HOUSEHOLD LORE

NZ Truth, Issue 1187, 30 August 1928, Page 17

HOUSEHOLD LORE

TO CLEAN SEWING MACHINE PIRST remove the needle. Take out * the screw that holds the footplate and clean out the grooves under thc plate with a penknife. Oil well aud replace the screw. You will find that the accumulation of dust and fluff is the only cause of the machine running hard. After oiling, it is a good plan to stitch a piece of old rag m order to work out the surplus oil. # # * IF ferns are not doing well, give them a few drops of castor oil at the roots and stand them m water for a few hours. # # * QXALIC acid will remove paint stains v from glass. # * # TO remove grass stains, rub the marks with treacle and afterwards wash the garment m tepid water. # # * CLEANING SILVER TO clean table silver, etc., thoroughly dissolve loz. whiting m a quart of boiling water, sponge the articles well, dry with a soft cloth and polish with a chamois leather. « # * A TEASPOON of vinegar will cure hiccoughs. # # # SCRUBBING brushes will last much " longer if they are rinsed m cold water after use and hung m the air to dry. # * # TO prevent unpolished wood from becoming yellow, add a few drops of ammonia to the hot water used for scrubbing. # & * WHEN washing muslin curtains always add alum to the water —2ozs. to a gallon. It does not spoil the color and renders them non-inflammable. # # # SAVORY RICE TAKE 4ozs. boiled rice, 2ozs. butter, 1 egg, 1 onion, % pint of milk and some chopped parsley. Boil the rice, but do not let it get too soft. Drain it and stir m milk, egg, parsley and butter. Now put the mixture m a well-greased basin and cover with buttered paper. ' Steam for iy z hours. # . # *> I*4ON'T throw away odd pieces of soap. Save them, melt them down and add a' little sand. They are easily made up into soap balls and will be found most useful. # # # TO cure burns on hands or feet, put * the affected part m a basin and cover the burn with vinegar; let it remain covered for 15 minutes. # # * A TABLESPOON of kerosene added " to a gallon of tepid water and used for washing windows and mirrors will give them a bright lustre. A simple and satisfactory way of cleaning windows is with newspaper. Soak the newspaper m warm water for cleaning,- and polish with dry newspaper. ■■■< . # * # TO CRYSTALLIZE VIOLETS TAKE large sweet violets, remove the * stalks. Have a strong syrup made with white sugar and water; when it is boiling, dip the violets m one at a time, getting each one thoroughly coated, then set on a sieve to dry. Keep m a dry place. Rose leaves can be treated m the same way and they are very useful garnishing cakes, etc. # * * OHUBARB trifle.—Cut one bundle of rhubarb into two-inch lengths and put into a stew-pan with sugar and enough water to cover. Simmer, till tender. Then drain off the syrup and boil it rapidly with a small piece of lemon rind until the liquid is reduced to about 3 tablespoons. Put some sponge Angers m layers m a glass dish with rhubarb between and pour the syrup over, leaving it to soak. Then cover with custard. Make a cream of icing-sugar (rubbed through a sieve) and the stiffly-whipped white of an egg, and spread over the top and garnish with almonds.

REFRESHING PERFUME IXfHEN you require a change of perfume, try mixing eau-de-Cologne and lavender-water. Of course, there are other scents which could be used for a change, but one is apt to tire more quickly of other perfumes that of these two, for the combination is wonderfully refreshing. It is as well to put the eau-de-Cologne m the spray first and then add the lavend.er-water until you have obtained the required perfume.

. YOUR GAS STOVE THE essence of success is cleanli- * ness. Gas stoves simply must be kept clean to obtain the' best results. The burners have a habit of becoming clogged, m which case your best plan is to clean them out with wire. The stove will also behave much better if the blacklead brush is rubbed over the bars and burners. Generally speaking, a gas oven possesses three shelves — one solid and two openwork affairs. The solid, or "browning," shelf throws the heat down on to anything beneath it and thus the oven can be regulated by placing this shelf m the middle or at the top of the oven. If it is left m the middle, anything requiring to be quickly cooked or browned should be placed under the shelf, while milk puddings, fish oi* any dishes requiring slow cooking should be put over the solid shelf. Pastry will always "cook best if it is placed' on the grid below the solid shelf.