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Classic
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page 346
spots over night, and wash it off in the morning. When dry, the paint will
stick. Slaked lime laid on the spots and wet a little, will do as well as
whitewash.
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.
STAIR CARPETS.--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 CLEAN LOOKING GLASSES.--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 with the other. Fly-specks and all other marks will disappear as
if by magic.
TO KEEP ICE-WATER.--Make a hat-shaped cover of two thicknesses of strong brown
paper with cotton-batting quilted between, large enough to drop over and
completely envelop the pitcher. This prevents the warm air from coming in
contact with the pitcher, and the ice will last a long time.
FINISH FOR ROOM.--A room with plain white walls is finished beautifully by
placing a black walnut (or the same wood with which the room is finished)
molding, around the room where the border of paper is usually placed, at the
junction of wall and ceiling. The molding, finished in oil, costs from one to
five cents a foot, and is easily put up. The upper edge should be rounded, and a
space of a quarter inch left between it and ceiling. To hang pictures, buy an S
hook, sold at all hardware stores, place one hook over the molding, hang the
picture cord on the other, and slip to the right or left to the desired
position. This saves the wall from injury from picture-nails.
PERPETUAL PASTE. --Dissolve a tea-spoonful of alum in a quart of water. When
cold, stir in as much flour as will give it the consistency of thick cream,
being particular to beat up all the lumps; stir in as much powdered rosin as
will lay on a five-cent piece, and throw in half a dozen cloves to give it a
pleasant odor. Have on the fire a tea-cupful of boiling water, pour the flour
mixture into it, stirring well at the time. In a few minutes it will be of the
consistency of mush. Pour it into an earthen vessel, let it cool, lay a cover
on, and put in a cool place. When needed for use, take out a portion and soften
it with warm water. Paste made in this way will last a year. It is better than
gum, as it does not gloss the paper which can be written upon.
TO EXTERMINATE BEDBUGS. --Scald with hot water every crack where they find
refuge. Great care must be taken not to injure fine varnished furniture. If any
injury is done to varnish by the hot water, it may be restored by rubbing
immediately with a rag wet in turpentine or oil. Beds should be examined for
vermin in July and August, and if measures are taken to exterminate them, there
will be very little trouble.
Another death-dealing method is to fill crevices with salt, and wash bedstead
with strong brine, or use kerosene in the same way.
Paris-green and mercurial ointment are deadly poisons to the bedbug, but as they
are dangerous to have in the house, the first named methods are preferable.
One part quicksilver to twenty parts white of an egg, applied with a feather to
every crack and crevice in bedstead and room, will kill them. Most people are
unable to console themselves for sleepless nights as did the Irishman, who said:
"Indade, I did quite as well as the bugs, for not one of them slept a wink all
night," and the above recipes, are any of them certain to remove the pests if
properly and faithfully applied.
THE CARE OF MARBLE.--Never wash the marble tops of wash-stands
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