Middletown transcript., 1904-09-24
USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW

Carpets which have grown dirty, have
lost their color and have become dull and
old-looking can be nicely renovated in
the following manner: Cut up into very
small pieces about an ounce of laundry
soap and make it into lather with a
pint of boiling water, then add another
quart of water and an ounce of borax,
says the American QUEEN. Put this mix
ture on the range ard bring it to boil ;
then remove it, and when it is quite cold
add one ounce of alcohol, one of ammonia
and one half ounce of glycerine. Do but
small portion of the carpet at time
and renovate it by wetting clean fan
mel cloth in this mixture and rubbing in
vigorously until the spots are removed
and the color brought back. Another
way to bring the colors out may be used,
and it may be accomplished in the ordi-
nary sweeping if salt or dried tea leaves
or mixture of both be thickly sprinkled
OH the carpet an hour before the sweep
ing is begun. Use a good, stiff brush
when sweeping and the whole appearance
OF the carpet will be marvelously I'M
proved.
Salt is a most usefu1 arcticfe IN tire
household. In washing colored goods
little salt in the rinsing water will pre-
vent the color from running" 1t is
important, however, that too large a
1 ~ ha r0t
goods. cupful of salt to about two even
pailfuls of water is the correct proportion.
little salt rubbed over earthern pudding
dishes will efectualy clean off rusty spots
that seem to be burned into the ware.
Candles burn better and nrure slowly
if they have been stored in a dry place
will go twice as far if well dried. 1t
should be cut into small blocks, and these
arranged in tiers with spaces between to
allow them to dry.
Sugar should be bought in small guam
titles, as it dies and loses flavor if kept
raisins, currants and candied peel will
not keep long. Vinegar soon loses its
flavor if kept, and so does Lucca oil.
Macaroni will not, and spice, pepper and
roasted coffee, too, soon deteriorate.
In small flat kitchen, there is usually
no separate cupboord in which the fiat |
irons can be kept between wash days, |
away from the steam of the daily cooking. |
Many of the greasy coatings and the rust
which results from this cause can be OBJ
waited by drawing stout brown paper bags |
over them, directly they are cool, and
keeping them thus wrapped until again
| needed.
By most housewives the ironing of
table linen is a much dreaded task, but
by using the following plan it may be-
come a real pleasure. We all realize how
easily linen is drawn out of shape when
wet, and how hard it is to regain it if
in that condition. All this trouble and
exertion of pulling and stretching may be
avoided if when the tablecloths are be-
ing hung upon the line the selvages are
folded evenly together and pinned to the
line, corners first, then the sag The
,dges must be stretched gently in place
and held with pins not more than II or
l5 inches apart. If pins and line are
scarce the napkins may be hung over the
tablecloth, allowing the same pins to do
service for both. Shake out all unneces-
sary folds and wrinkle. that may remain.
When possible leave out until damp
ened by dew; if not, sprinkle and fold in
the usual manner. Let lie at least an
hour or so, then shake out, and iron
single. Begin at corner iron lengthwise,
then across, keeping the linen squared.
This is the secret of success. Turpen-
tine in the starch produces gloss.
To cure cracks on fingers, take an
ounce of good, fine bismuth and some
good lard, and on plate, with knife,
work in slowly just enough lard to make
stiff paste. Keep covered in glass or
porcelain. This will relieve the hand at
once, and sometimes cures severe itching
and irritation of the skin.
Clean castor bottles with shot.
To remove ink stains, soak in sour milk
over night.
Mix stove polish with vinegar and a tea
spoonful OF sugar.
Never allow fresh meat to remain i'll pa
per; it absorbs the juices
To remove tea stains from cups and
saucers, scour with ashes /
70 remove mildew, soak in buttermilk
and spread on grass in the sun.
If nutmegs are good, when pricked with
pin oil will instantly ooze out.
To prevent mustard plasters from blis-
tering. mix with the white of an egg.
To clean furniture that is not vanished,
rub with cloth wet with kerosene.
Mortar and paint may be removed from
window glass with hot sharp vinegar.
Water in which borax is dissolved is H
good for the hair, and also to Yhiten the I
face and hands.
~ uett tie " lltlc vi tSSs quiChiE, duu
pinch of salt. Salt cools, and cold eggs
froth rapidly.
White spots upon vanished furniture
will dsappeari You h,ld hot plate from
the stove over them.
Acids should new er be employed to
clean tinware, because they attack the
metal ard remove it from the iron of
which iG forms a thin coat. We refer +, G
artic es made of tin plate, which consists !
OF iron covered with tin. Rnb the articles
first with rotten st;nie and sweet oil. tlien
finish with whiting and a piece of soft {
leather. Articles made wholly of tin t
should be cleaned in the same manner
In dry atmosphere pIanished tinware
will remain bright for a long period, but
will soon become tarnished in moist air.
Never put salt into soup when cook
ing till it has been thoroughly skinned.
as salt prevents the scum from rising.
a tahIaenoonfui of stpwpd tomato or to- 4