiiiiiiiiiMiimiiiiiiiimimmiiiiiiiwiiiiwiiiiiiimitwniiiMiiimiiuiuii*'

are washed and dried they should be rubbed over. Aluminium ware soon gets out of hand unless it is attended to every time it is used. Grease has a habit of sticking to everything, m particular to aluminium, but it may be removed with a pad of well-soaped rag or cotton-wool — and as a last resource some abrasive cleaner. Tinware is perhaps the only metal that is better when not kept bright, for it gives far better service after it has absorbed a little fat. Stainless knives have saved hours and hours of really hard and uninteresting work, but the ordinary steel variety still require attention. In this matter, kerosene and sandsoap is a good thing if the stains are very bad. Afterwards they may be washed, dried and polished m a way that gives least labor.

Any nickel fittings or ornaments are comparatively easy to keep clean.

A cloth wrung m warm soapy water will remove the dust or tlirt, and after wiping perfectly dry they should be gone over with a metal polishing: cloth.

This is much better than an ordinary duster and keeps them bright. On no account use an abrasive cleaner on nickel or the surface will be ruined. Another tedious business is the

cleaning of forks, spoons and other odds and ends used at table. The easiest and quickest result will be obtained if the articles are first treated to a boiling m soda water. Care must be taken to prevent the forks and spoons from rubbing- together, otherwise they will scratch. Nothing but an aluminium saucepan should be used for this purpose. Allow the water to come to the boil before dropping m a handful of soda and then immerse the articles m the bubbling liquid for a minute or two only. A good rinsing should be given and then dry m the ordinary way.

Mother Eve's Pudding: Take 6ozs. each of grated bread, sugar and currants, 6 apples chopped small and 6 eggs. Stir all well together, flour the cloth and boil for 3 hours.

Kentish Slim Cakes: Take 1% flour, add one egg and as much milk as will wet it, put loz. of butter m the milk, beat it over the fire till the butter melts, add it to the flour. Roll out and bake on a girdle.