The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-04-05
Household Hints for Spring.

For ordinary woodwork use whiting
to rub the dirt off, and ammonia.
Copperas mixed with the whitewash
upon the cellar walls will keep vermin
away.
Ceilings that have been smoked by
kerosene lamp should be washed of
with soda water.
Hellebore sprinkled on the floor at
night destroys cockroaches; they eat it
and are poisoned.
Good fires should be kept up during
house cleaning time, even though the
doors and windows be kept open.
Drain pipes and all places that are
sour or impure may be cleansed with
lime water, copperas water or carbolic
acid.
A little chloride of lime dissolved in
warm water, and left in 4 lamp or can
which has held kerosene will deodorize
it very soon.
Salt literally sprinkled over carpet
before sweeping will absorb the dust
and dirt, and bring out the colors as
fresh as new
If stove polish is mixed with very
strong soap suds the luster appears i'm
mediately, consequently there is less
dust to breathe and blacken.
Paper and plaster are active absorb
ents, and when they become thoroughly
saturated with various eff1uvia nothing
but entire removal will cleanse them.
Carpets should be thoroughly beaten
on the wrong side first, and then On the
right. after which spots may be removed
by the use of OK gall or ammonia and
water.
If the wall about the stove has been
smoked by the stove, cover the black
patches with gum shellac and they will
not strike through either paint or calci-
mine.
One way to clean the inside of pots
and pans is to fill them with water in
which a few ounces of washing soda is
the water boil until the inside of the pot
looks clean.
Papered walls are cleaned by being
wiped down with a flannel cloth tied
over the broom or brush. Then cut off
a thick piece of stale bread with the
crust on, and rub them down with this.
Begin at the top and 60 straight down.
Furniture needs cleansing as much as
other woodwork. 1t may be washed
with warm soap suds, quickly wiped
dry and then rubbed with an oily cloth.
To polish it rub with rotten stone and
sweet oil. Clean off the oil and polish
with chamois skin.
A hanging-pillow for either chair or
sofa may be made rich ornament.
Ticking will be in requisition; cut two
pieces about sixteen inches long and
seven inches deep in the center, tapering
to less than three at the sides, sew to-
gether, and fill with curled hair. En-
broidered satin, or silk serge overlaid
with silk net, is an elegant outside; mo-
sale silk patchwork Or worsted in tricot
is also very pretty. Sew tasseled fringe
across the bottom, and finish the sides
and top with moss fringe. The heavy
silk cord by which to suspend the pill
low passes through eyelets wrought
near the ends.
Before paint or calcimine is applied
to walls every crevice should be filled
with plaster or cement. For the calci-
mine put 3 quarter of q pound of white
glue in cold water over night and heat
gradually in the morning until dissolved.
Mix eight pounds of whiting with hot
water, add the dissolved glue and stir
together, adding warm water until about
the consistency of thick cream. Use a
calcimine brush, and finish as you go
along. If skim milk is used instead of
water, the glue may be omitted.
One low seat in the form of an otto
man is desirable in living apartments,
and chamber is hardly complete with
out one A chair with an affection of
the spine can be easily metamorphosed
into a stand ready for the upholstery.
Cover the top with woolen goods in col
or that will harmonic with other fur
nishings. Two puffs of the same ma
terial head bo&-plaiting lined with erin
olinc, and nearly reach the floor. A
pretty tidy to cap the whole can be
with finish of cord and tassels.