HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 31 March 1926, Page 3

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

AYalk round a room on the tiptoe several times a day if you want to keep slender ankles and avoid flat feet. Alilk puddings are often failures because choap rice lias been used. This does not cream properly. In embroidering an edge with buttonholing, tbo usual foundation is a line of running stitch. A more effective way is to outline, holding them in place as you work along, and buttonhole over these. Stale vegetables can be freshened by soaking them for two it three l.curs before cooking in cold water to which a teaspoonful of cream of tartar has been added. A small cube of camphor placed in the oil receptacle of a lamp will make it burn more brightly and with less smoko. if you want to poach an egg specially nicely, separate tho white ami yolk, being very careful not to break • the latter. Beat the white to a stiff froth, adding pepper and salt. Empty into a tiny, basin,' drop the yolk into the middle, stand the basiii in a pan of nearly boiling water, cover over, and let remain tUI it is set—probably two or-threo minutes.

AVhen celluloid knitting needles become bent they can be straightened by holding them over steam from a kettle and then plunging them into cold water to harden. Never hold celluloid needles over an open Maine. To Clean Cut Crystal.—Rub it well with a damp sponge dipped in whiting; then take a clean brush and brush it off. Afterwards wash the glass in qo'd water. To Renew Oilcloth. —Dissolve a. little ordinary glue in water and apply it over-night witli a flannel. By the morning it should be hard and dry,, with a glossy surface. 'To Remove Grease From Alarblc. — Apply a. small quantity of fullers earth or whiting soaked in benzine. Let it stand on the. marble for some time, then wash off. 1 When you haven’t any proper measures handy it is convenient to use emergency ones, so remember the following:—One large egg weighs, usually, about two ounces, a. piled dessertspoonful of flour about half an ounce, and a breakfastcupful of water equals a halfpint-. Knives should never he covered with very hot water, as it injures the handles. The blades may bo placed upright in a mug of hot soda water, but the bandies .should be kept dry. Should they come off, lix them again in this way: AJix some powdered resin with a small quantity of powered chalk and whiting. Jfill the holo with the mixture, heat the shaft of the knife, and ram it in. When cold it wili be quite last. A blunt' sewing-machine needle can be- sharpened by rubbing it against the edge of a brokyn saucer or plate. _ ! Two or three stalks of celery boiled | with cabbage improve the flavour and I lessen the disagreeable odour of cooking. I Carbonate of soda will remove mud stains. Rub with a cloth or flannel, then press well on the wrong side with an iron. Nevor hang a mirror where the sun’s I rays will fall upon it. The sun acts | upon the mercury ami clouds the glass. I Paraffin mixed with soap powder will ! clean dirty paint, enamel, or porcelain in ha’f the time inquired for doing I so witli undiluted cleanser. To clean a frying pan i/fi with a .hai'il crust of bread and wasli with hot water anil baking soda; never scrub it or the food fried in it will be liable to stick. I The enamelled outside parts of a gas cooker can be kept in good condition by polishing them with furniture ! cream alter wiping clean with a damp ' cloth. ' j Boil onions in their skins. Cooled : by a dip into cold water, they can be j slipped out of their packets quick’v j ami without waste. . Apply eucalptus oil to tar stains with a clean rag, and rub gently until the tar is loosened. Then wash with warm or hot water and soap. This will remove all trace of the tar. Old saletv-razor blades are useful in the work basket. For unpicking seams or any other stitching they will he found excellent, as they sever the stitch,cs instantly and get into the narrowest space of the finest fabric without, injuring it.

Tt sometimes happens that a rent is made in a silk or serge garment in such a position that darning or patching would- only draw attention to the damage. Instead, it is a good and easy way to back the lorn part with adhesive material, such as court plaster. The rent will then be invisible. in warm weather cheese often “sweats,” and takes on an oily appearance, whirh is far from appetising. To prevent this put a lump of sugar on tlie cheese dish. This will oo'leet the moisture. It, should be removed as ■soon as saturated, otherwise it will dissolve. Glue that is sold in tubes is sometimes too thick for one's purpose. It does not mix readily with water, but can be diluted with vinegar; and thus method does not weaken the strength so much as does water. Tar or grass stains on white or cream trousers can eaxilv be removed by rubbing a little lard or dripping over the spots, standing in the sun for a few minutes, then pour boiling water over them When velvet is dusty rub it briskly with another pieces of velvet, which will remove the dust without injuring the pile. The most tender skin will not be blistered if a mustard plaster is mixed with the white of an egg instead of with water. Starch will mix much better if a, pinch of borax and a. piece of soap are added before the water is poured on. Polished floors should be dusted with a long-handled woollen mop. This will save stooping. - If tlie edges of the pastry of a fruit tart are damped with a little milk instead of water, the fruit juice will not boil out and vender the pastry sodden. Before, washing your line lace, net, or muslin curtains, fo'd them over side to side and tack the edges together. This will ensure them keeping the same length. The curtains, being of thin material, will wash and iron quite well in this way. Medicine stains, including iodine marks, can he removed this way. Pour n little liquid ammonia into a saucer, lay tlie stained portion across the saucer. and dab the spot with the finger until the stain disappears. ' Rinse in tepid water and then wash in strong soapsuds.