DOMESTIC

New Zealand Tablet, 20 February 1919, Page 41

DOMESTIC

(By Maureen.)

To Make Soap. A great many people at present are making'their own soap, and fat has been one of the war-savings which is found to be satisfactory. A correspondent supplies a Wellington paper with the following recipe, which she has proved to be of particular excellence: 41b of fat (clarified and free of salt), fib of resin, fib of caustic soda, fib of powdered borax, 10 pints of cold water. Boil together one hour. Take off and add the borax. Stir well when cooling, till as thick as honey. Pour into a box lined with damp calico. A candle box and old flour bag are suitable. This amount can be boiled in a kerosene or benzine tin, but more should not be put in, as it boils quite up to the top. It makes about eight bars of soap, and is ready for use in a month. Cleaning Aluminium Articles. Aluminium is coming more and more into favor fog kitchen ware, and is worth protecting against injurious washing. Soda and powders containing soda should never be used for washing this material. Experiments have proved that they cause such severe corrosion that the article is soon ruined. Furthermore, dirt and grease will adhere to the corroded surface, making thorough cleansing impossible. Soap alone is not always sufficient; a more > effective dissolvent is needed. Borax has no bad effect on the surface of aluminium, and it can be relied on to deal with the grease effectively. • To Clean Panama Hats. When your panama hat becomes yellow and soiled you may clean it easily with magnesia. From a lump of magnesia scrape about a tablespoonful into a saucer, and moisten with enough alcohol to make a soft paste. Apply to the hat with a brush or cloth, rubbing it in thoroughly, especially on the soiled or stained spots.

Then set the hat aside to dry, being careful. to shape - the wet brim as you wish .it to remain. - When perfectly dry brush off 7 the . surplus magnesia with a stiff brush. The hat will be as beautifully white and fresh as if it had been cleaned -by a professional cleaner. Mustard Poultice. Take 2oz of mustard and mix with the white ofan egg, which will prevent the poultice smarting. Add a little water if the white is not sufficient to mix. If making it for a child use half flour and half '.mustard. Pour some boiling water over a piece of butter-cloth, then double it and spread the mixture on. It is always safer to pour boiling water over any cloth you intend using for a poultice. After the use of a mustard poultice on any part of the body" rub that part with camphorated oil to avoid the possibility of taking cold. Lavender Water. Lavender water of the purest quality is a disinfectant. - A drop or two put in a basin of cold water forms a refreshing and stimulating wash. Some medical men use it on their handkerchiefs as a disinfectant. It is certainly a very pleasant way of disinfecting. Household Hints. China plates, cups, and saucers must never be piled up when hot, as the heat causes the glaze to crack. To prevent milk or foods cooked in milk from scorching rinse the stewpan out with cold water and rub over with a little fresh butter or lard. If a tablespoonful of paraffin be added to a pail of hot water when scrubbing tiles it will both cleanse and show up their colors to perfection. Before using new tinware grease it well with lard and bake in the oven for a few minutes to prevent rust. New china and glass goods should be placed in cold water and brought slowly to the boil, and then allowed to get cool again before use. Starch is not liable to lump if the starch mixed to the consistency of cream is stirred into the boiling water instead of vice versa.