The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-11
THE HOME,
.HINTs TO HousEKEEPERS
RENE BAHCE

sH1NTS TO HOUSEk EEPERS.
Zinc may be quickly cleaned by wash
ing first with soap and water and wiping
dry, then rub thoroughly with cloth
saturated with kerosene and polish until
the entire surface Is shining.
A good washing soap may be made from
the following receipt the ingredients
costing 81 for fifty pounds: Ten pounds
of hard soap cut into small pieces, four
ounces of borax, three ounces Of sulphate
of soda; dissolve in five gallons of soft
water. When dissolved let 1t cool, and
then pnt 1t into q wooden tirkin or tub.
This will make fifty pounds of thick soap,
and one pound will do large washing.
Fhe soap may tie dissolved In hot water
and used as soft soap; and 1t will be much
less trouble than the usual soft soap
making.
One If the most convenient and neces-
sary contrivances for traveller is the
home made steamer reticule. and for long
OF short soJourns abroad or for sea travel,
where the space is limited, 1T is superior
TO all other inventions for the comfort of
the traveller. II Is made of red or blue
denim, or ecru duck, and bound with
gray or ecru braid. 1t can have as many
pockets as one wishes. One small fquare
one should be used for work basket In
this fashion: Take two or three small
square pieces OF red or blue flannel and
tie piece of narrow ribbon at one end,
and than make pin cushion, and to one
end of this also attach n narrow piece OF
nd n In or
top If the pocket to hold the needles and
pins, and the work basket Is Gone. Hang
the reticule in the statcroom and 1t will
serve as BUREAU"
Next to turpentine, common kerosene is
one of the best renoyators of galvani Zed
iron sinks and boilers. Use the oil on
linen or flannel cloth as a polisher. aud
afterward wash and dry the surface Of the
iron.
Grease spots on hard wood floor are
sometimes obstinate. A little baking
soda moistehed and rubbed on with q
cloth will often remove them. Another
hint of this sort ia that II oil Is spilled on
u carpet prompt covering with Indian
meal will absorb and remove it. 1t Is
we'll TO remind housekeepers at the mo-
ment that a weak solution OF chloride OF
lime will remove peach stains from linen.
Tho stain does not at once disappear, long
soaking being an essential
are improved by standing open two or
more hours. to restore the oxygen that was
eliminated in cooking.
The smaller roast of meat, the hotter
should be- the oven at first, that the least
possible amount of its delicate juices may
escape
Rice has finer flavor If washed in hot
water instead of cold, before cooking.
If rice Is not disturbed during the pro-
cess of boiling, the berries will be whole,
dry and easily digested. A few drops of
lemon juice added to the water will make
it whittier and finer favored.
Bread crumbs for covering the top of
scalloped and other baked dishes, should
be- buttered evenly before they are spread,
not put on plain, with bits OF butter. scat
tered over.
Flour should always be kept in q cool.
i nv place.
The small paper bags that fine groceries
come III are better protection to the
hand than the gloves made purposely for
backing gloves.
A small, strong table, with casters, that
can be run back and forth between kitch
en- and pantry, saves tnnumerable steps
and any amount of time and patience
The best granite ware or other metallic
coffeepot will acquire a rank favor II IL
is not occasionally purified with borax,
ammonia or some other cleansing agent.
In making bread, rub little sweet
lard or other lat over The top as often rs
1t Is kneaded. and 1t 0will not only rise
more quickly, but have soft delicious
crust when baked.
Bread should never be covered with n
cloth when taken from the oven. but laid
on the side and allowed to become per
| feotly cold: than keep in closely 60 vered
tin box, without any wrappings
A neatly covered board. broader at one
end than the other that can be easily put
through the sleeves of wash shirt waists
| is a decided help in ironing.