Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-04-28

QUeSt1onb anu Ans"crb'
The household column Of the PRAIRIE
FARMER has furnished me with 30
many new and valuable ideas, as well
as good cooking receipts, that have |
the greatest confidence In following any |
directions 1 find there, There are a |
few things which bother me, and |
would be glad to know what Clara |
Francis thinks about them.
First, is there any way Of Kidding a |
house Of cockroaches? have tried
borax without any success; used 1t in
CRYSTALS and in solution. Now what
shall do next? Then, would like tol
know how to wash brown linen ulster
so that it will not lose its color, and
how to clean silver that has been laid
away, and become dark and stained.
Rubbing with whiting does very well
for the plain parts, but there are places
that cannot be reached. / know
jewellers do not depend on rubbing
Can you tell me what it is they do, OIL
how to make my silver look bright and
clean all over? MRS. S. T. W.
OTsEGo, MICH.
!,You need not feel discouraged when
tell you that there is nothing better to
rid a house Of cockroaches than borax,
for really there is no need for anything
better. In fact, if faithfully used, it is
infallible. By all means get it whole
sale, a pound will not cost much more
than you would have to give for an
ounce at retail, and borax is useful for
dozens Of other household purposes,
besides,
KILLING CoCKRoAcHEs.
TO do this effectually, trace them to
their haunts, then strew powdered
borax In their pathway; they will not
walk through it. Around the sink and
water.pipes about the base-boards,
door and window castings, and over the
pantry shelves are their usual resorts.
Here, the borax must be scattered
thickly and left undisturbsd, or replaced
as necessity occurs. Papers can be
kept over the bcrax on the shelves, and
where it is lnconvenient or impossible
to leave the powder outside, blow it
plentifullv into cracks and crevlces
with an insect gun.
TO WASH BROWN LINEN.
Heat as much water as is necessar y,
and press in all the hay that it will COW
or. Boil until the water is dark colored
then strain out the hay and scald the
linen in the water. Rinse well, stlfen
in weak glue water and dry in the
shade.
jewelers. use boiling bath OF acid in
solution, for Frightening silver that is
very much discolored, but this would
be unsafe in the hands Of an inexpsr1
fenced person. A eboillng bath OF
wasbing-soda answers Just as well, and
its harmlessness is vouched for by
sllversmiths of established reputation.
Ts CLEAN SILVER.
Dissolve two tablespoonfdls OF wash
ing soda, two of whiting and one Of
liquid ammonia in four quarts of rain
water. Put these in a deep tin pan or
large Pail and seton the steve. When
the water boils, immerse the silver,
turning it about, if necessary, that all
parts may be well covered. Solid silver
viii not be injured by boiling for some
inc, but plated ware should be re-
moved as soon as clean. Rinse each
piece 10 clear, hot water aud if there
are stlll any dingy spots, return to--the
bath until they disappear; then rinse
again and wipe each piece dry. Put on
the final polish with a chamois skin that
has been busted with whiting and
shaken out. This method of cleaning
silver has proved such satisfactory and
labor.saylng one TO me, that l recon-
mend 1t with the greatest confidence
and satisfaction, but will say that with
proper care and polishing between
times, the process should be only an
occasional necessity.
Am reader of the PRAIRIE FAR
MER and have received much benefit
fron the recipes given by Clara Francis.
Would like to know how to make hard
soap from concentrated I've and clear
grease. MRS. ]. @.
BRISTOL STATION, ILL.
AL hard soaps contain soda in some
form. Concentrated lye and grease
alone will make only soft soap, but the
addition Of common salt (muriate Of
soda) changes the chemical properties.
The soda unites with the grease, FORM
ing hard soap. while the potash is ex-
PEELED and remains dissolved at the
bottom Of the kettle. The harder the
fat, the more solid will be the soap, for
this reason tallow should always be
used for potash soap that is 10 be hard.
Slaked lime is frequently added to
facilitate the process of..making both
hard and soft soaps.
SOFT SOAP FROM CONCENTRATED LYE.
Dissolve pound ofconcentrated lye
in three gallons Of Boiling water. Boil
it with four pounds of clear soap fat.
and when the grease is all cut set it
away to cool. Add a gallon of hot
water to this ssolution and stir it in
well; in the course Of few hours put
in another gallon and continue adding