Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/126

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THE HOUSEHOLD.

of isinglass into a clean jar, pour half a pint of clear cold water on it and let it stand ten or twelve hours to dissolve. Then place the jar in a saucepan of boiling water until the liquid is quite clear.

A good perfume for linen presses and drawers is made by powdering one ounce each of cloves, cedar, and cinnamon. Place in paper cases gummed close, or in small bags.

To remove iron mould wet the spot in boiling water, rub on salts of lemon, and place in the sun.

Hot oxalic acid will take out ink spots.

To purify foul cooking utensils scour first with soap and sand, then boil some powdered charcoal in them.

A good glue for very delicate work is made of five parts gum arabic, three parts white sugar, two parts starch, and a little water. Boil till thick and white.

When packing silver away for any time, put a lump of camphor in the box with it to keep it bright and free from mildew.

To wash chamois riding gloves put them on the hands and wash in warm water with soap. Take off under water to preserve the shape, wring dry in a towel, open the fingers with a glove stretcher, and hang out to dry, and they will look as good as new.

To take out spots and stains from dirty linen, rub with yolk of egg before soaking.

Ink on floors.—Scour with sand wetted in oil of vitrol and water, and rinse with strong pearlash water.

To cleanse coffee pots, boil a little borax in them about once a week.

To remove paint and putty, one part pearl ash to three parts quick lime slaked to the consistency of paint, lay on with a brush and wash off in twelve hours, when the paint will easily scrape off.

For creaking hinges, grease with a little bit of mutton fat.

To clean the kitchen table, scour with soap and bath brick powdered. Sprinkle the latter on, then soap the brush, and scrub.