Hints And Tips

Fresh Flask - When a vacuum flask becomes stained inside, add a teaspoonful bicarbonate of soda and fill up with boiling water. Leave overnight, then rinse well for a bright finish. Mrs H. Parker.

Cookery - If a recipe says, "rub in fat," use a grater on the fat first. It mixes much more easily. Miss Kennedy.

Mrs Mc., Aberdeen - Instead of keeping parsley in water, which makes it turn yellow, put it in an air-tight jar in a cool place. This will keep it fresh for some time. To restore the colour to parsley that has dropped, place it in a basin with a small piece of cooking soda pour boiling water over it, and instantly the parsley will look as though just picked.

The increased price of coal must be looked at with some alarm to the working man’s honest wife. But necessity always proves to be the mother of invention. This is a tip that will make a hundredweight of coal last much longer than the ordinary way. Waste paper, old newspapers and brown paper should be collected and moderately steeped in water, wrung out and make into balls of suitable size, and put on the back of the fire. This will be found to spell economy to the hard-pressed housewife.

Remove Marks – If coat collars or felt hats become marked with grease, rub them with eucalyptus oil. M Murray, Lockerbie.

Soft Rubber – When filling a hot water bottle for the first time, add a teaspoonful of glycerine to the water. The rubber will then remain soft. Mrs Milne, Aberdour.

Dripping Tap – A piece of string tied around a dripping tap will allow the water to run down it quietly into the sink. Mrs Coyle, Mauchline. Read more......