Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 June 1881 — USEFUL HINTS. [ARTICLE]

USEFUL HINTS.

CoMmO* tyatrf Mheß will soften hford ptitoy & i few ininiites. Tiffin ft nfl siftings of coal ashes are excellent for scouring knives with., DiSHKe .sbpuld. always be rinsed in clear cold water after been washed in soapsuds. to remove grease from wall paper, lay several folds of blotting paper on the spot, and hold a hot iron near it till the grease is absorbed.

To stain floors—To strong lye of wood ashes and enough copperas for the required oak shade; put this on with a mop and Varnish afterward .The Mosquito Pest.—Prof. Fontaine gives some hints for abating the mosSuito pest which is sure to come with xe advent of sunny days. First, he says, mosquitos require water for the deposit of their eggs and the rearing of their larvae or wiggle-tails. Therefore, aU cisterns should be made close and covered with close*woven brass-wire netting, to prevent them laying ihto them. Ifo old tiibs, barrels or receptacles of water ought to be permitted, and no stagnant pools left undrained within a mile of any dwelling. Then they can lie killed by the cheapest and most abundant of alkalies, common lime. Therefore this ought to be poured into every cesspool and spring. A pound of strong liine to every 100 gallons of stagnant water is sufficient. But eVen a pound to 1,000 gallons Of a cistern of drinkingwater wifi kill them, although it will probably give the Water ah unpleasant flavor, and ihake it too “ hard ” for domestic purposes. To Clean Mirrors.—Take a newspaper, or part of one, according to the size of the glass. Fold it small and dip it into a basin of clean, cold water; when thoroughly wet squeeze it out in your hand as you would a sponge, and then rub it hard all over the face of the glass, taking care that it is not so wet as to run down in streams. In fact, the paper must only be completely moistened ahd damped all through. After the glass has been Well rubbed with wet paper; let it rest for a few minutes, and then go oter it with a fresh dry newspaper (folded small in your hand) till it looks clear and bright, which it will almost immediately and with no further trouble. This method, simple as it is, is the best and most expeditious for cleaning mirrbrs> add it will be found so oh trial; giving a cleaphess and polish that ohh be produced by no other process.