Domestic

New Zealand Tablet, 19 June 1913, Page 57

Domestic

By Maureen.

Scrap-Book : Paste.

Dissolve a teaspoonful of alum in a quart of boiling water ; let cool and stir in flour to give it the consistency of cream, beating it thoroughly to remove all lumps. Stir in as much powdered resin as will lie on a dime and throw in half a dozen cloves to give a good odor and prevent mustiness. Have on the stove a teacupful of boiling water and pour into the flour mixture, stirring briskly all' the while. In a few minutes (being left on the stove) it will be of the consistency of molasses, and should then be poured into ; a wide-mouthed vessel to cool, says The Commoner. Stir into it a small teaspoonful each of oil of cloves and sassafras before putting into bottles or jars. Cover with paper and keep in a cool place; must not freeze. When wanted take out a portion and soften with warm water. Paste for such uses must not be cooked too much. Borax. Borax has a great variety of uses. It is a great purifier. Wash out the sink and clean the kitchen table with it to keep them sweet. It is a good wash for many skin diseases, though it is poisonous to some persons. It should never be used too freely by any, as it combines with the oil of the skin and hair, leaving the skin dry and the hair brashy. It softens water, and if dishes must be washed in hard water it will prove a great help. In the laundry it makes the washing easier and helps to whiten clothes, especially if soap containing borax is used. Strong borax water will aid in removing stains made by machine grease. It is good to cleanse brushes, combs, silver and glass. It is a good gargle for sore throat. A tiny pinch put in water wherein the face is washed will remove freckles, if persisted in. The fact that it is poisonous to some must be remembered. It will destroy cockroaches. It whitens the teeth, and is a good wash for inflamed eyes. • - Treatment of Boots, It is said that, following the directions given here, boots will become impervious to damp even in the wettest weather. Anyway, the plan is worth trying. Clean off all blacking or polish, and with a piece of flannel dipped in castor, oil rub very thoroughly all over the boots, also the soles. This dressing, it is asserted, will keep water from penetrating, no matter how heavy the rain. The information has been given before, but its reiteration may be useful, seeing what a quagmire the ground has been of late. A dressing of oil might be given to children’s shoes. The mischievous propensity of children to run through rain puddles seems quite incurable. Household Hints. Before using tinware of any kind, rub it well over with fl-psb 1 a rrl Tf t.roaiorl in f 1-iic nrnn U ,„;n _ _- ~ —v, *ll VXJ.XKJ naj XU Will lit; VC? IT rust. A teaspoonful of vinegar added to a gill of milk when mixing cakes will make them much lighter, and one egg only is needed instead of two. To bring the whites of eggs quickly to a stiff froth, add two or three drops of lemon juice to them. You will then see that they froth up beautifully in a few minutes. Make two incisions on the top of all meat pies to allow the steam to escape. Pies treated in this manner will keep good for several days, and so avoid ptomaine poisoning. Lacquered brass can be most satisfactorily cleaned with a mixture of sour milk and salt. It is best to dissolve the salt in a small portion of the milk to arevent it scratching.