Household Suggestions by MRS. D. A. FITCH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 12, 1913

Household Suggestions

By MRS. D. A. FITCH

MRS. D. A. FITCH

If you have more money than time, buy blankets and other bedding ready-made; if more time than money, another course is highly justifiable. If the home affords some discarded coats, trousers, or other garments in a good state of preservation, a good piece of bedding may be made with no expenditure of money.

I had two unwearable coats, one gray and one black. They were ripped up, and the outsides washed, pressed, and basted on a small-sized sheet, in crazy-quilt fashion, without diminishing any of them in size. Pieces of bright-colored goods were used to fill in any vacancies. All were fastened to the sheet by fancy stitching at the edges. A colored lining was prepared from pieces found in the house. Between this and the crazy-cover were spread some old lace curtains and clean but unusable mosquito-netting to take the place of batting. When a few ties were put in to hold all together and the edges were bound, a warm and not altogether unpresentable piece of bedding was the result.

Bits of toilet-soap may be preserved until a convenient time, just covered with water, and allowed to boil. Turn into a mold, and when cold, remove a good cake of soap.

Several boxes of shoe-paste had accumulated, each containing a small quantity in a dry state. All the paste was put into one box, moistened with turpentine, and warmed. A box of good polish was the result.

Until July 1, when the law requiring the use of only safety-matches goes into effect, all common matches should be kept in mouse- and rat-proof receptacles. Carelessness in this has undoubtedly been the cause of many fires charged to incendiaries.

To use large rather than small jars for canning fruit is less expensive. Any fruit that remains from a large can may easily be heated and put into a smaller jar, a few of which it is good economy to have on hand. To save injury to can rubbers when opening jars, invert the jar in shallow hot water for a few minutes. The cover is quite sure to respond to the usual turn given by the hand.

If convenient to do so, dry some fruit instead of canning it all. This saves the expense of jars, and affords a pleasing variety. Before dried fruit is put in store for winter use, it should be very thoroughly heated in an oven to destroy all organisms that might unfavorably affect the fruit.

Prepare pumpkin or squash the same as for pie, and bake it in a shallow pan, two or three inches deep, without crust. Serve it as a custard. This saves the work of making the crust and relieves the alimentary canal of the work of digesting it. Sweet potatoes may be used instead of pumpkin or squash.

Much of the real value of vegetables is lost by cooking in too much water. Many of them can be steamed to great advantage. When boiled, as little water as is convenient should be used. What is used and might otherwise be discarded can often be utilized in soups and gravies. Most greens will cook in their own juices if started slowly. They are more palatable and beneficial to the system. Peeled potatoes are robbed of much of their valuable mineral elements by boiling, especially if much water is used. Potatoes are much better baked. Beets are much sweeter and richer if baked, and better steamed than boiled.

Much fuel is wasted and food deteriorated by excessively vigorous boiling. Reasonable boiling is much better, thus lessening the fuel bill and helping to retain the flavor of the food. A closely covered kettle is also very helpful to this end.

An old telescope-bag makes a much better receptacle for holding sprinkled clothes than a basket, which must necessarily admit considerable air to dry the most exposed portions.

A large telescope-bag may be lined with several inches of newspapers, thus making an excellent fireless cooker, to be used as any purchased one is used. Do not forget to cover the top as thick as the sides.

Iron bedsteads and some other pieces of furniture can be greatly improved in appearance by a coat or two of common paint.