Part 12

Cut up raw potato parings very finely, fill the bottle with them, cover with warm water and let stand twenty four hours. Remove a few of the parings, shake the bottle thoroughly, turn all out, and wash the bottle. It should be perfectly clean.

Crush egg shells and put in a bottle with clear cold water. Shake thoroughly, empty, and rinse well.

Put a piece of soap and a handful of small cinders in a bottle with hot water, shake thoroughly, rinse well, and drain.

TO CUT A BOTTLE No. 1

Wind cotton twine two or three times around the bottle just below where it is to be cut. Drop kerosene or alcohol very slowly on the cord until it is saturated, then ignite it with a match. When the flame has nearly died out, pour on a little cold water, and the bottle separates smoothly.

TO CUT A BOTTLE No. 2

To file, drill, or saw glass with a hack saw, keep the tool edge wet with camphor dissolved in turpentine.

TO CUT GLASS

Fill a deep pan with water, put the hands, glass and scissors completely under water and hold them there while cutting any desired shape in glass.

REMOVING STOPPERS FROM BOTTLES

Wrap the stopper round with a cloth dipped in boiling water. If the bottle contains smelling salts, put it into vinegar and water. Leave it a short time in a warm place, then stand it in hot water. Then hold it in one hand and tap it on first one side and then the other with a piece of wood, with an upward stroke.

Another way is to put a few drops of olive oil around the glass stopper, leave for an hour or more, and if it refuses to be moved, place the whole bottle in warm water and tap the stopper carefully on each side.

TO REMOVE A CORK FROM BOTTLE

Tie a nail on the loop of a string so it will not float, get the string under the cork and pull it out.

To keep a cork from sticking in a glue bottle, rub it with vaseline.

TO MAKE A CORK SMALLER

Cut two wedge shaped pieces out of it at right angles across the small end, and it will fit tightly.

TO KEEP GAS GLOBES FROM BREAKING

Keep a paper clip over the edge of the globe.

POURING HOT LIQUIDS IN GLASSES

Put a silver spoon in a glass to prevent its breaking, when hot liquid is poured in.

WHEN GLASSES STICK TOGETHER

To separate glasses that stick together, set the lower glass in warm water and fill the upper with cold water.

WASHING GLASS

Wash cut glass in lukewarm water and brush with a bristle brush.

A little soda in the water is good.

Use small turkish towels for drying glass and silver, or fine linen ones.

MIRRORS

To clean mirrors, use a soft cloth dipped in alcohol, and polish with a clean dry cloth.

Stains may be removed from mirrors by using a soft cloth dipped in spirits of camphor, polishing afterwards.

Never allow the sun to shine on a mirror, as it softens the backing, making the glass cloudy.

MENDING CHINA

Use common white lead for mending china and glass.

Apply the paint to the edges with a small stick, place rubber bands or twine around it to hold the parts together, and set away to become thoroughly hardened.

It is very much better, however, to immediately throw out a piece of broken china, as all the mending in the world never makes it perfect, and there can be no satisfaction in having an imperfect piece of china that is liable at any time to fall apart and break several other pieces.

CEMENT FOR CHINA AND GLASS

Use common white lead.

CEMENT FOR ENAMEL WARE

Mix equal parts of finely sifted coal ashes, sifted table salt, and soft putty. Fill the hole with this mixture and set the dish on the fire with a little water in it till the cement hardens.

Cement for joining leather, wood, and paper to metal mix one teaspoonful of glycerine with a gill of blue.

FOR MENDING RUBBER ARTICLES

Try a piece of adhesive plaster where it is practicable.

CANDLES, LAMPS, ETC.

Keep candles in the refrigerator several hours, to harden them, to prevent drooping when used for decorations.

Fancy candles may be washed with a soft brush, with soap and water.

Put fine salt on a lighted candle to make it last.

Save all small candle ends to use in sealing fruit jars.

When carrying a candle in a draft, fasten it by its melted grease in a tumbler, using a short candle.

FILLING OIL LAMPS, ETC.

Fill oil lamps with a funnel kept for the purpose.

Boil the burners occasionally in soda water.

Place a small lump of camphor in the oil to brighten lamplight.

If a lamp gets overturned, never pour water on it, but use earth, flour or sand.

LAMP WICKS

Soak a new lampwick in vinegar and dry perfectly before using, to prevent it smelling badly.

When a lampwick is too large, do not cut down the side, but draw several threads from the middle of the wick.

Put a new wick in a lamp through the top instead of the bottom of the burner.

Dip one inch of the end of a wick in starch and iron perfectly dry, to insert it easily in a burner.

Sew a piece of white flannel to the bottom of large lamp wicks and they may be used a much longer time.

TO CLEAN LAMP CHIMNEYS

Wipe chimney with a cloth moistened with vinegar, then polish.

A few drops of alcohol rubbed on the inside of a lamp chimney will remove all the black.

PAPER AND BOOKS

TO MAKE WATERPROOF PAPER

Mix sulphuric acid of an exact strength with one-half its weight of water. A sheet of common paper placed in this solution becomes hard and fibrous, yet its weight is not increased, and it makes a better parchment for writing purposes than animal parchment.

TO RESTORE FADED WRITING

Moisten the paper with water, then brush over with a solution of hydric-ammonia.

TO PREVENT MOULD ON BOOKS

Wipe the shelves with oil of cedar.

TO CLEAN SOILED BOOKS

Use two parts of water to one part of vinegar, rub over the soiled pages, and leave the book open to dry.

Book covers soiled by grease may be cleaned by putting pipe clay or French chalk over the spots, then applying a warm iron.

To clean the edges (where they are not gilt edges) close the book tightly and erase with an ink eraser.

COOK BOOK COVERS

Cook books should be covered with oil cloth or waxed paper.

TO MAKE LIBRARY PASTE

1½ pints rain water 1 oz. gum tragacanth a few drops of essential oil

Put in jars and be sure to keep tightly covered, and it is always ready for use.

COAL, STOVES, FURNACES, ETC.

TO PREVENT SOOT IN CHIMNEYS

Burn raw potato parings in the stove, or pieces of zinc to prevent having soot accumulate.

TO SEE OBSTRUCTIONS IN A CHIMNEY

Remove the soot-pan, place a hand mirror in the opening, and you can see to the top unless obstructed.

Vinegar will remove lime spots and soot from an open chimney.

TO START A FIRE

Keep ashes in an old tin can and pour over kerosene enough to soak them. Have the grate clean and wood laid on it ready to light. Place two spoonfuls of ashes on the wood, then lay a few sticks over the ashes, have dampers open, and light the ashes. Keep the can of ashes outside, away from fire and your kindling is always ready. A brick may be soaked in kerosene a short time and laid in a grate and lighted to start either coal or wood. When the kerosene is burned out and the brick cold, it may be soaked again.

To start a fire in the grate, first take a newspaper and insert in opening just above grate, then light paper; this will warm up the chimney flue and prevent smoke from coming into room after lighting fire. This also applies in starting hard and soft coal burners.

To free a grate from cinders, dump clam or oyster shells into the grate.

TO KEEP A FIRE

Soak two or three newspapers in clean cold water, squeeze out the water, and make the papers into good sized balls. Pack these tightly together on top of the red hot coal fire, and it will keep for hours.

When a quick fire is needed, tear a newspaper into quarters without unfolding, twist each one tightly, lay closely in the stove, and light one end.

Throw on a few pieces of coal and sprinkle table salt over them. At the end of several hours, there will be a good fire.

TO WATERPROOF MATCHES

Dip them in very hot melted paraffin and when cool, they are ready for use.

TO CLEAN DISCOLORED FIREPLACE BRICK

Rub into the bricks as much linseed oil as they will absorb, and repeat till they are clear.

BLACKING A STOVE

Use a paint brush to apply the blacking. Just before using stove polish, mix a tablespoonful of gasoline with a saucer of polish. Be sure the stove is cold and never use gasoline around heat.

Turpentine is also good to use with polish.

Clean the steel parts with boiled linseed oil on a woolen cloth, and clean the nickle with whiting and ammonia.

If a stove is washed, then rubbed well with a few drops of linseed oil on a woolen cloth, it will never need polishing.

IN THE OVEN

Paint the inside of the oven with aluminum paint and it is a pleasure to be able to see every article in it.

A little salt sprinkled on the bottom of the oven will prevent cakes burning.

When possible during the winter months, do the baking in the furnace.

When the hinges on the oven door are worn and the doors fail to catch, put washers of iron on the bolt.

TO CUT STOVE PIPE

Cut stove pipe easily with a can opener.

GAS STOVES

Wash them each time they are used, and wash with kerosene once each week.

Keep two pieces of sheet iron on top of a gas stove, large enough to cover it. Enough heat will be diffused from one or two burners to cook a whole meal. It will also keep dishes hot.

On top of the gas stove under the burners, is a good place to spread a paper to catch falling particles.

TO CLEAN ASBESTOS GAS LOGS

To clean the asbestos gas log when it becomes blackened, sprinkle it with salt, light the gas, and the asbestos turns white.

TO CLEAN A GAS MANTLE

When smoke has blackened a gas mantle, sprinkle salt from a salt shaker on it, slowly, light the gas and let the salt burn off a little at a time.

TO WHITEN A HEARTH

Melt a little size in a jar with a quart of boiling water. When the size is melted, mix in the same quantity of whiting with just a bit of washing-blue. Wash the hearth, then paint with the mixture. Clean it by wiping with a cloth wrung out of cold water. When the whiting needs renewing, wash the hearthstone in hot water, and apply the mixture. Add more water when the mixture requires.

PACKING THE STOVE AWAY

Rub a little oil, vaseline or kerosene over a stove before packing it away, to prevent rusting.

ABOUT PLUMBING

Slip a piece of garden hose about an inch long over the end of the faucets in the kitchen sink to prevent breaking dishes on the faucets.

TO PREVENT PIPES FREEZING

After water is shut off, always sprinkle a good handful of coarse salt over the holes in the sink with just enough water to carry it to the curve of the waste pipe. Treat all similar curves in the same manner.

TO THAW FROZEN PIPES

Use a hot water bottle.

When pipes become frozen in the yard, have an electrician connect a transformer of suitable size into circuit; one lead of the secondary is connected to the water valve or pipe near the curb and the other lead is connected to the water piping in the house. The current is then turned on, and the heat developed by the resistance of the water pipe to the flow of the electric current soon thaws the pipe.

A pipe-thawing electrical outfit is now manufactured.

CLEANING METALS, ETC.

TO CLEAN ALUMINUM KETTLES

Boil rhubarb peelings in them for thirty minutes.

TO CLEAN BRASS

Dip half a lemon in fine salt and rub over the stains, wipe with a soft cloth, and polish with a woolen cloth.

After cleaning brass, polish with equal parts of paraffin and naphtha with enough rottenstone to make a good paste. Then polish with a soft dry cloth.

Ammonia in a little water will remove verdigris from brass.

Drop rusty curtain pins into ammonia water and let them remain for ten minutes, then dry on soft cloth.

TO CLEAN BRONZE

Use salt and vinegar (or lemon juice), then rinse in clear water and polish with a clean woolen cloth.

TO CLEAN COPPER

Proceed as in To Clean Brass.

TO CLEAN ENAMELED WARE

Use salt and vinegar.

Or, put soda in the enameled lined vessel, and let come to a boil.

TO CLEAN GOLD

Dip in a solution of one teaspoonful of ammonia to one quart of water, rinse in clear warm water, and dry on soft cloth.

TO PRESERVE POLISHED IRON WORK

Add olive oil to copal varnish till the mixture is rather greasy, then mix in as much turpentine as there is varnish and apply.

TO CLEAN NICKEL

Use whiting and ammonia.

TO CLEAN PEWTER

Wash with hot water, rub with fine sand, dry and polish with leather.

TO CLEAN SILVER

Apply kerosene with a brush or soft cloth, rinse in boiling water and dry with soft towels.

Dissolve one-fourth cupful sal-soda in one gallon of water, heat to boiling, immerse the silver, being sure it is entirely covered in water, let stand five minutes, rinse, and wipe dry.

Another method is, boil the silver in an aluminum kettle for thirty minutes, and dry with a soft towel.

TO REMOVE EGG STAIN FROM SILVER

Use wet salt.

TO KEEP SILVER UNTARNISHED

Sprinkle a few pieces of camphor gum in boxes or drawers where it is kept.

TO CLEAN STEEL

Emery powder and oil rubbed to a paste is good to clean steel. After cleaning, polish with an oiled rag, and then with a soft dry cloth.

TO REMOVE RUST FROM STEEL

Use plenty of kerosene. If possible, lay on or wrap about the rusted parts, cloths soaked in kerosene, leaving them for a day or two. Then apply salt wet in hot vinegar, or scour with brick dust. Rinse in hot water and dry with a soft woolen cloth, finishing with an oil rub and polish with a soft cloth.

TO CLEAN TIN

Rub with a damp cloth dipped in soda.

TO CLEAN ZINC

Clean with kerosene on a soft cloth, and wash in boiling water.

TO CLEAN ENAMELED WOODWORK

Dampen a flannel cloth in warm water, dip in whiting and apply to the wood. Rinse in clear warm water, and dry with a soft cloth.

TO CLEAN OILED WOODWORK

Use cold tea with a soft cloth, and wipe with a dry cloth.

TO CLEAN PAINTED WOODWORK

Use one dessertspoonful of soda to one bucketful of warm water. Wash, and wipe with a dry, clean, soft cloth.

Kerosene is good to clean any painted or polished woodwork. Use one tablespoonful to a bucketful of warm water.

Rub with a lemon, all marks left by scratching matches on painted wood.

TO CLEAN WINDOWS

Use a cloth moistened in denatured alcohol, and polish immediately with a soft dry cloth.

Or a tablespoonful of kerosene to a gallon of warm water.

TO CLEAN OLD PAINT BRUSHES

To clean a brush that is dried and stiff from standing in paint or varnish, dip it repeatedly in boiling vinegar till it softens. Then wash it in warm soap suds, rinse in warm water, and dry.

TO POLISH FURNITURE

Mix equal parts of olive oil, vinegar and turpentine. Apply with a soft cloth and rub dry with a soft clean flannel.

DUST CLOTHS

Dip a soft piece of cheese cloth about a yard square in kerosene, do not wring very dry, but hang out of doors for twenty four hours before using.

Old pieces of soft flannel soaked in paraffin all night, wrung out as dry as possible and hung out of doors about twenty four hours, make nice furniture polishers and cleaners.

CLEANING BRIC-A-BRAC, ETC.

TO CLEAN ALABASTER ORNAMENTS

Apply a paste made of quick lime and water, leave on a few days, and wash off with warm water and soap.

TO CLEAN IVORY

Brush with a soft tooth brush in lukewarm water. Use alcohol if the ivory is discolored and dry in the sun, if possible.

TO CLEAN MARBLE

Mix two parts of soda, one of pumice stone, and one of salt, with warm water to form a paste.

TO CLEAN PLASTER STATUETTES

Dip the statue several times in a strong solution of soda in water, rubbing badly soiled places with a soft cloth.

CLEANING COMPOUNDS

TO REMOVE GREASE FROM ALL FABRICS

1 pint deodorized benzine 1 oz. alcohol 1 oz. spirits of ammonia

Shake well, apply with a sponge and rub. When dry, press with a slightly warm iron.

TO CLEAN ALL FABRICS

3 drachms sulphuric ether 3 drachms chloroform 6 drachms alcohol 1 quart gasoline

Let the articles to be cleaned remain in the fluid from one to twelve hours. If small pieces are to be cleaned, immerse them in the mixture in a glass fruit jar with the top screwed tightly. Laces, feathers, silks, woolens, etc., clean beautifully in this.

TO CLEAN CARPETS

2 buckets lukewarm rain water 1½ bars naphtha soap 1 oz. borax 1 oz. cleaning soda 1 oz. Fuller’s earth

Scrub the mixture on the carpet with a scrubbing brush, and wipe dry with clean cloths.

TO CLEAN WALL PAPER

1 quart cold water 1¼ cupfuls aqua ammonia 10c worth oil of sassafras 2 teaspoonfuls salt 1 teaspoonful soda

Mix, and add flour till stiff enough to drop from spoon. Cook in a covered pail set in a kettle of boiling water, stirring often, till done. If the mixture does not stick to the hands when cool, it is done, and can be kneaded into loaves. Rub the wall with pieces of the loaf, using the pieces over and over. Keep the loaves covered when not using.

MEMORANDA

INDEX

around the kitchen stove, 12

cooking utensils, 14

other helps, 13

preface, 7

read this, 16

suggestions for starting the day, 9

the garbage, 12

the kitchen floor, 11

the kitchen sink, 10

the kitchen table, 11

weights and measures, 15

COOKING RECIPES

after dinner mints, 162

almond nut forcemeat, 66

angel cake, 126

apple and fig jam, 168

apple cake, 126

apple chutney, 177

apple dumplings, 103

apple dumpling sauce, 103

apple fritters, 93

apple jelly, 166

apple pie, 94

apple salad, No. 1, 90

apple salad, No. 2, 90

apple sauce, 119

apple snow, 115

apricot pie, 97

baked apples, No. 1, 119

baked apples, No. 2, 119

baked asparagus, 53

baked beans, 53

baked beets, 56

baked buckwheat cakes, 28

baked cabbage, 57

baked cheese, No. 1, 40

baked cheese, No. 2, 40

baked eggs, 35

baked indian pudding, 108

baked lima beans, 55

baked onions, 73

baked parsnips, 73

baked potatoes, 69

baked protose, 73

baked prunes, 119

baked squash, 75

baking biscuits, 26

baking cakes, 124

baking powder biscuits, 26

baking powder doughnuts, 123

baking powder dumplings, 103

baking powder griddle cakes, 29

banana cream, No. 1, 115

banana cream, No. 2, 115

banana fritters, 93

banana whip, 115

bean croquettes, 54

bean hash, 55

bean soup, 48

beating eggs, 34

beet hash, 56

bengal chutney, 177

berry icing, 138

bird’s nest toast, 32

biscuits, 26

boiled asparagus, 53

boiled beets, 56

boiled cabbage, 57

boiled carrots, 58

boiled chestnuts, 63

boiled corn, 59

boiled eggs, 35

boiled icing, 138

boiled onions, 67

boiled parsnips, 73

boiled potatoes, 69

boiled rice, 69

boiled salad dressing, No. 1, 85

boiled salad dressing, No. 2, 85

boiled sweet potatoes, 70

boiled turnips, 78

boston brown bread, No. 1, 22

boston brown bread, No. 2, 22

brandy sauce, No. 1, 110

brandy sauce, No. 2, 110

brandy sauce, No. 3, 110

breads, 26

bread doughnuts, 26

bread pudding, 104

brown bread, No. 1, 23

brown bread, No. 2, 23

brussels sprouts, 57

buckwheat griddle cakes, No. 1, 28

buckwheat griddle cakes, No. 2, 30

butter scotch, 160

butter without ice, 149

cake fillings, 135

cakes of many kinds, 126

candies and sweets, 160

candied mint leaves, 164

candied orange and lemon peel, 165

candied violets, 165

canning apples, 174

canning apricots, 174

canning corn, 176

canning grapes, 175

canning green beans, 176

canning peaches, 174

canning pears, 174

canning quinces, 175

canning rhubarb, 175

canning tomatoes, 175

canning vegetables, 176

carrots, 58

carrots with dressing, 58

carrot preserves, 171

carrot pudding, 106

catsup, 178

cauliflower, 59

celery, 59

cereals and breakfast dishes, 32

cheese balls, 40

cheese custard, 41

cheese dreams, 42

cheese pudding, No. 1, 42

cheese pudding, No. 2, 42

cheese salad, No. 1, 87

cheese salad, No. 2, 88

cheese straws, No. 1, 43

cheese straws, No. 2, 43

cheese toast, 33

cherry salad, 84

chili sauce, 179

chilled dishes, 145

chocolate cake, 127

chocolate cookies, 142

chocolate filling, No. 1, 135

chocolate filling, No. 2, 135

chocolate icing, No. 1, 139

chocolate icing, No. 2, 139

chocolate peppermints, 160

chocolate sauce, 148

chutney, catsup, pickles, etc., 177

cinnamon rolls, 95

claret cup, No. 1, 153

claret cup, No. 2, 153

cocoanut cookies, 142

cocoanut icing, 139

cocoanut pie filling, 98

coffee, 158

coffee cake, 127

cold beverages, 153

cold water, 153

coloring icing, 138

cooked cabbage salad, 84

cookies, 142

corn, 59

corn chowder, 57

corn fritters, 93

corn in milk, 59

corn in tomatoes, 59

cornmeal mush, 32

cottage cheese salad, 88

cottage pudding, 106

cranberry jelly, 169

cranberry mould, 120

cranberry sauce, 120

cranberry whip, 116

cream and whipped cream, 114

cream cheese, 41

cream cheese salad, No. 1, 87

cream cheese salad, No. 2, 87

cream dates, 121

cream puffs, 128

cream sauce, 111

cream sauce for vegetables, 57

cream of asparagus soup, 48

cream of pea soup, 48

cream de menthe, 157

cream de menthe sauce, 148

croutons, 47

crustless pie, 98

cucumbers, 60

cucumber relish, 81

currant cream, 145

currant jelly, 169

currant punch, 150

custard pie, 97

custard pie filling, 97

cutting bread, 20

dainty cake, 128

date pie filling, 98

delicate cream, 114

desserts, 93

deviled egg, No. 1, 35

deviled egg, No. 2, 35

dill pickles, 180

divinity candy, 161

divinity fudge, 161

doughnuts, 123

dried apple fruit cake, 129

dried fruit jelly, 170

dried lemon flavoring, 183

dried peach sauce, 122

drip coffee, 159

drop cake, No. 1, 128

drop cake, No. 2, 129

drop nut cakes, 129

dutch or cottage cheese, 40

east india chutney, 177

easy sauce, 111

easy way for jelly, 167

eggs, 82

egg gravy, 36

egg omelet, No. 1, 36

egg omelet, No. 2, 37

eggplant, 60

egg salad in pond lily style, 88

egg sauce, 82

egg substitute, 34

emergency cream, 114

entire wheat bread, 21

everlasting yeast, 17

fancy cream, 116

fig pudding, 106

floating island, 107

fondant, 160

freezing ice cream, 145

french dressing, No. 1, 86

french dressing, No. 2, 87

french mustard, 82

french pancakes with jelly, 31

french pickles, 181

fresh lima beans, 55

fried apples, 120

fried apple pies, 96

fried corn cakes, 60