Timely Household Hints
By Martha
EVERY housekeeper should know the difference between a disinfectant and a deodorant, for while a disinfectant kills germs, a deodorant destroys odors, and has no power to kill germs. Sometimes the properties are combined. It is said that whitewash has both deodorizing and disinfecting powers. A good way to treat a floor that is to be left uncovered through the summer, is to give the floor a coat of light paint, and when this is dry, fill all cracks and nail holes with putty, smoothing it even with a knife, and if the paint is used first it will keep the putty from falling out. Give the floor a second coat of paint of any desired color and after that is dry, paint a border around the edges of the room. If one has any artistic taste, a design can be outlined on this border with a small paint brush, using the same colored paint that covers the center of the room, and your rooms will be cool and sweet for the hot weather at small cost. To make the window glass and mirrors shiningly clean, wash in borax water without soap. The borax should be used in the proportion of one tablespoonful to a gallon of water, and the glass will remain clean much longer than if washed with soap and water. The borax water will not injure the woodwork of the windows; in fact, there is nothing better for cleaning painted or unpainted woodwork than borax water. A most satisfactory method of cleaning brass is to dampen a cloth with ammonia, rub it briskly over a piece of pumice soap, and then over the brass and it will shine like new. Clean window-shades upon which fly-specks and dust have gathered by rubbing with ammonia and warm water. If lace curtains are only slightly soiled, they can be freshened considerably by shaking them well to remove the dust, and then putting them to soak in gasoline and allowing them to remain for two hours. But the fluid should never be used in a room where there is a fire or light. No odor will remain after they have been hung in the air and sunshine. MARTHA.