Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-16
Hints for Housewives.
From Ha-per's Bazaar.

booming fortune,"
-----sSs
Hints for Housewives.
From Ha-per's Bszsr
So much information about everything Is now
so easily obtainabe that there is little eNcuse
for enduring many OF the small domestic wor-
ries to which housekecpers and others are often
subjected. Why, for instance, need any one he
Inconvenience by damp cupboards, when We
read that bowl of quicklime placed therein
will Speedily absorb the moisture? Some of US
are nervous about beds not being well aired. and
yet we have only TO MI large stone bottle with
boiling water and put it into the bed pressing
the bolster and pillows round IL in heap Nv
this simple continuance. il is comforting ~ learn,
no one need fear giving n friend damp bed,
even If this Is done only once a fortnight
Flies are n familiar nuisance; but we are told
OF remedy I'm laurel oil, which, better than
glass fy-catchers and others. will not only rid
us OF these pests but preserves looking glasses
and picture-frames when coated with IT, Jane
the help, should derive satisfaction from the
assurance that beetles may be effectualiy got
rid OF 10y sprinkng once or twice on the floor a
mixture OF pure carbolic acid and water. one
pa ri to ten.
1t Is not frequenters Of restaurants only who
wonder why the simple precaution of throwing
red pepper pods or few pieces of charcoal into
the pan-said TO prevent odors from boiling
ham. cabbage. etc.-is not oftener observed
Cooks are further reminded that in roasting
meat, salt should not be put upon the Joint
before 1t Is put In the oven as salt extracts the
juice: and that lime-water will Improve the con-
diti on OF old potatoes in boiling.
Eggs could be purchased with greater conf
dence II the German method OF preserving them
by means OF sicate of soda was generally fol-
lowed. small quantity of the clear syrup So
luton Is smeared over the surface OF the shell.
On drying, thin, hard, CLASSY film remains,
which serves as an admirable protection and
substitute for WAX oil, gums etc
Economy In housekeeping would be facilitated
by the better observance of what are known in
common parlance wrinkles" For example.
why purchase inferior nUtmegs. when their
quality can be tested by pricking them with a
pin! IL they are good the oil will instantly
spread around the puncture. Ii Is worth recoi-
Letting that bar soap should be cut into square
pieces and put in a dry place. as IL lasts better
after shrinking. Ii We wish TO keep lemons
fresh for some time We have only to place them
In jar OF water and change 1t every morning
In selecting flour we are advised TO look TO the
color III 1t is white with ycllowish straw color
tint we should buy il; but II it Is white with a
blush cast or with black specks, We should re-
fuse IL.
Broken china can be mended with a useful
glutine made with piece of old cheese mixed
with lime; and the wooden paIings of the
garden may be preserved from the weather 10y
coating them with composition of boiled lin
seed oil and pulveriZed charcoal, mixed to the
consistence OF paint. In this way wood can be
made to last longer than iron In the ground.
III we consult our health, we should plant the
garden with odoriferous plants such as wall
flowers, mignonette and other ld-fashioned
flowers and herbs, which have a remark able
power OF developing ozone and purifying the
atmosphere from miasmatic poisons.
Amateur joiners may derive comfort from the
knowledge that nails and screws IL rubbed
with a little soap. are easily driven into hard
wood. The same household commodity Of
fine white quality, ifrubbed over new linen. will
enable IL TO be more easily embroidered, as it
prevents the threads from cracking.
deal OF Dreakage amongst glass and crock
cry can be prevented by the simple precaution
OF placing lamp chimEeys. tumblers and such
articles in pot filed with old water to which
some common table salt has been added Boil
the water Wei, and then allow il to cool slowly.
When the articles are taken out and washed,
they Will resist any sudden changes OF tempera-
ture.
Grape may be renovated by thoroughly brush
ing all dust from the material, sprinkling with
alcohol, and rolling in newspaper, commencing
with the paper ami Grape together so that the
paper may be between every portion of the ma
terial. Allow it to remain so until dry.
better plan for removing grease spots than
10y applying hot iron is to rub in some spirit OF
wine with the hand until the grease is brought
TO powder, and there will be no trace OF it,
Every school-boy is not aware that ink spots
can be removed from the leaves OF books by US
ing solution of oXalic acid in water nor does
every house-mad know that ''spotS' are easily
cleaned from vanished furniture by rubbing it
with spirit of camphor
Marks on tables caused by leaving hot Jugs o.,
plates there will disappear under the soothing
influence OF lamp-oil well rubbed in with sof'
cloth. finishing with little spirit of wine or eau
de cologne rubbed dry with another cloth When
the white pano-forte keys become diScolorpd
We Should remove the front door. fall and sliD
OF wood just over them; then lift up each KEY
separately from the 1roDt-dO not take them
out-and rub the KEYS with q white cloth
slightly damped with cold water, and dry of
with cloth slightly warm. Should the keys
be sticky, first damp the cloth with little spirit
OF wine or gin. Soap or washing powder must
not be used. 1t is worth while keeping a supply
OF ammonia in the household. In case we wish
to remove finger marks from pant. or require to
cleanse brushes or greasy pans. A teaspoonful
In basin OF warm water will make hair brushes
beautifully white; but care must be taken not TO
let the backs OF the Brushes dip below the sur
face. Rinse them with clean warm water and
put in sunny window to dry.
Eg9-shells crushed into small bits and shaken
well In decanters three parts filed with cold
water will not only clean them thoroughly but
make the glass look like new. BY rubbing with
damp flannel dipped in the best whiting the
brown discoOrations may be taken off cups in
which custards have been baked. Again are all
OF us aware that emory powder will remove or
binary stains from white ivory knife handles or
that the luster of morocco leather is restored by
vanishing with white of egg?
Nothing. il is said. is better to clean silver
with than alcohol and ammonia finishing with
little whiting on soft cloth. When putting
away the silver tea or coffee pot which is not in
use every day. lay little stick across the top
under the cover. This Will allow fresh air to
get in, and prevent the muStness of the con-
tents familiar to hotel and clearinghouse suf-
ferers.