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Household Hints Godey's Ladies Magazine

January 1863

To Preserve Irons From Rust--Melt fresh mutton suet, smear over the iron with it while hoe, then dust it well with unslaked lime, powdered and tied up in muslin. When not used, wrap the irons in baize, and keep them in a dry place. Use no oil for them at any time, except salad oil.

To Take Rust Off Steel--Rub well with sweet oil, and let the oil remain upon them for forty-eight hours. Then rub with leather sprinkled with unslaked lime, finely powdered, until all the rust disappears.

To Clean Black Grates, Hearths, Sides, Etc.--Boil a quarter of a pound of the best black lead in a pint of weak vinegar and water, adding a teaspoonful of brown sugar and a bit of soap about the size of a walnut. When that is melted, first brush off all the dust and soot, and then with a painter's brush wet the grate, etc. As soon as it begins to dry rub to brightness with a stiffish brush, such as shoes are polished with.

To Make Blacking--One pound of ivory black, two ounces of vitriol, one pound of treacle, two tablespoons of sweet oil, two quarts of vinegar or stale ale. Have ready a large mug, put the ivory-black and oil into it, and mix them well together. Pour the vinegar and oil into a pan, and after making them hot, add them gently by degrees to the ivory black until you have mixed all well together. Let it stand till cold, and then add the vitriol. Bottle it for use. It will keep for years, and can be highly recommended when used for giving shoes and boots a lustrous jet appearance.

Corks--The common practice of employing inferior corks for the purpose of stopping the mouths of bottles is often productive of considerable loss, from the air being only partially excluded, and the contents suffering the consequence. We once saw a large "bin" of valuable wine become, in less than a year, little better than sour Cape, from the parsimony of its owner on this point, and we have frequently had to regret the loss of valuable chemical preparations, from a similar cause. The best corks are those called "velvet corks," and of these the finest qualities are imported from France.

For Chapped Hands--Two ounces of white wax, two ounces of hog's lard rendered, half an ounce of sperament, one ounce of oil of sweet almonds. Simmer all these ingredients together for a few minutes, then strain the liquid through muslin, and put into pots. To be rubbed well over the hands when going to bed, and sleep with gloves on.

Red Ink--Take the raspings of Brazil wood one-quarter pound, and infuse them two or three days in vinegar, which should be colorless. Boil the infusion one hour over a gentle fire, and afterwards filter it while hot through paper laid in an earthenware colander. Put it again over the fire, and dissolve in it, first, half an ounce of gum Arabic, and afterwards of alum and white sugar, each half an ounce.

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Turkey Carpet, To Clean--Beat it well with a stick in the usual manner until all the dust is removed, then take out the stains, if any, with lemon or sorrel-juice. When thoroughly dry, rub it all over with the crumb of a hot wheaten loaf, and if the weather is very fine, let it hang out in the open air for a night or two. This treatment will revive the colors, and make the carpet appear equal to new.

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Vitriol Accidents are not uncommon in kitchens, as when oil of vitriol (improperly used for cleaning copper vessels) is let fall upon the hands, etc. In this case, if a little soda or potash be dissolved in water, or some fresh soap-boilers' lees, and instantly applied, no injury whatsoever will occur to the person or clothes.

An easy method of removing wine stains from tablecloths is to hold the stained part in milk while it is boiling on the fire. The stains will soon disappear.

Tooth Powder--We know of no better than finely powdered charcoal; it cleans the mouth mechanically and chemically. But as alone it is dusty, and not easily mixed with water, it may for this purpose be mixed with an equal weight of prepared chalk, and, if requisite, scented with a drop or two of oil of cloves.

To Destroy Ants--Ants that frequent houses or gardens may be destroyed by taking flour of brimstone half a pound, and potash four ounces; set them in an iron or earthen pan over the fire till dissolved and united; afterwards beat them to a powder and infuse a little of this powder in water; and wherever you sprinkle it the ants will die or fly the place.

Portable Lemonade--Take a tartaric acid, half an ounce; loaf sugar, three ounces; essence of lemon, half a drachm. Powder the tartaric acid and the sugar very fine in a marble or Wedgwood mortar; mix them together, and pour the essence of lemon upon them, by a few drops at a time, stirring the mixture after each addition, till the whole is added; then mix them thoroughly, and divide it into twelve equal parts, wrapping each up separately in a piece of white paper. When wanted for use, it is only necessary to dissolve it in a tumbler of cold water, and fine lemonade will be obtained, containing the flavor of the juice and peel of the lemon, and ready sweetened.

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