Chapter 4

An Easy Fly Exterminator--To drive out flies put twenty drops of oil of lavender in a saucer and dilute it slightly with hot water. The sweet, heavy odor of the lavender is very disagreeable to the flies, and the house will soon be rid of them.

To Avoid Mistakes with Poison--When poison is kept in the house, push two stout, sharp-pointed pins through the corks crosswise. The pricking points remind even the most careless person of danger.

To Pick Up Broken Glass--Even the smallest pieces of broken glass can be easily picked up by using a bit of wet absorbent cotton, which can afterward be destroyed by burning.

For Leaky Vases or Other Ornamental Bric-a-Brac--If a valuable flower vase leaks, take some melted paraffin, such as is used over jelly-jars, and pour it into the vase and let it harden over the spot where the leak occurs. It will not leak again.

Polish for Floors--Rub polished floors with a mixture of one-third raw linseed oil and two-thirds paraffin. Afterward polish with a dry cloth.

To Prevent a Rocking Chair from Creeping across the room while rocking in it, glue strips of velvet on bottom of chair rockers, and the annoyance will cease.

To Mark Place for Picture-Nail--When just the right position has been found to hang the picture, moisten your finger and press it against the place where the nail should go. This does away with the awkward reaching for hammer and nail while holding the picture against the wall.

An Unbreakable Bead Chain--A violin string makes an excellent chain for stringing beads. It will stand a great amount of wear and tear and will practically last forever.

When Packing Flowers for Transportation--When flowers are to be sent some distance it is a good plan to place the ends of the stems in a raw potato. They will keep as fresh as if in water.

(1) To Keep Flowers Fresh--To keep flowers fresh put a small piece of sugar in the water.

(2) To Keep Flowers Fresh, place a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in the water before putting them into a vase.

(3) Cut flowers with woody stems will last much longer in water if the stalks are scraped for about three inches up.

When Taking Down Pictures in House-Cleaning Time a stick with a deep notch in the end, to lift picture-cords from hooks, is a great convenience.

To Tighten Your Eyeglasses--If the tiny screws in your eyeglasses need tightening, you will find that a small steel pen answers as well as a screwdriver.

To Mend Celluloid--Moisten the broken edges with glacial acetic acid and hold them together until the acid dries.

To Clean White Enameled Furniture--First remove all dirty marks with a flannel cloth dipped in wood alcohol. Then wash at once with tepid water to which has been added a little fine oatmeal. Never use soap or soda.

Felt for Dining-Chair Legs--Thin strips of felt glued to the bottom of dining-chair legs will deaden the noise and save the hardwood floors.

When Baby Chokes--A choking infant can be quickly relieved by pressing between its eyes with your thumb and finger.

To Remove a Fishbone from the Throat--Cut a lemon in two and suck the juice slowly. This will soften the fishbone and give instant relief.

New Uses for Macaroni--A stick of macaroni will serve in place of a glass tube for a patient who cannot sit up in bed to drink, or will sometimes induce a child to drink its milk when otherwise it would not.

For the Restless Baby--When the creeping baby is placed on the bed for his daily nap, use a large safety-pin to pin his clothes to the bed, or to a strap fastened to the head or foot of the bed.

To Drive Nails in Plaster without cracking the plaster, put the nail in hot water for a few minutes and it can then be driven in securely without damage to the wall.

Plaster of Paris for Mending Walls--When painting walls and the plaster is in need of mending, fix it with plaster of paris mixed with some of the paint you intend using to paint it with. This will prevent the mended spot from showing. To fix a white wall, mix plaster of paris with turpentine and oil.

To Remove Smoke Marks from the Ceiling, frequently due to a smoky lamp, mix a thick paste of starch and water, and with a clean flannel cloth spread it over the entire mark. Allow it to stay on until thoroughly dry, then brush off with a soft brush, and the discoloration will disappear like magic.

To Clean a Raincoat--Use either of the two following methods:

(1) Use soap and water and not gasoline, as gasoline will injure the rubber. Lay out on a flat surface and scrub lightly with soap and water; then rinse with clear water. Do not wring. Put on a coat-hanger and hang out to dry.

(2) Pour some vinegar into a dish and dip a soft rag or sponge into it; then place the mackintosh on the table and rub the soiled parts lightly.

If a Bug or Other Small Insect Gets in the Ear and causes severe pain, pour a little melted butter in the ear and there will be instant relief.

To Remove Soot from Carpet--Do not attempt to sweep the carpet until it has been covered with dry salt. Then sweep it and no smear will be left.

To Brighten a Carpet--First sweep the carpet clean. Then dip a soft, clean mop into a pail containing one-half gallon of water and one-half teacupful of ammonia; wring it well and rub it over the carpet; it will be as bright and fluffy as when new.

To Destroy Moths in Carpets, wring a thick towel out of water, spread it on the carpet, and iron over it with a very hot iron. The heat and steam will go through the carpet, thus destroying the grubs.

A Moth Preventive--If you wish to be rid of moths, pour a little turpentine in the corners of the wardrobe, chiffonier, or trunk.

To Keep Moths Out of Pianos--Try rubbing turpentine occasionally over the woodwork on the inside of the piano, and you will never be troubled with moths getting into the piano, even when it is not used for a long time.

To Clean Gilt Frames, dip a soft cloth in the white of egg and gently rub off the soiled spots.

To Remove Ink Stains from an Oak Table, lay spirits of wine on the marks; let it remain for some time, then rub well and clean off.

To Clean Leather Furniture, add a little vinegar to warm water (not hot) and brush the leather over with it. Restore the polish by rubbing with two tablespoonfuls of turpentine mixed with the whites of two eggs.

To Clean Bronze, make the article very hot by placing it in boiling water; then rub it well with a piece of flannel cloth dipped in soapsuds, and dry with a chamois leather.

To Clean Zinc--Take a thick slice of lemon and rub it over the stained spots. Let it remain for an hour, then wash the zinc metal with soap and water and it will become clean and bright.

To Clean Brass--To keep the polish on brass, after polishing in the usual way, coat with clear varnish. The following is a good polish:

To clean tarnished brass use equal parts of vinegar and salt. Rub with this mixture thoroughly, letting it dry on; then wash off in warm, soapy water and polish with a soft cloth.

Cleaning with Gasoline--The three following suggestions are made with reference to cleaning with gasoline:

(1) To take the odor of gasoline out of freshly cleaned garments, use oil of sassafras in the gasoline to the proportion of about five drops to a quart of gasoline.

(2) If a little salt is added to gasoline which is used for cleaning wool or silk material, there will be no ring remaining when dry.

(3) Put about one-third part of vinegar in the water with which you dampen the cloth when pressing an article that has been cleaned with gasoline. This will not only remove the scent of the gasoline but will prevent circles forming.

Alcohol for Cleaning White Kid Articles--Pure alcohol is better than gasoline for cleaning white kid gloves or other white kid articles, as it dries quickly without the unpleasant odor that gasoline leaves. Five cents' worth of alcohol cleans a pair of gloves beautifully.

To Clean White Kid Shoes--Make a lather of pure white soap and milk for cleaning white kid shoes. Brush as much dirt as possible off the shoes before scrubbing with the lather.

If New Boots or Shoes Will Not Polish, rub them over with half a lemon and leave until thoroughly dry. Repeat this once or twice if necessary.

New Tag for Shoe Lace--If a tag comes off a boot or shoe lace, press a little melted black sealing wax round the end of the lace and shape it to form a tag. It will serve almost as well as the original.

To Renovate a Shabby Serge Skirt, sponge it over with hot vinegar until the stains and grease marks disappear; then thoroughly press on the wrong side with a fairly hot iron.

To Remove Shine from Woolen Goods--Wet a piece of crinoline and lay it over the shiny surface of the goods. Cover with a dry cloth and press with a hot iron. Pull the crinoline away quickly, as you would a plaster, and this will raise the nap of the goods.

To Remove Shine from Black Cloth, rub it well with a piece of flannel dipped in spirits of turpentine and dry in the open air.

To Clean a Black Dress--Take a dozen ivy leaves and steep them in boiling water. Let it stand until cold; then rub well over the stained parts. This solution will remove all stains and make the cloth look fresh.

To Clean Men's Clothing--Take a soft cloth, dip it in alcohol, and press it lightly over a cake of pure soap; then apply it briskly to the article to be cleaned. After sponging the garment carefully, press it.

In cases of obstinate grease spots, rub well with a lather made from pure white soap and luke-warm water; then sponge off with alcohol and proceed as above.

Wall Paper Remover--To remove wall paper in about one-half the usual time, take one heaping tablespoonful of saltpetre to a gallon of hot water, and apply it to the paper freely with a brush. A whitewash brush is best for the purpose, as it covers a broader space than other brushes. Keep the water hot, and after a few applications the paper can be easily pulled from the wall.

To Clean Wallpaper, make a paste of three cupfuls of flour, three tablespoonfuls of ammonia and one and one-half cupfuls of water. Roll it into balls and rub it over the paper. It will make it as clean as when new.

Tobacco for Plant Insects--One tablespoonful of smoking tobacco soaked in a quart of water for twelve hours or more makes a solution that will destroy insects and promote the growth of the plant. It must be poured on the soil about every two months.

When a Wax Candle is Too Large for the holder the end should be held in hot water until it is soft. It can then be pressed into shape to fit the hole and there will be no waste of wax, as when slices are shaved off the end of a candle.

Salt Water to Clean Matting--A cloth dampened in salt water is the best thing for cleaning matting.

To Lay New Matting--Cut each width six inches longer than necessary. Then unravel the ends and tie the cords together. When the matting is taken up to be cleaned it cannot unravel and there will be no waste.

To Clean White Furniture or Woodwork--Use clean turpentine and a soft cloth to clean white enameled woodwork or furniture. It will remove all spots without removing any of the gloss, as soap is liable to do.

To Remove Spots from Varnished Wood--Spots made by water on varnished tables or other furniture may be removed by rubbing them with a cloth wet with camphor.

To Clean Greasy Woodwork--Paint or woodwork that has become greasy can be cleaned with a cloth dipped in turpentine. Then wipe with a cloth dipped in water to which a little kerosene has been added.

To Clean Soiled Marble--Pound two parts of common washing soda, one part each of pumice stone and finely powdered chalk, mix together, sift them through cheesecloth, and make into a paste with water. Apply thickly and let it dry on; then wash well with soap and water and rub well with a soft cloth. Never use acids on marble as they destroy the gloss.

To Clean Oil Spots from Marble, first wash the stone thoroughly; then place a sheet of blotting paper over the spots and set a hot iron on it; this will draw the oil out and the blotting paper will absorb it.

Handy Fruit Picker for Farmers and Suburbanites--Take a large tomato can or other tin can and cut a V-shaped hole in one side at the top, about 1-1/2 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches deep. On the opposite side of the V-shaped hole, nail the can to a long pole. This device is useful for picking apples and many varieties of fruit from upper branches where it is almost impossible to reach them by ladder. It also prevents damage to the fruit by falling.

TO REMOVE STAINS, ETC.

All spots and stains can be removed much more easily before washing. Fruit stains are probably the most common and they will usually disappear if the stained portion is held taut over a basin and hot water poured over and through it.

Butter or Salt for Stains--To remove fruit, tea or coffee stains from cotton or linen goods, rub butter on the stains and then wash with hot water and soap. Remove wine stains by sprinkling salt on them and then pouring boiling water through them.

To Remove Indelible Ink--Use equal parts of turpentine and ammonia to remove indelible ink when all other methods fail. Saturate the garment well, and let it soak; then rinse it thoroughly in warm water.

To Remove Grease Stains from White Woolens, use cream of tartar and water or alcohol.

To Remove Perspiration Stains--The stains caused by perspiration can be removed from garments by the application of a mixture consisting of three parts of alcohol, three parts of ether and one of ammonia.

Salt to Remove Perspiration Stains--To remove perspiration stains from clothing, soak the garments in strong salt water before laundering them.

To Remove the Stain of Mud from clothing, rub well with a raw potato.

To Remove Fruit Stains from Linen the following suggestions are given:

(1) Fruit Stains on Linen should be smeared with glycerine and left for about an hour; then wash the stains in warm soapy water. Repeat the process if necessary.

(2) To Remove Fruit Stains from Linen--Before sending table linen and white garments to the laundry all fruit stains should be well dampened with alcohol. All traces of discoloration from the fruit will have vanished when returned from the laundry.

(3) To Remove Fruit Stains from the Tablecloth, apply powdered starch while fresh.

Starch for Removing Blood-Stains--To remove blood-stains from material which can not be washed, cover the stain with lump starch that has been dampened to about the consistency of very thick paste. As the starch dries, the stain will go.

To Remove Mildew--The four following methods are given for removing mildew:

(1) Buttermilk for Mildew--Articles that have become mildewed should be boiled in buttermilk. Rinse well in warm water after boiling and hang in the sun. The same process will effectively bleach materials that have grown yellow from lack of use.

(2) Salt for Mildew--Mildew can be taken out by rubbing the stains well with a fresh tomato and covering with salt; afterward place garment in sun.

(3) To Take Out Mildew, mix equal parts of powdered borax and starch with half as much salt; moisten the whole with lemon juice, spread the mixture on the mildewed spot and place the garment in the sun on the grass. Renew the mixture every morning until the stain disappears.

(4) Alcohol for Mildew--Mildew may generally be removed by dipping articles into alcohol.

To Remove Road Oil--Kerosene is best to take out road oil on most fabrics, as it evaporates and does not injure same.

To Remove Wax Stains--To remove wax or tallow stains, lay a piece of brown paper over them and apply a hot flatiron. After one or two applications the paper will absorb all of the wax or tallow from the cloth, leaving no trace behind.

To Remove Tar Spots, put a little lard on the spots and let them stand for a few hours, then wash with soap and water.

To Remove Iodine Stains, immediately immerse the stained article in a gallon of water to which has been added about two teaspoonfuls of plain household ammonia.

To Remove Blueberry Stains--Blueberry stains may be removed by washing at once with cold water and white soap.

To Remove Grease Spots--To remove automobile grease, or any dark, heavy grease, from washable fabric, apply a small piece of butter and rub it in well; then wash with soap and rinse.

To Remove Tea and Coffee Stains from any white goods, soak the spots with glycerine and let them stand for several hours untouched. Afterward wash with soap and water.

To Remove Grease Spots from Tablecloths, coats, trousers, etc., sandwich the article between two pieces of blotting paper and rest a hot iron over the damaged part for a few minutes.

To Remove Rust Stains, the three following suggestions are given:

(1) Tomato Juice for Iron Rust--Tomato juice will remove iron rust and fruit stains from wash goods.

(2) Rhubarb Juice for Rust Stains--The worst rust stains can be removed without injury to the fabric by the application of boiling rhubarb juice.

(3) To Remove Rust Stains--Spread the rust-stained part over a bowl of boiling water and rub it with salt wet with lemon juice; then place it in the sun. Repeat this process until the stain is light yellow; then wash the cloth in weak ammonia water and afterward in clear water.

To Remove Ink Stains--The following various methods are recommended for removing ink stains:

Chinese Plan for Removing Ink Stains from Clothing--Wash the article with boiled rice; rub the rice on the stain as you would soap, and wash with clear water. If first application is not effective, repeat the process.

This has been found to work like magic, even with stains not discovered until entirely dry.

A Sure Cure for Ink Stains--To remove ink stains from wash materials pour a tablespoonful of kerosene on them and rub well; then rinse in kerosene and the spots will immediately disappear. This should be done before being washed.

To Remove Ink Stains--To remove ink stains without damage to the fabric, place the stained portion over a saucer and cover the stain with powdered borax; then pour peroxide of hydrogen over the borax. Do not pour water over the borax. The stain will disappear almost immediately.

Ink Stains Can be Removed without injury to the most delicately-colored material. Mix some mustard to a thick paste and spread it over the stain. After twenty-four hours sponge thoroughly with cold water; no trace of the ink will remain.

To Remove Ink from Linen After it Has Dried In--Wash out as much of the ink as possible in a pan of milk. Then put the article to soak in another pan of milk, letting it stand until the milk turns to clabber. Then wash out and not a trace of ink will remain.

Ink on Carpet--If ink is spilled on the carpet, wash it out at once with sweet milk and sprinkle it with white cornmeal. Let it remain over night. The next morning sweep it up and the colors will remain bright.

To Remove Ink from a Carpet, soak up as much of it as possible with blotting paper. Then saturate the spot with plenty of milk, and after some time, having removed the milk with blotting paper, rub the carpet with a clean cloth.

INDEX TO GAS AND ELECTRIC SUPPLEMENT

The Care and Use of Gas Appliances 1a Care of Gas Ranges 1a Use of the Range 2a Broiling and Roasting 2a Steaks and Chops 3a Fish 3a Other Foods 3a Roast Meats 3a Baking 3a Bread 3a Biscuits 4a Loaf Cake 4a Layer Cake 4a Boiling 4a Stewing 4a Toasters 5a Gas Water Heaters 5a Gas Flat Irons 6a Furnace Connections 6a All-Gas Kitchens 6a Demonstrator 6a Gas Lighting 7a

Electrical Appliances 8a Electric Service in the Home 8a All-Electric Homes 8a Electric Range 9a Electric Dishwasher 9a Vacuum Cleaner 10a Sewing Machine 11a Flat Iron 11a Electric Lamps 11a Table of Comparisons 12a Residential Lighting 12a Parlor 12a Hall 12a Porch 12a Bedroom 12a Sitting-room 12a Dining-room 13a Bathroom 13a Kitchen 13a Attic 13a Cellar 13a Care of Lamps and Fixtures 13a Fixture Recommendations for the House 13a Parlor 13a Hall 14a Sitting-room and Library 14a Bedroom 14a Dining-room 14a Bathroom 14a Kitchen 14a Cellar 14a Attic 14a Clothes Press 15a General 15a Wiring Hints 15a Fuses 16a

INDEX TO HOUSEHOLD HELPS

Alarm Clock, To Diminish Noise of 17 Ammonia, Many Uses of 12 Ants, To Get Rid of 22 Apple Pie, To Make Tender 8 Apples, To Peel Easily 7

Baby, Choking, To Relieve 29 Baby, Restless, Hint for 30 Bacon, Proper Way to Slice 3 Bath Tub and Wash Bowl, To Clean 19 Bead Chain, An Unbreakable 29 Beans, Hint for Baking 6 Bed Springs, How to Clean 17 Beef Juice, Squeezer for 2 Beetles, To Get Rid of 7 Black Cloth and Woolen Goods, To Remove Shine from 33 Black Dress, How to Clean 33 Blankets, Woolen, To Prevent Shrinking 20 Bleaching Clothes, To Protect 25 Blister on Heel, To Prevent 26 Boiling Eggs, Hints for (four) 9 Bottles, How to Cut Off, and Their Uses 24 Bottles, Glass, How to Clean 15 Brass Beds, Polish for 17 Brass, How to Clean 32 Brass, To Keep from Tarnishing 18 Bread, Cornpopper for Toasting 2 Bread, Hint When Baking 5 Bread, To Keep Fresh 9 Bread, When Too Brown 7 Broken Glass, To Gather Up 28 Bronze Articles, To Clean 31 Brushes, Paint, How to Soften 25 Bug or Other Small Insect in Ear, Relief for 31 Burners, Gas Stove, To Clean 3 Burns, Remedy for 10, 26 Butter, How to Soften When Hard 1

Cake Flavoring, Orange Peel for 6 Cake, To Prevent Burning 4 Cake, To Prevent Sticking to Tins 6 Cake, To Remove from Tin 6 Cake, To Remove Scorch from 8 Calicoes, Dark, How to Iron 21 Canary, To Induce to Bathe 27 Candle Holders, Novelty for Children's Party 23 Candles, Economy in Use of 7 Candle, Wax, Hint Regarding 34 Carpets, Ink on, To Remove 38 Carpet, Soot on, To Remove 31 Carpets, To Brighten 18, 31 Carpet Sweeper Pulleys, Worn, To Repair 24 Carrots, Quick Way to Peel 3 Cellars, Damp or Musty, Remedy for 23 Celluloid, How to Mend 29 Chair Seats, Cane, To Tighten 27 Chapped Hands, To Prevent 2 Chicken, To Make Tender 8 Chimneys, Lamps and Wicks, Hints for (five) 12 China, Hints for Mending (four) 13 Choking Baby, To Relieve 29 Chopper, Food, Sand Soap to Sharpen 1 Clock, How to Lubricate 24 Clothes, Bleaching, To Protect 25 Clothes, To Sprinkle Quickly 21 Clothes, To Whiten When Washing 20 Clothesline, Dirty, To Clean 20 Clothespins, Grape Basket for 24 Clothing, Men's, To Clean 33 Cockroaches, To Get Rid of 7 Color, To Restore in Fabrics 22 Color, To Set in Wash Goods 22 Cooling Hot Dishes, Hint for 13 Corn Silk, To Remove from Corn 10 Cream, To Use When it is on the Turn 3 Crockery, Hints for Mending (four) 13 Curtains, Lace, New Way to Fasten 18 Curtains, Lace, To Stretch Without Frame 21 Curtains, Sash, Hint for Laundering 21 Curtains, White, To Make Ecru or Cream Color 21 Cushions, Sofa, Etc., Hint for Filling 18 Cut Glass, Polish for 18

Damp Cellars, or Musty, Remedy for 23 Dining-Chair Legs, To Protect Floors from 29 Dishcloth, Best Kind of 10 Dishes, Greasy, To Clean 4 Dishes, Loaned, To Identify 11 Dress, Black, How to Clean 33 Dust, To Prevent When Sweeping 14 Dustless Mop, How to Make 15