Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-09-11
HINTS TO HOUSEkEEPERS,

Tin - 4 ~ NV
CLEAN brasses on mahogany or other
furniture by rubbing with chamois skin
dipped in either powdered whiting or
rotten stone mixed with sweet oil.
For inexpensive bands for curtains.
take strips ofcretonne with pretty vines
or figures and outline them with tinsel;
it has the effect of old tapestry work.
WILLOW furniture that has not been
stained or painted can be washed with
salt and water and a brush; dry
thoroughly before exposing to the dust.
TURPENTINE mixed with carboic acid
and kept in open vessels about the
room will greatly lessen the risk of con-
tagion in scarlet fever, diphtheria and
kindred diseases.
SAVE all your broken and crooked
carpet tacks, and keep them in box in
the kitchen for cleaning bottles. They
are better than shot, for the sharp edges
scrape off ali the stains.
WHOLE cloves are now used to exter-
inmate the merciless and industrious
moth. 1t is said they are more effect
ual as destroying agent than either
tobacco, camphor or cedar shavings.
Do not scrape the inside of frying
pans, as after this operation any prep
to the pan. If the pan has black inside,
rub it with hard crust of bread, and
wash in hot water, mixed with little
soda.
ALUM water will restore almost all
faded cOlors. Brush the faded article
thoroughly to free it from dust, cover it
with lather of CASTLE soap, rinse with
clear water and then alum water, and
the color usually will be much brighter
than before.
THERE is no economy in purchasing
brown sugar. The moisture it contains
more than makes up TOR the difference
IN price; but for some things, such as
dark cake and mince pies, many cooks
prefer it. GRADUATED sugar is the pur-
est and best TOR ordinary use.
To give bed clothing and undercloth-
ing thorough summing and airing is the
next Oest thing to washing it. 1t also
sWeetens it. A second suit OF under
clothing should be on hand for after
noon wear, and what is taken off be
thoroughly aired and dried before hang
ing in the closet.
IF you have black lace or black
grenadine dress that has turned rusty
or brown, mix two teaspooniuls of am
monia in a cupful Of vinegar, and after
ripping the dress and shaking it thor
oughIy, wipe it over lightly with a
piece OF soft old bed tick dipped in the
mixture. Iron on the wrong side.
THERE is nothing better for cut than
powdered resin. Pound it until fine, and
put it in an empty, clean pepper box,
with perforated top; then you can
easily slit it out on the cut, and put a
soft cloth around the member, and wet
with cold water once in while. 1t will
prevent Inflammation and soreness.
SHIRT bosoms never blister il starched
on tile right side, but if they are wrong
side out when starched they are apt to
do so. Pour mixed starch into boil
ing water, instead of pouring water on
the starch, in that way never using
more starch than is necessary, as the
simple starch and water can be saved.
The time honored precautions of gum
camphor and tobacco are declared now
a-days to be utterly useless. 1t is al
legged by those who should be experts
that neither preventive has any effect,
either good Or bad, upon the moths.
However this may be, there are still
enough housekeepers who cling to the
old traditions to prevent the use of such
projections falling entirely out of favor.
A BOTTLE of turpentine should be kept
in every house, for It's uses are numer-
cockroaches con gregate will exterminate
them at once; also ants, red or black.
Moths will fee from the odor of it. Be-
sides, it is an excellent application for
burn Or cut. it will take ink stains out
Of white mus in, when added to soap,
and will help whiten clothes if added to
them while boiling.
A GOOD cleaning powder for windows
and mirrors is prepared by moistening
calcined magnesia with pure benzine,
so that mass will be formed sufficient
ly moist to let a drop form when
pressed. The mixture has to be pre-
served in glass bottles with ground stop
pers, in order to retain the easily vola-
tile benzine. A little of the mixture is
placed on wad of cotton and applied
to the glass plate. Do not use near a
fire or light, as the benzine vapor is
very infammable and explosive.