HINTS AKD HELPS. 623 



To Remove Marks fi-om Tables. — Hot dishes sometiines leave whitish 

 marks on varnished tables, when set, as they should not be, carelessly upon 

 tliem. For removing them, pour some lamp-oil on the spot, and rub it hard 

 with a soft cloth. Pour on a little spirits, and rub it dry with another cloth, 

 and the whole mark will disappear, leaving the table as bright as before. 



To Soften "Water. — Hard waters are rendered very soft and pure, rival- 

 ing distilled water, by merely boihng a two-ounce vial, say, in a kettleful of 

 water. The carbonate of lime and any impurities will be found adhering to 

 the vial. The water boils very much quicker at the same time. 



To Remove Braises from Fariiitare. — Wet the bruised spots witll 

 warm weather. Soak a piece of brown paper of several thicknesses in warm 

 water, and lay over the place. Then apply a warm dat-iron until the moist- 

 ure is gone. Bepeat the process if needful, and the bruises wiii disappear. 



Celebrated Recipe for Silver AV'ash. — One ounce of nitiic add, one 

 ten cent piece, and one ounce of quicksilver. Put in an open glass vessel, 

 and let it stand until dissolved; then add one pint of water, and it is ready 

 for use. Make it into a powder by adding whiting, and it may be used on 

 brass, copper, German silver, etc. 



To Blacken Stoves. — Those who are troubled to blacken their kitchen 

 stoves in \vinter, on account of keeping a constant fire, try my plan of adding 

 about a teaspoonful of sugar to a teacupful of mixed blacking. Yon can use 

 this when the stove is quite hot, and the sugar causes the blacking to ad- 

 here t«3 the stove. 



Damp Clo^et«. — For a damp closet or cupboard, wliich is liable to cause 

 mildew, place in it a saucer full of quicklime, and it will not only absorb all 

 apparent dampness, but sweeten and disinfect the place. Renew the lime 

 once a iortuight, or as often as it becomes slaked. 



tiew Kettle^ — The best way to prepare a new iron kettle for use is to 

 fill it with clean potato parings; boil them for an hour or more, then wash 

 the kettle with hot water, wipe it dry, and rub it with a little lard; repeat 

 the rubbing for half a dozen times after using. In tliis way you will pre- 

 vent rust and all the annoyances hable to occur in the use of a new kettle. 



To Clean AVhite Knitted Garments. — ^Take those not needing wash- 

 ing, being only slightly soiled, place them in a pillow-case one at a time, 

 sprinkle flour through it, and shake well, until it looks as bright as new. 

 Borax is excellent to wash flannels with, dissolved in luke warm water. 



To Improve and Preser>-e Butter. -Take two parts good sail, one 

 part sugar, one-half part saltpetre; mis well together, and use one ounce 

 for every pound of butter, thoroughly worked into it. It makes the butter 

 rich, good color, and prevents bitterness. It will keep good for two or three 

 years. Let it stand a month before it is used, and keep it closely covered. 



To Keep Cranberries all Winter. — Put them in a cool room, where 

 there is no danger of freezing, and either spread out on a cloth or so as to 

 give each berry light and air; or, which is a sure way, put them in a barrel 

 under water. 



■* For Oiling Walnut Furniture. -Raw linseed oU rubbed with a Qannel 

 cloth, then jiolish with dry flannel; be careful not to put too much on. 



