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
Earthworms in Flower Pots, To Destroy 27
Eggs, Boiling, Hints for (four) 8
Eggs, To Prevent Popping When Cooking 8
Eggs, Yolks of, To Keep Fresh 8
Egg Shells, To Remove from Cooking 8
Egg Stains, To Remove from Silver 7
Eyeglasses, How to Tighten Screws 29
Eyeglasses, To Prevent Steaming 25
Faucets, How to Polish 7
Finger Nails, To Prevent Staining 2
Fire, Kerosene, To Extinguish 3
Fish, To Prevent Breaking Up When Frying 6
Fish, Currycomb for Scaling 1
Fishbone in Throat, To Remove 30
Fish Odor, To Remove from Hands 5
Fish Taste, To Remove from Forks and Spoons 5
Flannels, To Restore When Hard or Shrunken 20
Flashlight for Sewing Machine, Use of 17
Flat-irons, To Remove Rust from 4
Flies, To Get Rid of 7
Floor, Kitchen, To Remove Grease from 10
Floor Polisher, Worn out Broom for 9
Floors, Polished, Finish for 28
Floor Wax, A Cheap and Good 23
Fly Exterminator, An Easy 28
Food, Too Salty, Remedy for 5
Food Chopper, Sand Soap to Sharpen 1
Food Chopper, To Fasten Securely 11
Fountain Pens, Leaky, Cure for 27
Fowl, To Make Tender 8
Frames, Gilt, To Clean and Remove Fly Specks from 19
Fruit Jars, To Open 1, 11
Fruit Picker, Handy, for Farmer or Suburbanite 35
Furniture, Leather, To Clean 31, 35
Furniture, To Mend Small Pieces on 19
Furniture, White Enameled, or Woodwork, To Clean 29, 34
Flowers, How to Pack for Transportation 29
Flowers, To Keep Fresh (three) 29
Gas, Good Way to Save 10
Gasoline Iron, To Protect Hand from 20
Gasoline, Hints for Cleaning With (three) 32
Gas Stove Burners, To Clean 3
Gems, Hint for Baking 6
Gems and Muffins, To Make Lighter 8
Gilt Frames, To Clean and Remove Fly Specks from 19, 31
Glass, Broken, To Gather Up 28
Glass, Drinking, Etc., To Prevent Breaking 1
Glass, Polish for 11
Glove Repair, White, Emergency 27
Grease, To Remove from Kitchen Floor 10
Greasy Woodwork, To Clean
Hammock, Squeaky, Remedy for 24
Hands, Chapped, To Prevent 2
Hands, To Remove Fish Odor from 5
Hands, To Remove Odors from 7
Hands, To Remove Stains from 2
Hooks in Hardwood, How to Put in 23
Ice Cream, To Freeze Quickly 24
Ice Pick, Handy, for Emergency 23
Icy Steps, Etc., Remedy for 28
Ink Stains on Fingers, To Remove 27
Ink Stains on Linen, Carpets, Etc., To Remove 38
Ink Stains on Oak Table, To Remove 31
Insect in Ear, Relief for 31
Insects, To Remove from Vegetables When Washing 11
Insects, Plant, To Destroy 33
Insoles from Old Felt 23
Insomnia, Cure for 26
Invalid's Room, Perfume for 25
Iron, Gasoline, To Protect Hand from 20
Ironing Over Buttons, Etc., Hint for 22
Iron Stand, Brick for 20
Kerosene Fire, To Extinguish 3
Kerosene for Water Bugs 1
Kettles and Pans, Greasy, To Clean 2
Kitchen Floor, Etc., Finish for 14
Kitchen Memoranda, Tablet or Slate for 11
Knife Handles, White, To Clean 14
Labels, Paper, To Remove 25
Lace Curtains, New Way to Fasten 18
Lace Curtains, To Stretch Without Frame 21
Lamps, Wicks and Chimneys, Hints for (Five) 12
Leather Furniture, To Clean 31
Leather Upholstery, Polish for 19
Lemons, To Increase Juice from 3
Lemons, Old, To Freshen 9
Lid, To Keep on Boiling Pot 5
Linen, To Make Glossy 21
Linen, To Remove Stains from 35 - 38
Linoleum, To Clean 16
Linoleum, Varnish and Polish for 16
Loaned Dishes, To Identify 11