HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3604, 17 August 1912, Page 4

HOUSEHOLD HINTS.

To darken brown boots, wash once a week with saddle soap and water, and clean daily with a dark brown boot polish.

When making pastry that is to be served cold, milk should be used for the mixing, and the pastry will keep short- and crisp longer than if mixed with water.

A scullery table is often difficult to keep nice, for the constant scrubbing roughens it. The best covering, ana the cheapest in the end, is a sheet of zinc nailed on to cover the edges. Failing this, cut a piece of linoleum the exact size to cover it.

Flannels should not be ironed. Pull out evenly while on the clothes-line, fold, and place at the bottom of the clothes-basket. This will’make them quite smooth.

Odd scraps of soap should be collected, placed in a saucepan on the stove with enough water to cover them, and allowed to dissolve. Then roll into balls and place on one side to dry'. They can be used for scrubbing.

To patch torn or disfigured ’wallpaper, tear roughly a piece of paper to match a little larger than the size required, without any definite shape, and paste it smoothly over the spot. The torn edge will not be as notice-

able as a carefully-cut piece, * » *

When washing stockings, soak first in cold water to- remove the dust. No amount of rinsing afterwards lias the same effect.

Celery can he kept for a week or longer by first rolling it up 'in brown paper. Then pin it in a towel and keep it in a dark coo] place. Before preparing it for the table place it in a pan of cold water and let it remain for an hour. This will make it crisp and cool.

A grease extractor is a very useful thing to keep by one for removing stains from dresses. It can be made by beating together in a mortar fib. each of soft soap and fuller’s earth. Form the paste into cakes and let them dry. When wanted for use, moisten the greasy spot - with water, rub it with the cake, and allow the latter to dry on. Then rub the spot with a sponge and warm water.