Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-15

salt brightens the colors and brings
out the pattern Of the carpet in a
most satisfactory manner.
II towel racks in kitchen and bath
rooms are not nickeled, carefully
paint them with at lest two coats
of white enamel paint, to avoid the
possibility Of iron rust spots - we'll
as for general cleanliness.
One housekeeper suggests that
common burlaps laid under carpet,
but on top of the lining paper, will
prevent the dust rising when the car
pet is swept, as it will filter through
the coarse meshes Of the burlaps.
Sprinkle places infested by ants
with borax and you will soon be rid
Of them. Ringworms will yield to
borax treatment. Apply strong solu-
ton Of borax three times a day. also
dust on the powder very often.
In buying a hair mattress choose
one filled with black rather than
white hair, as the latter has generally
been bleached, which deprives it Of
srringiness, and makes it mat"
more quickly than the black or even
gray hair.
At least once week the carpet
sweeper should be thoroughly cleaned
and the brush freed from hairs and
threads. The bearings should be fire.
quently oiled-the smallest amount
being used, and a feather will be
easy to apply the oil with.
To brighten a room the japanese
use flowers, such as apple blossoms
and cherry blossoms. effectively ar
ranged in soft-toned vases. The
Chinese are partial to strips of bamboo, d
pierced and used as holders for long
stemmed fruit blossoms.
Coal oil is recommended as an ex-
cellent cleaning agent. One woman
uses rag noistened with coal oil
to clean her stained wood floors. to
clean woodwork. porcelain Eathtub
and stand and also to polish the wall
behind the kitchen range
The double result Of removing dust
from the hands and bleaching the
skin is obtained by the use Of melted
CASTLE Soap and common oatmeal.
mixed together with a little watcr)
If the water is perfumed little the
cleansing mixture is improved.
A great saving may be effected in
the use of washing powder. so useful
in the kitchen, by putting it in tin
shaker, which may be extemporized
by punching holes in the cover OF any
tin box. The powder goes many
times further than when shaken
from the original package and is
equally efficacious
Unless flushed often with powerful
solvent to remove the grease. the
kitchen sink will clog. A strong So
luton Of washing soda made with
boiling water is most efectual al
should be used very hot Immediately
following a thorough clcanin. with
warm soapsuds. Prepare sufflcien:
quantity that the drain pipe also may
be thoroughly flushed.
The tops Of old stockings make cx-
cellent dust-cloths, as they neither
scratch nor shed lint. Sewed over
square Of leather cut from a shoe
top they make desirable holders,
pliable to the hand but, because OF
the leather, slow to heat through.
To shut out an Objectionable view
from side or rear windows, mix littl.
mastic varinish and white lead in
equal quantities and apply to the in
side of the panes with an old paint
brush. 1t will be a good imitation
of ground glass and will wear a long
time.
If our good intentions could only
be used for paving material in this
world, what a saving it would be
for the taxpayers.
Warm borax water removes dan
druf.
If powdered borax is put around
edge of carpet, it will keep away
moths.
A little borax in the, water before
washing red or red-bordered table,
cloths and napkins will prevent their
fading.
Turpentine and beeswax to thea
Of thin cream makes &
fine polish for leather upholstered
furniture.
Cheesecloth towels" for silver
and glassware will be found more de-
sirable than crash as they are free
from lint.
If alum is added to the paste used
in covering boxes with paper or for