Page:Australian enquiry book of household and general information.djvu/119

 and put into the saucepan or vessel with a little water; let it boil for half an hour. This must be after the vessel has been well scoured with sand and water. If the first application is not successful try a second. The charcoal is sure to clean the foulest utensil if used properly.

To Fix the Loosened Handles of Table Knives.—Melt four parts of resin with one part beeswax, and stir in one part plaster of Paris, and fix into the handles while warm.

To Clean Ivory Ornaments.—Wash well in warm water and soap, using a soft brush if necessary to scrub them with. Dry carefully and polish with a soft brush on which a few drops of alcohol have been poured. Hold to the fire now and then as you brush, and the colour will be quite restored.

Lamps.—Lamps should be thoroughly cleaned every little while—the oil poured out and the globe well washed with warm water and soap, rinsed in clear soda and water, and dried. They should then be filled with fresh oil. The burners must be boiled in strong soda and water until every particle of dust and dirt has disappeared. If the wick is clogged and dirty, replace it with a fresh one.

Smoky Lamp Glasses.—To prevent glasses becoming blackened with smoke, when cleaning them put a teaspoonful of diluted sulphuric acid into a cup of water, then with a sponge or mop on a small stick, or a feather will do, rub the glass well inside and out, rinse in warm water, dry and polish. Be very careful in using the acid, as it burns everything.

Some people may discredit the fact of this preventing the glasses getting smoked, and I can give no reason for it doing so, save that I imagine it is on the same principle as the sulphur puts out a fire in a chimney. The acid certainly does prevent the glasses becoming smoked, if applied as above directed.

Cement for Sticking on the Tops of Lamps.—Very often the top or screw part of the kerosene lamp becomes loose from the action of the oil. A very good cement for sticking on the brass part can be made of resin and bath brick. Melt the former in an iron spoon over the fire, and gradually dust in the bath brick. Apply while hot.

Never light a nearly empty lamp, as the space between the oil and the top of the bowl is filled with explosive gas.

Home-made Cement for Mending China, Crockery, etc.—Whip the white of an egg to a stiff froth, and work into it some unslaked lime; with a knife spread the broken edges of the china and then press firmly together and let the article mended lie by for three or four days. Mix only as you need it, as the lime and egg has a tendency to harden in the air. Things mended in this way will hardly bear hot liquids, but vases, ornaments, etc., can be so repaired.

Easily Made Cement.—Curdle about a cupful of milk with a teaspoonful of good vinegar. Take the whey from this, mix it with the white of one egg, and add powdered lime till it is a stiff paste. When mending crockery or glass ware, first dry in the air and then over the fire. I have used vegetable dish-covers mended with the above cement for years.

Cleaning Cooking Utensils—When saucepans, gridirons, frying-pans, baking dishes, etc., have been in use a long time they generally become very dirty and impregnated with grease round the outside edges. An excellent plan then is to put them into a large boiler or an old tub filled with water, in which is dissolved half a pound of washing soda. Place the tub over an outside fire,and let them boil for an hour or two. The result is surprising.

To Polish Black Marble.—Wash thoroughly with soap and water and dry with an old linen towel. Then rub steadily and long with white wax and a flannel rubber.

Perfume for Linen Presses, Drawers, etc.—Pound some cloves