Practical Suggestions for Mother and HousewifeMiller, Marion Mills
Philosophy
Practical Suggestions for Mother and Housewife
Miller, Marion Mills
Home economics
Dig a pit eight or ten feet square, and as deep in the cellar. Lay a
double wall with brick; fill between with pulverized charcoal; cover the
bottom also double with the same or tan-bark. If the pit is filled with
ice, or nearly so, cover six inches with tan-bark; but if only a small
quantity is in it, wrap well in a blanket, and over the opening in the
pit lay a double bag of charcoal.
INK--TO REMOVE FROM LINEN
Scald in hot tallow. Let it cool; then wash in warm suds. Sometimes
these stains can be removed by wetting the place in very sour buttermilk
or lemon juice; rub salt over, and bleach in the sun.
INSECTS--TO KEEP AWAY
The common elder is a great safeguard against the devastations of
insects. Scatter it around cucumber and squash-vines. Place it on the
branches of plum and other fruit-trees subject to the ravages of
insects.
IRONS--TO REMOVE RUST FROM
Scour with dry salt and beeswax.
JAPANNED WARE--TO CLEAN
Japanned tea-trays should not be washed in hot water if greasy, a little
flour rubbed on with a bit of soft linen will give them a new look; if
there are scratches, rub over a little olive oil.
JEWELRY--TO CLEAN
Jewels are generally wrapped up in cotton wool and kept in their cases;
but they tarnish from exposure to the air and require cleaning. This is
done by preparing clean soap-suds from fine toilet-soap. Dip any article
of gold, silver, gilt or precious stones into this lye, and dry by
brushing with a brush of soft hair, or a fine sponge; afterwards polish
with a piece of fine cloth, and lastly, with a soft leather.
Gold or silver ornaments, and in general all articles of jewelry, may be
dressed by dipping them in spirits of wine warmed in a shallow kettle,
placed over a slow fire or hot plate. Silver ornaments should be kept in
fine arrowroot, and completely covered with it.
KNIVES--TO CLEAN
Cover a small heavy table on block by tacking over it very tight soft
leather or buckskin; pour over half the leather melted suet. Spread over
this very fine pulverized bath brick; rub the knives (making rapid
strokes) over this. Polish on the other side. Keep steel wrapped in
buckskin. Knives should be cleaned every day they are used, and kept
sharp. The handles of knives should never be immersed in water, as,
after a time, if treated in this way, the blades will loosen and the
handles discolor. The blades should be put in a jug or vessel kept for
the purpose, filled with hot soda water. This should be done as soon
after the knives are used as possible, as stain and rust quickly sink
into steel.
KNIVES--TO KEEP
Knives not in use will soon spoil. They are best kept in a box in which
sifted quicklime has been placed, deep enough to admit of the blades
being completely plunged into it. The lime must not touch the handles,
which should be occasionally exposed to the air, to keep them from
turning yellow.
BLACK LACE--TO REVIVE
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