Saving Thread. — When raveling out a fringe on mats
or tidies made of Java or honeycomb canvas, save the
threads. You may use them to feather-stitch bands of
white cotton cloth for trimming. They are serviceable on
children's underwear, at the top of Hamburg ruffles, and
will last longer than insertion.
To Color Old Gold. — Any one who is piecing a silk quilt,
or expecting to piece one, will be glad to know how to dye
silk or satin a beautiful old-gold color. Take green hoi'se-
radish leaves, steep them in water, make a strong dye.
After dipi^ing the silk or satin into the dye thoroughly,
wash in soft-soap suds. Iron while damp, laying a cloth
over the silk or ribbon. This should always be done when
ironing silk or ribbon, even if it has not been washed, but
simply sponged. Black silk may be sponged with cold cof-
fee and ammonia.
Hoto to Keep Lamp-Chimneys Clean.-^Aiter the lamps
are filled and the chimneys washed and put on the shelf,
take pieces of newspaper and roll in the form of a chimney
and slip over chimney and lamp. It will protect from dust
and flies, and when the lamps are lighted one will be re-
warded by finding them as clear and bright as when first
put in order.
Scraping Kettles. — A clam-shell is more convenient for
scraping kettles and frying-pans than a knife. It does the
work in less time.
To Freshen Stale Crackers. — Crackers that are not
fresh can be made to appear so by putting them into a hot
oven for a short time. Watch them carefully, as a minute
too long will serve to brown and spoil them.
To " try " Cake. — The broom-splint has occupied a prom-
MISCELLANEOUS HINTS. 78
inent position among aids to cooking for an indefinite pe-
riod of time, and housekeepers who are immaculate in all
other matters often take a splint from a broom with which
they have, perhaps, swept the -kitchen, and "try'^ a deli-
cate cake with it. A much better way is to buy a cheap
little brush-broom, and keep it for this and no other pur-
pose ; one will last a lifetime ; hang it in the dining-room
near the kitchen-door. If so disposed, you can make a
pretty case for it of fancy paper, Turkish toweling, or can-
vas ; then one will not be tempted to use it for anything
else in the kitchen.
Washing Colored Clothes. — It is always best to wash
flannels, calico dresses, and aprons before the white clothes
are wet, especially if the day is cloudy and threatening.
Then, if it rains, the white clothes can be rubbed, scalded,
and left in the rinsing water, and it is a small matter next
day to wring, blue, and hang them up to dry. When wash-
ing fine laces, do not use starch at all ; in the last water in
which they are rinsed, put a little white sugar, dissolve it
entirely, and the result will be pleasing.
How to Protect the Dress, — Ladies who do their own
work will find that, in addition to a long apron, a pair of
calico sleeves, with a rubber cord in the top, is a dispenser
of happiness. One can slip them on over cuffs and nice
dress-sleeves, get tea, and even wash the tea-dishes, without
injuring the dress.
Putting Up Curtains, — When putting up curtains which
are to be draped, in a low room, put the cornice to which
the curtain is to be fastened close to the ceiling, even if the
window is put in lower down, as it gives the effect of greater
height to the room. The curtains meeting at the top will
conceal the wall.
Window Gardens, — Pretty window gardens maybe made
by taking the tin boxes in which mackerel is put up, paint
them green or scarlet, and put in such plants as grow well
4
74 HOUSEHOLD HINTS.
Household hints
1881Page 35
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Saving Thread. — When raveling out a fringe on mats or tidies made of Java or honeycomb canvas, save the threads. You may use them to feather-stitch bands of white cotton cloth for trimming. They are serviceable on children's underwear, at the top of Hamburg ruffles, and will last longer than insertion.
To Color Old Gold. — Any one who is piecing a silk quilt, or expecting to piece one, will be glad to know how to dye silk or satin a beautiful old-gold color. Take green horseradish leaves, steep them in water, make a strong dye. After dipping the silk or satin into the dye thoroughly, wash in soft-soap suds. Iron while damp, laying a cloth over the silk or ribbon. This should always be done when ironing silk or ribbon, even if it has not been washed, but simply sponged. Black silk may be sponged with cold coffee and ammonia.
How to Keep Lamp-Chimneys Clean.—After the lamps are filled and the chimneys washed and put on the shelf, take pieces of newspaper and roll in the form of a chimney and slip over chimney and lamp. It will protect from dust and flies, and when the lamps are lighted one will be rewarded by finding them as clear and bright as when first put in order.
Scraping Kettles. — A clam-shell is more convenient for scraping kettles and frying-pans than a knife. It does the work in less time.
To Freshen Stale Crackers. — Crackers that are not fresh can be made to appear so by putting them into a hot oven for a short time. Watch them carefully, as a minute too long will serve to brown and spoil them.
To " try " Cake. — The broom-splint has occupied a prom-
inent position among aids to cooking for an indefinite period of time, and housekeepers who are immaculate in all other matters often take a splint from a broom with which they have, perhaps, swept the -kitchen, and "try'^ a delicate cake with it. A much better way is to buy a cheap little brush-broom, and keep it for this and no other purpose ; one will last a lifetime ; hang it in the dining-room near the kitchen-door. If so disposed, you can make a pretty case for it of fancy paper, Turkish toweling, or canvas ; then one will not be tempted to use it for anything else in the kitchen.
Washing Colored Clothes. — It is always best to wash flannels, calico dresses, and aprons before the white clothes are wet, especially if the day is cloudy and threatening. Then, if it rains, the white clothes can be rubbed, scalded, and left in the rinsing water, and it is a small matter next day to wring, blue, and hang them up to dry. When washing fine laces, do not use starch at all ; in the last water in which they are rinsed, put a little white sugar, dissolve it entirely, and the result will be pleasing.
How to Protect the Dress, — Ladies who do their own work will find that, in addition to a long apron, a pair of calico sleeves, with a rubber cord in the top, is a dispenser of happiness. One can slip them on over cuffs and nice dress-sleeves, get tea, and even wash the tea-dishes, without injuring the dress.
Putting Up Curtains, — When putting up curtains which are to be draped, in a low room, put the cornice to which the curtain is to be fastened close to the ceiling, even if the window is put in lower down, as it gives the effect of greater height to the room. The curtains meeting at the top will conceal the wall.
Window Gardens, — Pretty window gardens maybe made
by taking the tin boxes in which mackerel is put up, paint
them green or scarlet, and put in such plants as grow well