| Kitchen Tips Honey-natural antibiotic,sore throat, bee stings Vinegar-bug bites, dandruff Olive Oil-high blood, pressure,arthritis Neuralgia-For neuralgia nothing is better than a muslin bag filled with hot salt. Headache -2 or 3 slices of lemon in a cup of strong tea will cure a nervous headache. Bilious Headache-A teaspoon full of lemon juice in a small cup of black coffee (Liver or Bile problem) Old Fashion measurements Every measure is level, unless otherwise specified. Because of the loss or gain of moisture constantly happening in dry ingredients, exact measures are not possible; but for ordinary purposes, and for home cooking and baking, the following is approximately correct: About 25 drops of any thin liquid = 1 teaspoonful 1 Pinch = 4-1/2 grains, or less than 1/8 teaspoonful 1 Salt spoonful = 1/4 teaspoonful 1 Scruple = 20 grains, or about 1/2 teaspoonful 1 Teaspoonful = 4 salt spoonfuls, 4 Teaspoonfuls = 1 tablespoonful liquid 2 Tablespoonfuls liquid = 1 fluid oz 4 Tablespoonfuls = 1 wineglass, or 1/2 gill, or 1/4 cupful 2 Wineglasses = 1 gill, or 1/2 cupful 2 Gills = 1 coffee-cupful, or 16 tablespoonfuls, or 8 fluid oz 1 Tumblerfull = 1 coffee-cupful, or 1/2 pint 2 Coffee-cupfuls = 1 pint 2 Pints = 1 quart 4 Quarts = 1 gallon 16 Ounces = 1 pound, or 1 pint of liquid Note: A set of measuring cups (with small lips), from 1 pint to 1/4 cup, will be found convenient in every kitchen, though common pitchers, bowls, glasses, teacups, wineglasses, etc., may be substituted. Measures Are Level Unless Otherwise Indicated 25 drops of any thin liquid = 1 teaspoonful 1 pinch of salt or sugar = 4-1/2 grains or less than 1/8 teaspoonful 1 tablespoonful of salt = 1 ounce 8 rounded tablespoonfuls of granulated sugar = 1 cupful 2 cupfuls of granulated sugar = 1 pound 1-1/2 coffee-cupfuls of granulated sugar = 1 pound 1 pint of granulated sugar = 1 pound 2-2/4 cupfuls of powdered sugar = 1 pound 2 coffee-cupfuls of powdered sugar = 1 pound 1-1/3 pints of powdered sugar = 1 pound 3-1/2 cupfuls of confectioner's sugar = 1 pound 2-1/2 cupfuls of best brown sugar = 1 pound 1-3/4 coffee-cupfuls of best brown sugar = 1 pound 1 pint of best brown sugar = 13 ounces 3 tablespoonfuls of grated chocolate = 1 ounce 4-1/3 cupfuls of coffee = 1 pound 2 teaspoonfuls of flour, heaped = 1 tablespoonful 4 tablespoonfuls of flour = 1 ounce 7 to 8 rounded tablespoonfuls of flour = 1 cupful 4 cupfuls of pastry or bread flour = 1 pound 3 coffee-cupfuls of sifted flour = 1 pound 1 quart of sifted flour, heaped = 1 pound 1 quart of unsifted flour = 1 pound 1 ounce 3-7/8 cupfuls of whole wheat flour = 1 pound 2-2/3 cupfuls of corn meal = 1 pound 4-1/2 cupfuls of graham flour = 1 pound 4-1/8 cupfuls of rye flour = 1 pound 4-3/4 cupfuls of rolled oats = 1 pound 2-2/3 cupfuls of oat meal = 1 pound 3-1/2 cupfuls of Indian meal = 1 quart 2-3/4 coffee-cupfuls of Indian meal = 1 quart 1 quart of sifted Indian meal = 1 pound 4 ounces 6 tablespoonfuls of baking powder = 1/2 ounce 16 tablespoonfuls of any dry ingredient = 1 cup Butter the size of a walnut = 1 ounce Butter the size of an egg = 2 ounces 1 tablespoonful of soft butter, well rounded = 1 ounce 4 tablespoonfuls of soft butter, heaped = 1 cupful 1 cupful of butter, pressed down = 1/2 pound 2 cupfuls of butter, pressed down = 1 pound 1 pint of soft butter = 1 pound 2 cupfuls of lard = 1 pound 2 cupfuls of finely chopped meat = 1 pound 1 pint of finely chopped meat = 1 pound 10 ordinary-sized eggs = 1 pound 9 large-sized eggs = 1 pound 2 cupfuls of milk = 1 pound 1-7/8 cupfuls of rice = 1 pound 3 cupfuls of raisins = 1 pound 2 cupfuls of raisins, packed = 1 pound 2-1/4 cupfuls of currents = 1 pound 2 cupfuls of stale bread crumbs = 1 pound 40 small prunes = 1 pound 28 large prunes = 1 pound 75 apricot pieces = 1 pound 3 large bananas = one pound Oven Temperatures Chart Very Slow Oven = 275°F (135°C) Slow Oven = 325°F (163°C) Moderate Oven = 375°F (190.5°C) Hot or Quick Oven= 425 °F (218°C) Bread or Pastry Oven = 360°F (182°C) Pastry Oven = A piece of writing paper will curl up brown when it's at the proper heat for baking pastry. Note: Oven baking temperatures can vary 25°F (4°C), plus or minus. Carefully testing for doneness every few minutes is recommended for best baking results. To Sweeten Milk Milk which is slightly turned or changed may be sweetened and rendered fit for use again by stirring in a little baking soda. Adding Flavoring Extracts And Wine They should be added if possible to a mixture when cold. If added while mixture is hot, much of the goodness passes off with the steam. Storing Coffee-Keep coffee by itself, as its odor affects other articles. Storing Flour-Keep flour cool, dry, and securely covered. (Freezer is great if you use rarely) Cure Salty Soup-A raw potato added to the soup will absorb the extra salt. Drying Herbs-Dry the gathered crop, thinly spread out,shaded from the sun, tie the herbs in small bundles, keep them compactly pressed down. Cover with white paper; or, after drying them, put each sort into a small box, and by means of boards fitted in it, and a screw-press, press the herbs into cakes or little trusses. Afterwards, carefully wrap up in paper and be keep in a dry place, where they will retain their aroma as perfectly as when they were put into the press, for at least three years. (By the common method of hanging up herbs in loose bundles the odor soon escapes.) Prevent Heavy Cake And Breads-Much of the heavy cake and bread is the result of the oven door being slammed. Close as gently as possible. Beat Whites Of Egg Quicker-A pinch of salt will make the white of an egg beaten quicker. Peel Oranges-Heat oranges a few minutes in oven before peeling, then the white inner skin will come off with the rind. (This old-time cooking tip can be used with a microwave oven, but only heat for a few seconds.) Make Tough Meat Tender-Lay it a few minutes in a strong vinegar water. Prevent Mold on the Top of Glasses of Jelly- Lay a lump of paraffin wax on the top of the hot jelly, letting it melt ,spread over it. If preferred, the paraffin can be melted & poured over after the jelly is cold. Prevent Burning Saucepan-To prevent burning saucepan when boiling milk, sprinkle bottom of the pan with granulated sugar. Let it get hot, then pour in the milk. It also keeps milk from boiling over. When Squeezing Lemons-Heat lemons well before squeezing to double the quantity of juice. Cook Cranberries-Add one-quarter teaspoon soda to cranberries while cooking and they will not require much sugar. Preventing Custard Pie Shrinking-When a custard pie shrinks from the crust, it has been baked in too hot an oven. The oven should be hot for the first eight or ten minutes, in order to bake the pastry so that it will not become soaked with liquid. Then reduce the heat or the custard will boil. Testing Eggs For Freshness-If an egg is strictly fresh it will, when placed in a pan of water, it will lie on its side at the bottom of the pan. If stale, it will stand on end, and if very old, it will rise to the surface. Remove Cooking Odors From Hands-Wash hands and before drying them rub on about 1 teaspoon of dry mustard powder. Remove Cooking Odor-Should food become burnt while in the process of cooking, sprinkle two or three coffee grains over the hot stove or element. The fragrance of the burning coffee will kill the burning smell. Beating Egg Whites-Never beat eggs in an aluminum pan, as it is sure to darken them. Substitutions: Baking Powder-To replace 1 teaspoon baking powder, use 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Honey-For 1 cup of honey, use 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup liquid. You could also try using 3/4 cup corn syrup plus 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Molasses can be used in equal measure as a honey substitute, but it will affect the flavor. Fresh, Whole Milk-For 1 cup fresh milk, use 1 cup skim plus 2 teaspoons butter. Heavy Cream-A good substitute for heavy cream in baking can be made with 3/4 cup whole milk plus 1/2 to 1/3 cup butter and a little flour. You can also try using an equal quantity of plain yogurt in some dishes. Maple Syrup-For 1 cup maple sugar, use 3/4 cup corn syrup plus 1/4 cup butter and flavor to taste with maple extract. You can also substitute honey in equal measure, but the flavor will be affected. Shortening-Butter or margarine may be substituted for shortening in equal measure.(affects flavor) Brown Sugar-Use 3/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup molasses to replace 1 cup brown sugar. Powdered, Confectioner's Sugar-For every 4 cups powdered confectioner's sugar, use 3 cups granulated sugar well dissolved. Chocolate Square-Replace 1 chocolate square with 3 tablespoons cocoa and 1 tablespoon butter. White Granulated Sugar-1/2 cup molasses or corn syrup can be used for 1 cup sugar, but liquid in the recipe must be reduced by 1/2 cup. 3/4 cup honey can replace 1 cup granulated sugar, but reduce liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup. (If you don't mind the change in flavor, you can use 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar for 1 cup granulated sugar.) Corn Syrup-A simple substitution, replace 1 cup corn syrup with 1 cup granulated sugar and increase liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup. Baking Substitutions: Raisins-Almost any kind of chopped dried fruit can be substituted for raisins. Currants or chopped dates can be used in a recipe with good results. Chocolate Chips-Chop about 6 ounces of semisweet chocolate to replace 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips. Eggs- 2 egg whites or 2 egg yolks can be used for 1 whole egg. Sour Milk-Simply stir in about 1 tsp of white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup milk. Buttermilk can also be substituted in equal measure. Sour Cream-Substitution for sour cream, use an equal measure of plain yogurt in most recipes. Cornstarch-For thickening purposes, you can use 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour to replace 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Cinnamon-Use 1/2 teaspoon ground all spice to replace 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Cream of Tartar-There is no effective cream of tartar substitute, but you can try using an equal quantity of white vinegar in a pinch. Molasses-Honey may be used in equal measure, but it will affect the flavor. Buttermilk-For 1 cup buttermilk, add 1 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice to 1 cup whole milk. You can also use 1/3 cup whole milk with 2/3 cup plain yogurt as a buttermilk substitute. Allspice-Use 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon to replace 1 teaspoon allspice. Cooking Wine-Replace red cooking wine with the same quantity of grape juice or cranberry juice. To replace white cooking wine use apple juice or white grape juice. The flavor will be affected somewhat. Lemon Zest-For 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon zest, use 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract. Marshmallows-Use 1 cup of miniature marshmallows to replace 10 large marshmallows. Rum-As a substitution for rum when baking, use 1 part rum extract plus 3 parts water. ....More tips on their way here! I will continue to update daily... |
| TIPS from the past... the REAL "Green" generation (and a few from the present) These people lived frugal lives; respected & maintained our lands, our water & natural resources! They wasted nothing; recycled everything; they were resourceful & innovative. They had to do what it took to survive & that meant protecting their environment! |
| Other Tips Old phone books or any book- press flowers, leaves for decorating items around the house. Just open the phone book, lay the flower or leaf flat on a page and close the book. They will be dry in about a month, then you use them for making pictures, cards, decorate boxes, etc. All flowers can be pressed, with a little patience to detail. You can also separate petals and press them individually. The No Electric Catalog Great Ideas and products! To Drive Off Fleas Sprinkle about area a few drops of oil of lavender. To Soften Hard Water Hard water becomes nearly soft by boiling. To Preserve Old Books Bindings may be preserved from mildew by brushing them over with spirits of wine. A few drops of perfumed oil will secure libraries from the consuming effects of mold and damp. The Romans used oil of cedar to preserve valuable manuscripts. To Hang Pictures The cheapest and best material with which to hang pictures is copper wire, of a size proportioned to the weight of the pictures. When hung the wire is scarcely visible, and its strength and durability is wonderful. Stair Carpets They will wear much longer if extra thicknesses of paper are placed over the edge of each stair, the full width of the carpet, before fastening down. To Cure A Burn Cut open and scrape a raw potato, bind on burn. Repeat if burning sensation returns. Cure For Hiccups Sit erect, inflate the lungs fully. Then, retaining the breath, bend forward slowly until the chest meets the knees. After slowly rising again to the erect position, slowly exhale the breath. Repeat this process a second time, and the nerves will be found to have received an excess of energy that will enable them to perform their natural functions. Flowers Kept Very Fresh Overnight If they are excluded from the air. To do this, wet them thoroughly, put in a damp box, and cover with wet newspaper, then place in a cool spot. Really Clean Hands Tomato juice will remove stains from and whiten the hands. Bar Soap last longer For this household tip to work with modern soap, you must first remove the bars of soap from their wrappers and allow them to dry out. Not only do the dry bars last longer, but they leave less of a soap residue in the soap dish. This tip works! Saves $$. Buy in bulk so always have dry bar ready. Soften Hands Mutton tallow is considered excellent to soften the hands. It may be rubbed on at any time when the hands are perfectly dry. Another good rule is to rub well in dry oatmeal after every washing, and be particular regarding the quantity of soap. Castile soap and rain water will sometimes cure without any other assistance. Cheap soap and hard water are the unknown enemies of many people, and the cause of rough skin and chapped hands. To Soften Hands After Soapsuds One can have the hands in soapsuds with soft soap without injury to the skin if the hands are dipped in vinegar or lemon juice immediately after. The acids destroy the corrosive effects of the alkali, and make the hands soft and white. To Soften Hands Where Roughened Indian meal and vinegar or lemon juice used on hands where roughened by cold or labor will heal and soften them. Rub the hands in this, then wash off thoroughly. To Prevent Beds from Creaking If a bedstead creaks at each movement of the sleeper, remove the wooden slats, and wrap the ends of each in old newspapers. To Preserve Oil Cloth If oil cloth be occasionally rubbed with a mixture of beeswax and turpentine, it will last longer. Packing Glass Bottles India-rubber bands slipped over them will prevent breakage. To Remove Putty A red-hot iron will soften old putty so that it can be easily removed. Other Household tips To Make Rag Rugs Cut rags and sew hit and miss, or fancy-striped as you choose; use wooden needles, round, smooth, and pointed at one end, of any convenient length. The knitting is done back and forth, always taking off the first stitch. --Anna F. Hisey To Make A Rustic Picture Frame A neat, rustic frame for pictures may be made of cattail rods. Hide the corners where they are joined with handsome autumn leaves and the berries of bittersweet. To Make An Ant Trap Use a large natural sponge, wash it well and press it dry, which will leave the cells quite open; then sprinkle it with fine white sugar, and place it near where the ants are troublesome. The ants will soon collect upon the sponge and take up their abode in its cells. It is then only necessary to dip the sponge in boiling water, when the ants will be destroyed, and it may be set over and over again. Castor Oil as a Dressing for Leather Castor oil, besides being an excellent dressing for leather, renders it vermin-proof; it should be mixed, say half and half, with tallow or other oil. Neither rats, roaches, nor other vermin will attack leather so prepared. Substitute for a Corkscrew A convenient substitute may be found in the use of a common wood screw, with an attached string to pull the cork. Another: Stick two forks vertically into the cork on opposite sides, not too near the edge. Run the blade of a knife through the two, and give a twist. Another: Fill the hollow at the bottom of the bottle with a handkerchief or towel; grasp the neck with one hand, and strike firmly and steadily with the other upon the handkerchief. To Repel Moths Instead of moth balls, try using dried lavender blossoms, dried mint leaves, or cedar shavings (the kind available as pet bedding works well). The odors of these natural materials are pleasant, yet they repel moths, and there are no dangers involved as with moth balls. (Moth balls are poisonous and are considered a pesticide. Avoid inhaling moth ball fumes and do not use them around young children and pets.) For A Flower Bowl Cut a piece of stiff paper the shape and size of the top of an ordinary bowl. Cut holes in it, as many as desired, for the stems of real or artificial flowers. Fit paper in bowl and put flower stems through holes. To Make Rice Glue Mix rice flour smoothly with cold water, and simmer it over a slow fire, when it will form a delicate and durable cement, not only answering all the purposes of common paste, but well adapted for joining paper and card board ornamental work. (Rice glue is excellent for use in scrapbooks.) Remove Ink, Wine Or Fruit Stains Saturate well in tomato juice; it is also an excellent thing to remove stains from the hands(Huh? Won't the tomato juice stain? I have not tried this) To Remove Stains of Claret Wine As soon as claret is spilled, cover spot with salt. Let stand a few minutes, then rinse in cold water. To Take Spots from Wash Goods Try rubbing them with the yolk of egg before washing. To Remove Fruit Stains Fruit stains may be taken out by boiling water. Place the material over a basin or other vessel and pour the boiling water from the kettle over the stains. Another: To Remove Fruit Stains Pour boiling water over stained surface, having it fall from a distance of three feet. This is a much better way than dipping stain in and out of hot water; or wring articles out of cold water and hang out-of-doors on a frosty night. Remove Bad Smells Articles of clothing, or of any other character, which have become impregnated with bad-smelling substances, will be freed from them by burying for a day or two in the ground. Wrap up lightly before burying. To Remove Grass Stains A simple way to remove grass stains is to spread butter on them, and lay the article in hot sunshine. Another: To Remove Grass Stains Wet with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt, and spread in sun. You might also try using soap and cold water. To Remove Mud Stains Mud stains on silk can generally be removed by rubbing with a piece of flannel. To Remove Ink Stains Ink stain can be removed by dipping stain in hot tallow, then wash out tallow, and ink will be removed. Another: To Remove Ink Stains Wet with spirits of turpentine; after three hours, rub well. Another: To Remove Ink Stains Ink stains may be removed by covering spots with borax and saturating with peroxide. To Renew Old Crepe Place a little water in a teakettle, and let it boil until there is plenty of steam from the spout; then, holding the crepe in both hands, pass it to and fro several times through the steam, and it will be clean and look nearly equal to new. To Soften Jeans And Cotton Sheets Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt to the detergent when washing. Powdered Starch for Stains If applied immediately, powdered starch will take fruit stains out of table linen. Left on the spot for a few hours, it absorbs every trace of the stain. To Remove Iron Rust Lemon juice and salt will remove ordinary iron rust. To Remove Mildew Stains Or Iron Rust For mildew stains or iron rust, mix together soft soap, laundry starch, half as much salt, and the juice of a lemon. Apply to the spots and spread the garment on the grass. To Remove Mildew Rub the spot with yellow soap, wash, and while wet rub powdered chalk into it and cover with chalk. Lay article on grass in sun, sprinkle with clear water. Repeat if necessary. To Remove Candle Grease Candle grease yields to a warm iron. Place a piece of blotting paper or other absorbing paper under the absorbing fabric; put a piece of the paper also on the spot, apply the warm iron to the paper and as soon as a spot of grease appears, move the paper and press again until the spot disappears. Remove Grease From Clothes Mix four tablespoons of alcohol with one tablespoonful of salt; shake together until the salt is dissolved and apply with a sponge. To Remove Wagon Axle Grease Lard will remove wagon grease. Rub the spot with the lard as if washing it, and when it is well out, wash in the ordinary way with soap and water until thoroughly cleansed. To Make Linen Beautifully White Prepare the water for washing by putting into every ten gallons a large handful of powdered borax; or boil with the clothes one teaspoonful of spirits of turpentine. To Remove Tar from Cloth Saturate the spot and rub it well with turpentine, and every trace of tar will be removed. To Clean Flat Irons Beeswax and salt will make your irons as smooth and clean as glass. Tie a lump of wax in a rag and keep it for that purpose. When the iron is hot, rub it first with the wax rag, then scour with a paper or cloth sprinkled with salt. To Soften Boots and Shoes Kerosene will soften leather boots and shoes which have been hopelessly hardened by water and render them as pliable as new. To Remove Blood Use cold water, then soap and cold water. (Hydrogen Peroxide is Great now days!) To Remove Chocolate Or Cocoa Use borax and cold water. To Remove Perspiration Use soap and warm water; bleach in the sun. To Remove Vaseline Try using turpentine or kerosene. To Wash Stained Clothes Soak all clothes overnight in cold water, drain off in morning. All stains will wash out easier. Separate white and colored clothes, of course. Table Linen If white linen is put away for a time, it should be rolled in blue paper, which prevents it from becoming yellow. To Remove Moth Ball Odor Clothes and other items should be aired outside on dry, breezy days until the odor of moth balls disappears. Bring inside when rain threatens and at night. You can also try adding one cup of white vinegar to the wash water when washing your clothes To Ventilate a Room Place a pitcher of cold water on a table in your room and it will absorb all the gasses with which the room is filled from the respiration of those eating or sleeping in the room. Very few realize how important such purification is for the health of the family, or, indeed, understand or realize that there can be any impurity in the rooms; yet in a few hours a pitcher or pail of cold water -- the colder the more effective -- will make the air of a room pure, but the water will be entirely unfit for use. To Remove Odors From Ice Box, Cupboard Or Pantry Fill a dish with boiling water and drop in a piece of charcoal. To Wash Glassware Use a little ammonia in dishwater when washing glassware; it will make it sparkle like cut glass. To Cleanse a Sponge Rub a fresh lemon thoroughly into soured sponge and rinse it several times in lukewarm water; it will become as sweet as when new. Care of Oil Paintings Gently wash the picture, when necessary, in sweet milk and warm water, drying carefully. To Clean A Papered Wall Cut into eight pieces a large loaf of bread two days old, blow dust off wall, rub down with a piece of the bread in half-yard strokes, beginning at the top of room, until upper part is cleaned, then go round again, repeating until all has been gone over. If done correctly, so that every spot is touched, the paper will look almost new. Dry corn meal may be used in place of bread, applying it with a cloth. Wallpaper Cleaner 1 quart flour, 1-1/2 tablespoons powdered alum mixed dry, add cold water, let cook ten minutes, work on board, add a little flour if necessary. It should be like rubber. Take small bits and rub over paper. To Clean Looking Glasses and Windows This house cleaning tip works even better if a little vinegar is added to the water. Divide a newspaper in two, fold up one half in a small square, wet it in cold water. Rub the glass first with the wet half of the paper, and dry it with the other. Using this simple window cleaning tip, fly specks and all other marks will disappear as if by magic. Plate Glass and Mirrors A soft cloth wet in alcohol, is excellent to wipe off plate glass and mirrors, and prevents their becoming frosty in winter. To Clean Hearths Soapstone or sandstone hearths are cleaned by washing in pure water, then sprinkling with powdered marble or soapstone, and rubbing with a piece of the stone as large as a brick, and having at least one flat surface. The Care of Marble Never wash the marble tops of wash stands, bureaus, etc.with soap. Use clean warm water (if very much soiled add a little ammonia) and a soft cloth drying immediately with a soft towel. There is nothing that will entirely remove grease spots from marble, hence, the necessity of avoiding them. To clean marble or marbleized slate mantles, use a soft sponge or chamois skin, dampened in clean warm water without soap, then polish with dry chamois skin. In dusting, use a feather duster, and never a cloth, as it is likely to scratch the polished surface. Slate Hearths Are preferable to marble, as they are not so easily soiled. To wash them, use a clean cloth and warm water. Many oil them thoroughly when new with linseed oil; thus prepared they never show grease spots. To Store Brooms Hang in the cellar way to keep soft and pliant. To Preserve Brooms Dip them for a minute or two in a kettle of boiling suds once a week and they will last much longer, making them tough and pliable. A carpet wears much longer swept with a broom cared for in this manner. To Clean a Copper Kettle Keep an old dish with sour milk and a cloth in it, wash the kettle with this, afterward washing off with clear water, and it will look bright and new. Instead of sour milk, you could try using buttermilk. To Clean Brass Kettles When much discolored, put in a half pint of vinegar and a handful of salt, put on stove, let come to a boil, take cloth, wash thoroughly, and rinse out with water. If using every day, the salt and vinegar and rinsing are sufficient. To Prevent Rust on Knives Steel knives which are not in general use may be kept from rusting if they are dipped in a strong solution of soda: one part water to four of soda; then wipe dry, roll in a flannel and keep in a dry place. To Clean Stained Knives Cut a good-sized, solid, raw potato in two; dip the flat surface in powdered brick dust, and rub the knife blades. Stains and rust will disappear. Or rub up and down in the ground. To Clean Wooden Furniture An old cabinet maker says the best preparation for cleaning picture frames and restoring furniture, especially that is somewhat marred or scratched, is a mixture of three parts linseed oil and one part spirits of turpentine. It not only covers the disfigured surface, but restores the wood to its natural color, and leaves a luster upon its surface. Put on with a woolen cloth, and when dry, rub with woolen. To Take White Spots From Varnished Furniture Hold a hot stove lid or iron over them and they will soon disappear. To Remove Bruises on Furniture Wet the part in warm water; double a piece of brown paper five or six times, soak in warm water, and lay it on the place; apply on that a warm, but not hot, flat iron till the moisture is evaporated. If the bruise is not gone repeat the process. After two or three applications, the dent will be raised to the surface. If the bruise be small, merely soak it with warm water, and hold a red-hot iron near the surface keeping the surface continually wet; the bruise will soon disappear. To Wash Oil Cloth Or Linoleum Sweet milk added to the water with which oil cloth or linoleum is washed will make it luster like new. To clean oil cloth, rub with sweet milk. Cleaning Oil Cloths A dingy oil cloth may be brightened by washing it in clear water with a little borax dissolved in it; wipe it with a flannel cloth that you have dipped into milk and then wring as dry as possible. To Remove Grease Spots from Carpets Cover spots with fine flour and then pin a thick paper over; repeat the process several times, each time brushing off the old flour into a dustpan and putting on fresh. To Prevent Carpet Stains From Soot Salt thrown on soot which has fallen on the carpet will prevent stains. To Remove Stains From Hands If the hands are stained there is nothing that will remove the stains as well as lemon. Cut a lemon in halves and apply the cut surface as if it were soap. To Clean Ink Stains From Fingers To clean ink stains from fingers, rub spots with a match, then wash in soap. To Remove Tea Stains From China Salt and vinegar will remove tea stains from china. To Prevent Greasy Dishwater Add a tablespoon of ammonia to dishwater and it will not become greasy. To Clean Ivory Ornaments When ivory ornaments become yellow or dusky, wash them well in soap and water with a small soft brush, to clean the carvings, and then place them, while wet, in the sunshine. Wet them with soapy water for two or three days, several times a day, still keeping them in the sunshine, then wash them again, and they will be perfectly white. To Dust Furniture Warm dusters make the polishing of furniture so much easier, and a more brilliant polish is acquired. To Clean Copper or Brassware Make a simple paste using flour, salt, and vinegar. Simply brush it on, let it sit for a while, then rinse it off with clear water. You can also use ordinary tomato catsup. It may require more than one application if the tarnish is severe. Mending tips Dress Mending To mend a woolen or silk dress in which a round hole has been torn, and where only a patch could remedy matters, is the following: The frayed portions around the tear should be carefully smoothed, and a piece of the material, moistened with very thin mucilage, placed under the hole. A heavy weight should be put upon it until it is dry, when it is only possible to discover the mended place by careful observation. |
| Here's the link to the friends of mine who have graciously allowed me this space to share my projects & thoughts with you. Jawr's are very fun gifts that will surprise and add laughter which is so needed in todays stressful lives! Or are you looking for new things to do instead of sitting around wondering what to do? Events in the Pacific NW Jawr's of Lifetm |
| Who Am I? ...see bottom of page..my door is always open and I'll even invite you in for coffee! |
| I am just an Old Fashioned country gal, living in an area with very little population, and wide open spaces. We live an austere lifestyle as we are just plain ol' simple folk. I started this out of extreme boredom, being held back by nerve damage; but come Spring...healing or not...I WILL be back outdoors doing what I enjoy most. We still believe that a hand shake is as good as a legal contract. We don't lock anything, we trust everyone. Our story of years past...is still the basis of our hearts, our souls. We raise as much of our own food as possible; buy others from local orchards & farms. We support our community by shopping local. We are just simple people, living simple lives, and we are happily content. (It's not a life for most...but you should at least try it for a week or a month!) If you seriously would like to give it a try, see how simple people live a sustainable life, don't hesitate to ask, we may just let you come and experience it with us! Feel free to contact me to chat or ask a question, even give me ideas & tips...my door is always open and I'll even invite you in for coffee! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you seriously would like to give it a try, see how simple people live a sustainable life, don't hesitate to ask, we may just let you come and experience it with us! |