USEFUL HINTS AND RECIPES.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42745, 8 July 1905, Page 3

USEFUL HINTS AND RECIPES.

Polished wood, the appearance of which has been spoilt by standing hot jugs or dishes upon it, should be first painted ovur with a tiny brush dipped in spirits of nitre, and then at once rubbed with a cloth dipped in sweet oil. Hearthstones if painted with two or three coats of white enamel, will only require to be wiped with a damp cloth j when soiled. ! When hanging meat in the larder it is well not to put the metal hook through the meat itself, but through a loop ef string tied on the joint. If your shoes stiffen after a tramp on a rainy day, wash them over with warm water t'ub cas‘oroil thoroughly into them. This makes the shoes soft and elastic;

Common salt sprinkled over any object that is stained with lampblack will remove the dirt if rubbed in and then removed. Several applications maybe necessary. The soiling caused by persons leaning their heads against a papered wall may be greatly lessened, if not obliterated, by laying a sheet of blotting paper upon the spot and passing over it a moderately warm flat-iron. Try rubbing a mirror with a ball of soft paper slightly damped with methylated spirit, then with a duster on which a little whiting has been sprinkled, and finally polish with clean paper or a wash-leather. This treatment will make the glass beautifully bright. A burned saucepan shouid be filled with cold water to which a rather liberal allowance of soda has been added. Let stand for an hour or so, then heat the water slowly, and let simmer for a few minutes, and burned particles will come off quite easily, When cutting fur do not use a pair of scissors, as it is apt to cut the long hair. Draw a razor or very sharp knife down the back of the skin where it is required to be cut. Rubber hot water bags unless covered with a washable cover, soon get dirty. To clean, rub with a well soaded flannel wrung out of luke-warm water. Rinse, and dry in a cool place Ivory knife handles which are stained can be cleaned by rubbing with a cloth dipped in water, to which a few drops of spirits of salts have been added. Wash in clear water, and thoroughly dry afterwards, Never put down a carpet on a damp floor, for this, often the result of hurry and impatience on the part of weary house-cleaners, is a frequent cause of carpets becoming moth-eaten. Sweeping will be more effectual if the sweeper is pushed in the same direction as the grain of the carpet — not against it. which drives the dust in. The application of a bit of soap on the point of a lead pencil to a creaky hinge will cure its siffness and silence itscomplaiuts.

Never rinse white lace in blue water under the impression that this will improve the colour. Real lace should be finally rinsed in skim-milk, which will give it the soft creamy tint so much admired. Ham Toast.—Quarter pound lean ham, the y< Iks of three eggs, half an ounce of butter : cayeuue to season, two tablespoonfuls of cream. Chop the ham, and pur into a stewpan with eggs (well beaten), the butter, cream and pepper. Stir over the fire until it thickens, then spread on buttered toast. Serve very hot. Sponge Sandwich. Beat the yolks of three eggs aud four ounces of sifted sugar to a cream, b-;.t the whites of the three eggs to a stiff foam, and add gently, then sift in time ounces of lour slowly, well mixing all the time; lastly a teaspoouful of baking powder. Bake in two tins half an hour in a moderate oven, then spread with jam, and place together.