Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-16

Aunt Rachel" in the Rural Neac
Yorker, gives the following directions
on making soft soap of the old fash
ioned sort from wood-ashes:
Instead of the old-time barrel with
holes bored in and near the bottom, o
a more expeditions way is to build a
trough-li like leach out of matched fenc-
ing, long enough and high enough to
hold all the ashes that have been ae-
cumulated. It saves the trouble of re-
filling the leach twice or three times.
In the bottom of this leach put layer
of straw and peck or SO of good lime;
on top of this put the ashes, pounding
them down as added, having depres-
sion in the middle to hold the water
better. Then If there are men or boys
whose services are to be had, have them
fill couple of barrels of water for
your convenience. Soft water is best If
it can be spared. Pour the water on
gradually, so that it will take the
strength of the ashes and make good
lye. Usually the first that runs of is
very strong, and it gradually becomes
weaker the longer it runs. AS it collects
| fill the kettle, and when nearly full put
fire under it. If clear grease is used,
| it is we'll to wait until the lye is hot be-
fore putting it'in. Six quarts of clear
grease will make barrel of soaps0
say experienced makers of soft soap
On q farm with ordinary care, there will
always be sufficient grease to make all
the soap needed for large family. It
the ashes are good and everything else
has been we'll done, once boiling up.
will make the soap. It should, how
| ever, be kept hot all day, to prevent
4 t., .fx,er ! mill ho
cool enough to be dipped out and put in
barrel. A pound of pulverized borax
| stirred we'll through a barrel of soap
will be found great improvement,
! making the clothes wash easier, and
they will be whittier with less labor If
| more than one kettle Of soap ID to be.
m ade, and there are rough grease
/ scraps and such things to be used, they
1 should be put in the kettle at first, that
I the lye, as gathered, may begin to take
effect on them. When the lye is very
strong, often the first kettleful Will re-
1 fuse to come" as the saying goes. Take
little out OF the kettle and add slowly
| some cold water and it will usually be-
come soap Immediately. Sometimes the
amount in the kettle (I mean caldron)
| will bear three or four pailfuls of
water, and then be excellent SOAP,
Usually the last kettle of I've will re-
| quire boiling longer than the first on
account of the lye becoming weaker. 1t
is profitable, rs we'll as convenient, to
use up the refuse grease which accurnr-.
lates, and it gives feeling Of enjoy
ment to put everything in good shape.
/ III the housekeeper makes the soap her.
self she knows what it is made of, which
/ is not always the case with the more
! expensive hard soap that is purchased.
| A careful person will always cover the
kettle Of soap when it is left to cool
over night, SO that no stray animal mny
! bIunder into it; and the fires need at
Etention, SO that no damage may come
4 from them.
i Hints to Housekeepers.
SooT applied to corns is claimed to
destroy them.
4 A GRANITE iron kettle may be made
bright inside BY boiling small quantity
4 Of borax in it.
THE basket in which the spoons and
4 forks are kept should be lined with
4 flannel N
WHEN troubledwith the griddIe smok-l
ing, try greasing with fresh lard as y
preventive.
] THE kitchen window is the best of all
4 windows for plants; the steam from
4 boilers and kettles keeps the air
moist.
KNITTED underclothing should never
\ be ironed, but stretched to the proper
shape and pinned on q bed or other
4 firm, clean surface until entirely dry.
y TO MAKE q good liquid glue, put one
ounce Of borax into a pint Of boiling
4 water, ada two ounces Of Rhellac and
4 boil until the shellac il dissolved, and
u bottle for use.