The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-29
rAE HOME.
HOUSEHOLD HIM

HOUSEHOLD HINTS
Ii a few cloves are put in the Ink bottle
there will be no mold ON the ink.
To tell a good nutmeg prick It with pin,
and If good, the oil will instantly spread
around the puncture.
Cuffs laundried at home fail to please be-
cause they are ironed out fat, when the
buttons are put in they blister and wrinkle.
This can be avoided if the laundress irons
the cuff until it is perfectly dry, then takes
the broad end Of the flatiron, and pressing
very hard on the edge, places it at one end OF
the cuff and slowly goes over its whole length.
The cuff will roll as the iron leaves it. This
is so simple an operation that one can sue
coed the fret time it is tried.
The excellent waSherWOmen of Holland
and Belgium, who get up their linen so
beautifully white, use refined borax as
washing powder, instead Of soda, In the pro-
portion OF one large handful OF powder to
about ten gallons of boiling water Borax,
being neutral salt, does not in the slightest
degree injure the texture of the linen. Those
who try this will be pleased with the result.
1t Is also nice to wash blankets or w0ollen
goods in this manner.
Anything knit or crocheted of white
worsted may be washed more easily in dry
Hour than in soap and water; from the -four
bath 1t will come out as fine, new and fieecy
as when it was first made, while IL washed in
soap and water 1t will look decidedly "stingy."
SO II you are the p0ssess0r OF any sOiled white
worsted work. slft some flour, into which
plunge the article, where you may rub and
squeeze, If you will not wiring it, to your
hearts content When supposed to be clean,
shake out all the -four you can and, hang it
out OF doors In gentle breeze for an hour
or so,
Jewellery can be made to look like new by
washing with ammonia and water or alcohol,
then rub, drying and polishing with prepared
| chalk applied with flannel or chamois skin.
New polishing powder will not need to be
applied often If the stove is rubbed every
day with old newspapers. A little vinegar
| mixed with the polish helps to fix it and
keeps the dust from flying.
The best way to prepare new iron kettle
| for use Is to fill 1t with clean potato parings
| boil them for an hour or more, then wash
the kettle with hot water, wipe it dry and
| rub it with little lard; repeat the rubbing
| for half dozen times after using. In this
| way you will prevent rust and all the an
| noyances liable to occur in the use OF new
| kettle.
To get onion juice, cut an onion lengthwiSe
| and press on a coarse crater. Onion Juice
| obtained in this manner than to put in pieces
chopped onions. which is disagreeable to
many people.
Finger-marks are very disfguring to fur
niture. For removing them, use sweet oil
for vanished furniture, and kerosene for
that which is oiled. Never set hot dishes on
vanished tables. but If you have been
thOughtless enough to have done So and you
find white marks there, pour some kerosene
oil on the spot and rub well with soft
cloth.
Borax water will instantly remove all soils
and stains from the hands,. and heal all
scratches and chafes. To make it, put crude
borax into a bottle and fill it with hot water.
When the borax is dissolved add more to the
water until at last the water can absorb no
more and resdum remains at the bottom
| of the bottle, To the water in which the
hands are to be washed, ponr from this bot
| tie to make 1t very soft. 1t is very cleansing,
and by its use the hands s.'i" =
noid Jdsrw faffff-ipSiTt. and this will be Just a
| hall pound OF sugar.
| WINDOW SCREENS
| DO not simply insert screens in the window
underneath the raised SASH It will cause
/ endless yexation in removing and replacing
them whenever necessary to close window.
An arrangement much butter is to nail or
| glue to each side OF the window frame ms ide
narrow strip of wood let the screen frame
be provided with a small groove on each side.
and 1t can then be run up and down on the
wooden strips, which should fit nicely in the
grooves Windows and blinds can thus be
opened at will by simply sliding the screen
without removing it. The only Disadvantages
OF this plan is that it is interfered with by
some styles OF window catches. Wire is in
every way preferable to mosquito netting.
Inc latter soon becomes faded, rotten and
UNIT for USE When screens are provided
put them into every door and window. for
one opening left uDguarded may defeat the
whole purpose.
LAUNDRY LESSONS
For sprinkling clothes, warm water is pre-
ferable to cold.
An infusion OF hay IL the best thing In
which-to wash nsx colored linens, and cup
OF TEA should be poured into the water for
rinsng bronze or dark green cotton fabrics.
Save the fingers in severe weather by IA X
log coarse strip Of muslin about three feet
long and sew shirt buttons on it, at equal
distance Button the collars and cuffs be-
fore hanging out on this strip. aud the sus-
pension OF the linen is only the work of a
moment "a :"
Washing fluid, If properly manufactured.
Is valuable assistant In the Mushroom, and
the cost OF the materials that enter into it is
but tribe, an ounce of salts of tartar. an
ounce OF muriate of ammonia, and box of
potash. Dissolve these in four quarts of
polling water, and when cold bottle and cork
closely. Soak the clothes for an hour in
warm Marin suds containing half cupful OF the
liquid. shd puk the same quantity in the suds
In which the clothes are boiled. Use plenty
Oh water Tor rinsing the clothes.
NOVELTIES IN HOSIERY
In ola days blue stocking was held in
such detestation that those who were sup-
posed to wear one gave the name to coterie
oi women with minds stronger than the rest,
NOW the blue stockings-indeed, hose of
every hue-threaten to be very much the
fashion, and black. which people have been
content to wear with almost every dress, are
10 be set aside. Some exceedingly pretty
Kinds are being introduced. One of the
newest has stripes from toe to top, both
ribbed and open. Another novelty is the
introduction of open work at the side only
ana some with q set pattern, which covers
inc 'front.' OF the foot and tapers toward a
point are maryels Of fine embroidery and fine
weaving, for the two go together. Thread
stockings have been brought to such nerfec-
ton that they can hardly be told from silk.
ana nave the advantage OF wearing better
some are both printed and open worked. the
continuation have most aycellent affect ~