A GOOD WASH FOR THE HAIR.
One pennyworth of borax, half a pint of olive-oil, one
pint of boiling water.
Mode: Pour the boiling water over the borax and oil; let
it cool; then put the mixture into a bottle. Shake it before
using, and apply it with a flannel Camphor and borax,
dissolved in boiling water and left to cool, make a very good
wash for the hair, as also does rosemary water mixed with
a little borax. After using any of these washes, when fte
'hair becomes thoroughly dry, a little pomatum or oil should
be rubbed in, to make it smooth and glossy.
Motheb's Cook Boos.
MISCELLANEOUS.
AN EXCELLENT HARD SOAP.
Poor twelve quarts soft boiling water on two and one-
half pounds of nnslaoked lime; dissolve five pounds sal
soda in twelve quarts soft hob water; then mix and let them
remain from twelve to twenty-four hours. Poor off all the
clear fluid, being careful not to allow any of the sediment
to run off; boil three and one-half pounds clean grease and
three or four ounces of rosin in the above lye till the grease
disappears; pour into a box and let it stand a day to stiffen
and then ont in bars. It is as well to pnt the lime in all
the water and then add the soda. After pouring off the
fluid, add two or three gallons of water and let it stand
with the lime and soda dregs a day or two. This makes an
excellent washing fluid to boil or soak the clothes in, with
one pint in a boiler of water.
TO WASH WOOLEN BLANKETS.
Dissolve soap enough to make a good suds in boiling
water, add a tablespoon of aqua ammonia; when scalding
hot, torn over your blankets. If convenient, nse a pounder,
or any way to work thoroughly through the suds without
rubbing on a board. Rinse well in hot water. There is
usually soap enough from the first suds to make the second
soft; if not, add a little soap and ammonia; and after being
pnt through the wringer let two persons, standing opposite,
Mother's Cook Book. 249
poll them into shape; dry in the sun. White flannels may
be washed in the same way without shrinking. Calicoes
and other colored fabrics can, before washing, be advan-
tageously soaked for a time in a pail of water to which a
spoonful of ox gall has been added. It helps to keep the
color. A. teacup of lye to a pail of water will improve the
color of black goods when necessary to wash them, and
vinegar in the rinsing water of pink or green will brighten
those colors, aa will soda for purple and bine.
FOR CLOTHES THAT FADE.
One ounce sugar of lead in a pail of rain water. Soak
over night.
LAMP-WICKS.
To insure a good light, wicks must be changed often, as
they soon become clogged, and do not permit the free pass-
age of the oil. Soaking wicks in vinegar twenty-four hours
before placing in lamp insures a clear flame.
TO MAKE OLD CRAPE LOOK NEARLY
EQUAL TO NEW.
Place a little water in a teakettle, and let it boil until
there is plenty of steam from the spout; then holding the
crape in both hands, pass it to and fro several times
through the steam, and it will be clean and nearly equal to
A CEMENT FOR STOVES.
If the stove is cracked, a good cement is made for it as
follows: Wood ashes and salt in equal proportions, reduced
to a paste with cold water, and filled in the cracks when the
stove is cooL It will soon harden.
Uimu'f Cook Book.
TO CLEAN KID GLOVES.
Bob with very slightly damp bread-cniinhg. If not
effectual, scrape upon them dry Fuller's earth or French
chalk, when on the hands, and rob them quickly together in
all directions. Do this several times. Or pat gloves of a
light color on the hands and wash the hands in a basin of
spirits of hartshorn. Some gloves may be washed in a
strong lather made of soft soap and warm water or milk;
or wash with rice palp; or sponge them well with turpen-
tine, and bang them in a warm place or where there is a
current of air, and all smell of turpentine will be removed.
STAINS AND SPOTS.
Page 103
Presented as published in 1902. 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
A GOOD WASH FOR THE HAIR.
One pennyworth of borax, half a pint of olive-oil, one pint of boiling water.
Mode: Pour the boiling water over the borax and oil; let it cool; then put the mixture into a bottle. Shake it before using, and apply it with a flannel Camphor and borax, dissolved in boiling water and left to cool, make a very good wash for the hair, as also does rosemary water mixed with a little borax. After using any of these washes, when the hair becomes thoroughly dry, a little pomatum or oil should be rubbed in, to make it smooth and glossy.
Mother's Cook Book.
MISCELLANEOUS.
AN EXCELLENT HARD SOAP.
Pour twelve quarts soft boiling water on two and onehalf pounds of unslacked lime; dissolve five pounds sal soda in twelve quarts soft hot water; then mix and let them remain from twelve to twenty-four hours. Pour off all the clear fluid, being careful not to allow any of the sediment to run off; boil three and one-half pounds clean grease and three or four ounces of rosin in the above lye till the grease disappears; pour into a box and let it stand a day to stiffen and then cut in bars. It is as well to put the lime in all the water and then add the soda. After pouring off the fluid, add two or three gallons of water and let it stand with the lime and soda dregs a day or two. This makes an excellent washing fluid to boil or soak the clothes in, with one pint in a boiler of water.
TO WASH WOOLEN BLANKETS. Dissolve soap enough to make a good suds in boiling water, add a tablespoon of aqua ammonia; when scalding hot, torn over your blankets. If convenient, nse a pounder, or any way to work thoroughly through the suds without rubbing on a board. Rinse well in hot water. There is usually soap enough from the first suds to make the second soft; if not, add a little soap and ammonia; and after being put through the wringer let two persons, standing opposite,
Mother's Cook Book. 249
pull them into shape; dry in the sun. White flannels may be washed in the same way without shrinking. Calicoes and other colored fabrics can, before washing, be advantageously soaked for a time in a pail of water to which a spoonful of ox gall has been added. It helps to keep the color. A. teacup of lye to a pail of water will improve the color of black goods when necessary to wash them, and vinegar in the rinsing water of pink or green will brighten those colors, aa will soda for purple and bine.
FOR CLOTHES THAT FADE.
One ounce sugar of lead in a pail of rain water. Soak over night.
LAMP-WICKS.
To insure a good light, wicks must be changed often, as they soon become clogged, and do not permit the free passage of the oil. Soaking wicks in vinegar twenty-four hours before placing in lamp insures a clear flame.
TO MAKE OLD CRAPE LOOK NEARLY EQUAL TO NEW.
Place a little water in a teakettle, and let it boil until there is plenty of steam from the spout; then holding the crape in both hands, pass it to and fro several times through the steam, and it will be clean and nearly equal to
A CEMENT FOR STOVES.
If the stove is cracked, a good cement is made for it as follows: Wood ashes and salt in equal proportions, reduced to a paste with cold water, and filled in the cracks when the stove is cooL It will soon harden.
Mother's Cook Book.
TO CLEAN KID GLOVES.
Rub with very slightly damp bread-crumbs. If not effectual, scrape upon them dry Fuller's earth or French chalk, when on the hands, and rub them quickly together in all directions. Do this several times. Or pat gloves of a light color on the hands and wash the hands in a basin of spirits of hartshorn. Some gloves may be washed in a strong lather made of soft soap and warm water or milk; or wash with rice palp; or sponge them well with turpentine, and hang them in a warm place or where there is a current of air, and all smell of turpentine will be removed.
STAINS AND SPOTS.