Middletown transcript., 1908-08-15
USEFUL THINGS TO KNOW


FAINT brushes can be cleaned by wash.
ing into hot soda water and soft SOAP.
A brush dipped in salt water should be
used in cleaning bamboo furniture.
} Ii salt is thrown over the carpet before
l sweeping it will clean the CARPET and
; make it easier to sweep.
by having an orange and small onion
inside the duck while roasting its flavor is
said to be improved.
Acid drink may be made by dissolving
one tablespoonful of cream of tartar in
one pint OF water. Sweeten to taste.
The bent point of a sewing machine
needle may be sharpened on MILESTONE
and need not be discarded.
Keep sponges clean by washing them
now and then in soda, carefully rinsing
out all the powder with pure cold water.
The cut side OF lemon rubbed over a
dish upon which fish has been served
promptly removes the disagreeable odor.
Put small bag of talcum powder in a
box with cover, and keep in the work.
box to rub on the fingers when they per-
spire,
If table silver be washed with hot water
and soap with occasionally little am
monia, it can be kept bright without
powder or paste.
If when sewing on dark fabric the
needle should become unthreaded, slip a
piece of white goods underneath and
you readily can see the eye.
Needles and pins will never rust in a
cushion filled with coffee grounds. Pour
the coffee from the grounds and rinse
them in cold water. Let them dry thor.
oughly before using.
When once moths have got into carpet
| neither camphor nor tobacco will stop
them. The only way is to take damp
towel, spread it upon the carpet, and iron
it dry with hot iron. Most ironing
should be done in those portions of the
carpet that do not take the chief wear of
the room. The heat and steam will be
| found to destroy the worms and eggs.
A convenient cleaner for use on clothes
may be made of cheesecloth fashioned
into bag three inches square. Fill the
bag with five cents worth of soap bark
an d sew up end. When wanted for use,
place the bag in basin of warm water
and use as sponge on the article to be
cleaned, wiping with dry cloth. After
using dry the bag and it will be ready for
another time,
To clean leather, such as purses, hand
bags, sut-cases. undressed leather and
colored skins, use reliable wallpaper
cleaner. Mix as directed and apply in
the usual manner, rubbing one way only.
Save old parafin from jellies and the
like, melt and mold in patty pans, and it
will be useful for smoothing the irons.
In the country and small towns,
where gas or electric light is not to be
found, hang a lantern from a hook
screwed into the bottom of an upper win
dow sash on the outside. The light in
the room may be regulated by raising or
lowering the shade. This obviates the
heat and odor produced by kerosene
lamp in the room.
Afternoon tea is the simplest of social
functions. All that is really demanded
is cup of tea, thin bread and butter, and,
! if you choose, a little plain cake. To
these on the weekly reception day one
usually adds scones, tea cakes, sand'
wiches, lemon, sugar and cream, with the
equipage. Also, if you like, plate of
fancy biscuits.
A careful housewife has nailed a
small strip of white wood over her
range into which are screwed half dozen
dresser hooks. On these she hangs her
cooking fork, iron spoon, wooden spoon,
small strainer and a cooking knife, and
finds that having them all ready to hand
saves many steps.
Candles will burn slowly and steadily
through the evening if they are kept on
ice all day.
Bottles that must be air tight should
have the corks dipped in melted paraffin
until thoroughly coated.
| Should cakes stick to the pans put
hot cloth on the bottom for minute or
two. If papers are used sticking is infre-
quent.
If rolls stick to pan they can be put
back on the top of the stove for minute
or two when they come out easily.
For cleaning iewelry there is nothing
better than ammonia and water. If dull
and dirty rub little soap on soft brush
and brush the piece in this wash. Rinse
in clear water and polish with chamois
skin. The secret of standing and walking
erect consists in keeping the chin away
from the breast. This throws the head
upward and backward, and the shoulders
will naturally settle backward in their
true position.
Plumes are very hard to clean by an
amateur. The best way to clean them is
to hold them over the fumes of sulphur,
which will both clean and curl them.
This work must be done out of doors.
Put the feathers on a rack, a saucer of
burning sulphur underneath and box
over ALL
The craze for cretonne has now got to
such stage that the fortunate owners of
this pretty and serviceable fabric are look
ing about them for a means of cleaning it.
1t should, first of all, be thoroughly
shaken in the open air and then washed
in bran water without rubbing. Rinse
in second bowl of bran water, to which
| salt and vinegar has been added in the
proportion of one tablespoonful OF each