EVERYDAY ECONOMIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 4

EVERYDAY ECONOMIES

THE WITS-END CLUB A new novel may be selected by the winner each week as a prize for the most original household hint or recipe that has been tested and found to save time, labour or money. Many folk might be glad to have the benefit of your experience, so send in your suggestions, addressed to The Homecrafts Editor, Women’s Page, THE SUN. Auckland. The prize this week has been awarded to Mrs. C. T. Emerson, Mount Eden, for the following: useful suggestions:— HELPFUL HINTS The quickest and surest way of getting - iodine out of white linen is to soak the article in turpentine and then wash in the ordinary way. When pegging a bedspread or quilt on the line to dry, put a handkerchief under each peg and no peg-marks will show. When pressing seams on small garments, such as children’s coats, collars, etc., which are rather awkward, put a finger-stall on the first finger, hold seam tightly over this, and press with a hot iron. A good perfume for linen-presses and drawers is made by powdering an ounce each of cloves, cedar and cinnamon together and putting into paper envelopes or small fabric bags.’ To cure dandruff boil 4 lemon leaves in a pint of water, then add to a basin of warm water, wash the hair in it and rinse in the usual way. LEATHER UPHOLSTERY POLISH Shred beeswax into a pickle-bottle and add enough petrol to cover. Put in the sun (with the cork in) until the beeswax is all melted. Shake together and use as a furniture or leather polish. It gives an excellent polish to floors, too, but as the petrol evaporates while it is being used it is not economical, i It is most used for the upholstery of motor-cars, which it keeps in beautiful condition.

CARDBOARD SLIP-SOLES Thin, tough cardboard with a smooth surface, such as is used in some break-fast-food packets—is excellent for slipsoles. These soles do not fill up the shoe-space as felt soles do, but are just as affective in keeping the feet dry and warm in wet weather. They also lie flat and wear remarkably well. They must be cut to fit snugly and without a wrinkle inside the boot or shoe —if too small they may slip about and become uncomfortable. Eor children’s boots especially these soles are a boon, as they cover roughness, »/ave much wear and tear on socks and stockings, and keep the feet comfortable. STOCKINGS! Most of us know what it is to find we have not a stocking to our legs—or rather that we have dozens, yet not a single one that we can wear. These have ladders —those are gone in the heels —and the rest are in rags, both fore and aft. Well, here is a good chance to economise. Do not rush forth and buy another pair for five-an-elevenpence, but

make up your mind to invest in three or four pairs of really well-fitting thread. Then buy some good silk ones, but keep these for the evenings, for the afternoon, and for any time you want to look especially nice; but do not “hack” them —let the thread ones save them to that extent. And if you do this I can assure you you will have solved the stocking problem, and will look twice as smart into the bargain. And another good tip is this—when you buy your silk stockings, or the thread either, for that matter, buy several pairs at a time of exactly the same shade—so that if one stocking wears out the fellow to it need not be thrown away. If you do not do this you will find you have dozens of good ones left on your hands that do not match. FRECKLE CURES An effective treatment for freckles is to moisten a small quantity of powdered nitre with water to form a paste and lay it on the spots at night before going to bed. Wash off next morning with warm water and good soap or with an oatmeal bag. Another good treatment is to powder some saltpetre, dip a finger first in warm water, then into the saltpetre, and rub on to the freckles lightly. A freckle-wash can be made from 1 teaspoon of fresh cream, 8 teaspoons of fresh milk and 1 teaspoon each of powdered alum, brandy, lemon-juice, and eau-de-Cologne. Put all into a saucepan and bring to the boil, then pour into a jar to get cold, stirring as long as possible. Cover the freckles every night with this mixture before going to bed. CLEANING” WINTER FURS Furs may be cleaned at home both easily and cheaply. A little petrol will be needed for the lining, and bran or fig dust for the fur. The soiled parts of the lining should be seen to first. They will need rubbing with a flannel soaked in petrol until they are quite clean, when they should be wiped and pressed with a soft, dry cloth till all traces of dirty petrol have been removed. Fig dust is largely used by furriers for cleaning their furs, and is best for

light furs and light cloth articles; it is not so well known as it deserves to be, as it is cheap and good. It looks like fine sawdust, and may be bought at the best corn chandlers for threepence per pound. For cleaning dark furs there is nothing better than bran. Fig dust and bran are both used- in the same way. A large basinful should be heated in the oven, and from time to time should be stirred up from the bottom, to make sure that it is heated through. When it is as hot as the hands can bear, it should be heaped on to the fur, and rubbed into every part with the tips of the fingers, paying special attention to the roots. When the.bran looks dirty it should be brushed out and the fur treated again with a second basinful. Furs are improved by frequent hanging in the sun and shaking. Moths hate sunlight more than anything else and they like a nice quiet corner in which to lay their eggs. Damp and warmth are also favourable to them. After cleaning winter furs they should be sprinkled with some moth deterrent, such as benzine. All furs should be free from moth eggs before being put away, or the result will be fatal. Benzine does not kill the eggs if they are already there, it only keeps other moths away. Furs will be quite safe from the attacks of moth if placed in bags m*ide either of glazed holland or else of newspaper with che edges pasted together. Moths do not like a cold, smooth surface. TURPENTINE CURES Turpentine in which is dissolved as much camphor as it will absorb, is an excellent dressing for lacerations,

bruises and cuts. Its antiseptic action is equal to that of carbolic acid; it speedily stops the bleeding, allays pain and hastens the process of healing. Few, if any, ulcers long resist its continued application. As a liniment, turpentine, with equal parts of laudanum, camphor and chloroform, is unsurpassed. Sprains, rheumatic pain, bruises and even neuralgia vield to its mag! influence. As an inhalant it has proved of great service in bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy and other throat and lung afflictions. If you have a cough, sprinkle a little on a handkerchief, hold to the mouth and breathe in the vapour. Taken internally, turpentine has enjoyed for a century the reputation of being a specific for sciatica. Ten drops three times a day in swettened water is the dose. As a remedy for that bane of chi dhood, worms, it is well-known. A teaspoon of it in half a glass of sweetened milk, followed in an hour or so by a full dose of castor oil, seldom fails A wad of cotton-wool soak-d in olive oil and turpentine put in the ear often stops earache of the most painful kind. USEFUL TIPS To remove grease-spots from silks or woollens heat some plain flour till brown, and, while hot, rub the grease with a soft rag dipped in it. Shake to remove flour. When threading elastic, if there is not sufficient of it to complete the task, using half tape will be fou-M satisfactory. This is an economical hint where there are lots of children’s clothes and elastic ceases to be a small item. To remove stains of Friar’s balsam from white linen soak in peroxide of hydrogen, rub well, rinse and put out in the sunshine. Beating two or three drops of vinegar into each tablespoon of dripping used in cakes of steamed puddings will make them lighter.